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Glorioso, Bearcats rocket to AA wrestling title

This is about the point last year when Huntingdon’s Collin Glorioso began to rocket through the postseason, finishing second at the District 6 Class AA Tournament, winning a Southwestern Regional title and finishing third at the PIAA Championships.

Glorioso, ranked second by Off The Mat, took the first step on what he hopes will be another ride to the top by winning the 113-pound title at the district tournament on Saturday at the AAHS Fieldhouse, shutting out Westmont Hilltop’s Logan Blackburn, 7-0, in the finals.

“I’m looking to improve,” Glorioso said. “I’m hoping to do better than I did last year, but I want to take it one match at a time like last year.”

His title was a part of a banner tournament for the Bearcats, who breezed to their first tournament team title by 75.5 points, 220.5-145, over defending champion West Branch, had three champions, adding Devon Green (132) and Jacob Oliver (145) as champs, and had nine of the area’s 27 regional tournament qualifiers.

Matt Norris (182) had to settle for second as he was pinned in 1:32 by three-time Blairsville champ Scott Thompson, who was voted the Outstanding Wrestler by the media.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more from my teammates,” Glorioso said. “They’ve done amazing. Almost all of them placed, and we had four in the finals. That’s almost unheard of. I thought we would do extremely well and win the tournament, but I never expected to have so many people in the finals.”

Jon Mykut was also named District 6 Coach of the Year for the first time.

“That’s great too,” Mykut said. “It falls back on the kids too. It’s something special to me, but without our kids and coaches, I don’t get that recognition.”

Also claiming titles were Cambria Heights’ Levi Niebauer (160) and Aaron Gill, both of whom lost in the finals last year, Central Cambria’s unbeaten freshman Max Murin (106), beating Penn Cambria’s Nolan Link, 4-3, in the only all-area finals matchup, and Tyrone’s Jason Schopp (138).

Cambria Heights’ Joe Davis became a three-time district runner-up with a 4-1 loss to Richland’s Adam George. Tyrone’s Jared Beckwith (195), who had to sit out last year’s tourney, was pinned by United Tyler Oliver in 3:47 in the finals.

Glorioso, who reached the finals with a 5-0 win over Central Cambria’s Ian Ostrowski, broke open a scoreless second period with a reversal of Blackburn. He just missed a takedown early in the third, but he did get one with 53 seconds left and added three nearfall points a little later to set the final.

“I went out there, went for the things that were there, wasn’t trying to force anything and kept the momentum going,” Glorioso said. “I don’t know what happened in the third. I had one move and that move led to another, and it just kept going from there.”

“Collin didn’t give up a point in the tournament, I think,” Mykut said, “and he was dominant in the finals. Kids have been trying to slow him down and I keep telling him that’s fine. ‘If they don’t score on you they can’t beat you.'”

Green continued to be a scoring machine, massing at least 10 points in every bout after his first-period pin in the second round. He was up 16-3 on Ligonier Valley sophomore Dalton Clark when he got the fall in 5:48.

“Green has been wrestling full-throttle,” Mykut said. “He opened up the whole match, and that was a great match for him.”

The freshman Oliver won the first of what will probably many titles with a 7-1 victory over Marion Center’s Isaac Stewart in the finals. Up 2-0 in the second, Oliver reversed and put Stewart on his back for three points. Stewart could only manage a third-period escape.

“Jake Oliver has been a hammer all year-long for us,” Mykut said. “He’s only a freshman, but he definitely wrestles like a senior, that’s for sure.”

Both Murin and Link, both of whom go to Young Guns, rolled into the finals for their third meeting of the season. Murin won the first two, including a 1-0 victory the last time, but a Link reversal in the second gave him a 3-2 lead. Murin escaped to tie the score, and his third-period escape was the difference in another one-point win.

“He’s a great opponent,” Murin said. “You always want to have a great opponent you battle with to make yourself better. It kind of stinks because there’s only one winner.”

Schopp, a senior, eked out a couple 2-1 decisions over second-seeded Nick Hoenstine in the semis and then over Marion Center’s pre-tournament favorite Brandon Heberling in the finals. The bout was scoreless going into the third, and Heberling chose neutral instead of down, fearing the Schopp tilt. But Schopp scored a takedown with 55 seconds left, rode until leaving Heberling go with 5 seconds left and won.

“I guess I’m not surprised he didn’t choose down,” Schopp said. “I’m kind of used to it. The takedown felt really good. It felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.”

“All through this tournament, he’s been gaining steam,” Tyrone coach Blair Packer said. “He had a tough opponent in Heberling, but he handled it well. I thought he wrestled an excellent district tournament.”

It was the first title for Schopp, who later got a phone call from his brother, A.J., a returning All-American at Edinboro who won three district titles and state gold his senior year.

Niebauer earned a 3-0 win over Mount Union’s Dylan Smith, escaping in the second and taking Smith down with a pancake. He rode Smith the entire third period for the victory.

“It feels pretty good after losing last year and coming up big this year and winning it,” Niebauer said. “I really wanted to win it this year.”

Gill first avenged a district finals loss to West Branch’s Morgan Selepack, 4-1, in the semis, and then he survived a 5-3 ultimate tiebreaker win over Mount Union’s top-seeded Nikolas Smith, reversing in the last tiebreaker for the victory.

After that, it was all done but the picture taking for the Bearcats, whose 220.5 points were third highest in Class AA history behind the Bald Eagle-Nittany’s 275 in 1993 and Westmont Hilltop’s 236 in 2009.

“We just had a great weekend,” Mykut said. “Obviously, we wanted to come and win this thing. The goal was to come in and wrestling like we’ve been wrestling all year-long, and I think we did that. We showed we’re a pretty dominant team.”

KEY, TEAM STANDINGS

1. H-Huntingdon 220.5; 2. WB-West Branch 145; 3. MU-Mount Union 142; 4. CH-Cambria Heights 131; 5. PV-Penns Valley 120; 6. LV-Ligonier Valley 116.5; 7. MV-Moshannon Valley and R-Richland 94.5; 9. FH-Forest Hills 93.5; 10. CC-Central Cambria 93; 11. B-Blairsville 91.5; 12. T-Tyrone 88; 13. MC-Marion Center 86.5; 14. J-Juniata and U-United 85; 16. PC-Penn Cambria 78.5; 17. C-Central 78; 18. G-Glendale 66; 19. WH-Westmont Hilltop 58; 20. BA-Bellwood-Antis 40.5; 21. JV-Juniata Valley 33; 22. CK-Claysburg-Kimmel 32; 23. NC-Northern Cambria 26.5; 24. SJ-St. Joseph’s 17; 25. P-Portage 16; 26. SH-Southern Huntingdon 13.

Semifinals

106-Murin, CC, pinned Chavez, LV, 2:51; Link, PC, maj. dec. Couteret, WB, 10-1; 113-Glorioso, H, dec. Ostrowski, CC, 5-0; Blackburn, WH, dec. Bro. Biddle, C, 4-2 OT; 120-Law, FH, dec. Decker, PV, 3-0; Moist, MU, dec. Scott, H, 7-3; 126-George, R, dec. Boozel, MU, 5-0; Davis, CH, dec. Opdenhoff, CC, 4-2 OT; 132-Green, H, maj. dec. Rojas, G, 10-1; Clark, LV, maj. dec. Gould, FH, 16-2; 138-Heberling, MC, dec. Russell, H, 7-6; Schopp, T, dec. Hoenstine, C, 2-1; 145-Oliver, H, dec. Templeton, FH, 6-4; Stewart, MC, dec. Naglic, R, 5-3 OT.

152-Doak, B, dec. Benner, J, 8-4; Decker, PV, dec. Wagner, H, 9-6; 160-D. Smith, MU, dec. Beitz, J, 4-3; Niebauer, CH, dec. Lynn, H, 4-1; 170-Pecora, R, maj. dec. Waksmunski, CH, 14-1; Hazel, PV, dec. Fisher, H, 8-2; 182-Thompson, B, pinned K. Stewart, MV, :54; Norris, H, dec. Foster, J, 8-5; 195-Beckwith, T, dec. Lauer, H, 4-2; Oliver, U, dec. Kyle, MU, 10-3; 220-Maines, WB, dec. Stapleton, MU, 10-4; Marsh, LV, dec. Wilkinson, PC, 6-5; 285-N. Smith, MU, pinned Bunnell, MV, 2:55; Aa. Gill, CH, dec. Selepack, WB, 4-1.

Third Round Consolations

106-D. Hamilton, MV, pinned C. Walls, U, 4:38; McCall, FH, tech. fall Stidfole, MU, 15-0, 4:14; Miller, J, pinned C. Hunter, T, 1:40; Wright, NC, dec. Zapach, MC, 3-1 OT; 113-Hicks, MC, pinned Cheripka, G, 1:41; Keiper, FH, tech. fall Walters, J, 16-1, 3:00; Sankey, WB, pinned Dautlick, CH, 3:35; K. Confer, PV, dec. Dodson, CK, 2-0 OT; 120-Rouser, R, pinned D. Walter, CK, 4:24; Wiles, MC, pinned Dorian, WH, 4:05; Kish, CC, dec. Sacolic, G, 4-2; Kern, JV, dec. Parks, WB, 5-3; 126-Wilson, H, dec. Brown, WB, 10-8 OT; Gilson, J, tech. fall Caldwell, LV, 17-0, 4:10; Kennedy, C, maj. dec. Yost, WH, 10-2; Hurd, PV, dec. Cornetto, MC, 3-0; 132-A. Hunter, T, maj. dec. Jo. Wilson, BA, 14-3; J. Confer, PV, dec. Whitsel, SH, 2-0 OT; C. Hypes, CK, dec. Steel, MU, 7-5; Bloom, MV, dec. Bry. Biddle, C, 6-2; 138-Emel, SJ, pinned Hughes, G, :52; Fox, P, dec. Verhovsek, R, 8-2; Croyle, LV, pinned Wagner, JV, 4:27; Quick, WB, dec. Thomas, MV, 10-5; 145-Eckenrode, PC, dec. Ohler, MV, 7-5; Troutman, JV, dec. Claar, BA, 10-6; Long, MU, pinned Snyder, T, 2:26; Au. Gill, CH, dec. Bumbarger, WB, 4-1.

152-Mock, C, maj. dec. Legros, CH, 14-0; Hommer, G, pinned Harteis, FH, 1:48; Farabaugh, PC, pinned Smeal, WB, 2:32; Neiderhiser, LV, pinned Je. Wilson, BA, 1:40; 160-Driskel, PC, dec. Lenhardt, B, 7-1; Green, WB, maj. dec. Feathers, CK, 9-1; Stewart, G, dec. Hurd, PV, 4-0; Crook, MC, dec. Croyle, LV, 9-2; 170-Torsell, BA, pinned Parks, SH, 4:08; Hammel, CK, dec. Burket, C, 10-3; Trottier, LV, pinned Wyland, PC, :29; Pecze, B, dec. Myers, WB, 9-7; 182-Thoms, PV, won by forfeit over Johns, NC; Ponder, C, pinned Brewer, MC, 2:12; Pearce, WB, dec. Barron, WH, 5-3; Link, CH, pinned B. Knisely, BA, 1:38; 195-Treaster, J, pinned Herrington, SH, 2:11; McDowell, WB, pinned Johnson, PV, 1:38; Frontino, NC, dec. Buck, WH, 6-0; Elder, CK, dec. T. Mezzello, CH, 10-5; 220-Morningstar, H, pinned Smith, B, :57; McLendon, U, pinned Smith, NC, 1:42; Carlheim, G, pinned Branick, CC, 3:45; Sbeitan, WH, pinned Collins, SH, 2:23; 285-Cunkleman, B, dec. Heuston, C, 4-2; Ness, G, pinned Nagle, BA, 1:16; Deitman, U, pinned Riggle, P, 1:35; Winfield, SH, pinned Shafron, LV, 1:14.

Fourth Round Consolations

106-McCall, FH, pinned D. Hamilton, MV, 2:45; Miller, J, dec. Wright, NC, 5-0; 113-Keiper, FH, maj. dec. Hicks, MC, 13-0; Sankey, WB, dec. K. Confer, PV, 4-0; 120-Rouser, R, maj. dec. Wiles, MC, 11-0; Kern, JV, pinned Kish, CC, 2:01; 126-Gilson, J, dec. Wilson, H, 4-2; Kennedy, C, dec. Hurd, PV, 3-1; 132-A. Hunter, T, dec. J. Confer, PV, 3-1 OT; Bloom, MV, pinned C. Hypes, CK, 4:33; 138-Emel, SJ, pinned Fox, P, 2:13; Croyle, LV, dec. Quick, WB, 7-1; 145-Eckenrode, PC, dec. Troutman, JV, 5-2; Au. Gill, CH, pinned Long, MU, 3:42.

152-Mock, C, maj. dec. Hommer, G, 19-6; Farabaugh, PC, pinned Neiderhiser, LV, 4:05; 160-Green, WB, dec. Driskel, PC, 4-3; Stewart, G, pinned Crook, MC, 4:15; 170-Torsell, BA, maj. dec. Hammel, CK, 11-2; Pecze, B, dec. Trottier, LV, 2-1; 182-Thoms, PV, pinned Ponder, C, 2:53; Link, CH, pinned Pearce, WB, 1:30; 195-McDowell, WB, maj. dec. Treaster, J, 12-3; Frontino, NC, tech. fall Elder, CK, 17-2, 5:00; 220-McLendon, U, dec. Morningstar, H, 3-0; Sbeitan, WH, dec. Carlheim, G, 6-0; 285-Ness, G, pinned Cunkleman, B, 1:36; Deitman, U, pinned Winfield, SH, 3:56.

Consolation Semifinals

106-Couteret, WB, dec. McCall, FH, 8-6 OT; Chavez, LV, dec. Miller, J, 15-13 OT; 113-Ostrowski, CC, dec. Keiper, FH, 7-4; Bro. Biddle, C, pinned Sankey, WB, 3:32; 120-Rouser, R, dec. Scott, H, 4-0; Decker, PV, pinned Kern, JV, :47; 126-Opdenhoff, CC, pinned Gilson, J, 2:33; Boozel, MU, maj. dec. Kennedy, C, 11-1; 132-A. Hunter, T, dec. Gould, FH, 6-5; Bloom, MV, dec. Rojas, G, 1-0; 138-Hoenstine, C, dec. Emel, SJ, 7-3; Russell, H, pinned Croyle, LV, 2:25; 145-Naglic, R, pinned Eckenrode, PC, 4:30; Au. Gill, CH, dec. Templeton, FH, 12-6.

152-Wagner, H, dec. Mock, C, 9-5; Farabaugh, PC, dec. Benner, J, 4-3; 160-Lynn, H, dec. Green, WB, 4-3; Beitz, J, pinned Stewart, G, 3:55; 170-Fisher, H, dec. Torsell, BA, 4-0; Pecze, B, dec. Waksmunski, CH, 6-3; 182-Thoms, PV, pinned Foster, J, 4:15; K. Stewart, MV, pinned Link, CH, 2:36; 195-Lauer, H, pinned McDowell, WB, 1:30; Kyle, MU, pinned Frontino, NC, 3:51; 220-McLendon, U, dec. Stapleton, MU, 4-3; Wilkinson, PC, won by injury default over Sbeitan, WH, 2:24; 285-Bunnell, MV, dec. Ness, G, 6-0; Selepack, WB, dec. Deitman, U, 10-5.

Fifth-Place Finals

106-McCall, FH, dec. Miller, J, 8-4; 113-Keiper, FH, dec. Sankey, WB, 8-5; 120-Scott, H, maj. dec. Kern, JV, 13-2; 126-Gilson, J, dec. Kennedy, C, 11-4; 132-Gould, FH, dec. Rojas, G, 3-1; 138-Croyle, LV, dec. Emel, SJ, 7-3; 145-Templeton, FH, maj. dec. Eckenrode, PC, 11-0.

152-Benner, J, dec. Mock, C, 2-1; 160-Green, WB, pinned Stewart, G, 2:12; 170-Torsell, BA, pinned Waksmunski, CH, 3:31; 182-Link, CH, dec. Foster, J, 4-2; 195-McDowell, WB, dec. Frontino, NC, 10-6; 220-Stapleton, MU, won by injury default over Sbeitan, WH; 285-Deitman, U, maj. dec. Ness, G, 10-0.

Third-Place Finals

106-Couteret, WB, pinned Chavez, 2:05; 113-Ostorowski, CC, dec. Bro. Biddle, C, 4-1; 120-Decker, PV, dec. Rouser, R, 6-4 OT; 126-Opdenhoff, CC, dec. Boozel, MU, 12-7; 132-Bloom, MV, dec. A. Hunter, T, 4-2; 138-Russell, H, dec. Hoenstine, C, 5-4; 145-Naglic, R, won by injury default over Au. Gill, CH, 3:41.

152-Wagner, H, dec. Farabaugh, PC, 5-3 OT; 160-Beitz, J, dec. Lynn, H, 4-0; 170-Fisher, H, dec. Pecze, B, 5-1; 182-K. Stewart, MV, dec. Thoms, PV, 11-10; 195-Kyle, MU, dec. Lauer, H, 6-3; 220-McLendon, U, pinned Wilkinson, PC, 1:35; 285-Selepack, WB, pinned Bunnell, MV, :24.

Championship Finals

106-Murin, CC, dec. Link, PC, 4-3; 113-Glorioso, H, dec. Blackburn, WH, 7-0; 120-Law, FH, dec. Moist, MU, 5-0; 126-George, R, dec. Davis, CH, 4-1; 132-Green, H, pinned Clark, LV, 5:48; 138-Schopp, T, dec. Heberling, MC, 2-1; 145-Oliver, H, dec. Stewart, MC, 7-1.

152-Doak, B, dec. Decker, PV, 3-2; 160-Niebauer, CH, dec. D. Smith, MU, 3-0; 170-Hazel, PV, dec. Pecora, R, 4-2; 182-Thompson, B, pinned Norris, H, 1:32; 195-Oliver, U, pinned Beckwith, T, 3:47; 220-Maines, WB, pinned Marsh, LV, 1:47; 285-Aa. Gill, WB, dec. N. Smith, MU, 5-3 OT UTB.

Outstanding Wrestler: Scott Thompson, Blairsville. Coach of the Year: Jon Mykut, Huntingdon.

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