2015 WPIAL Class AAA Individual Wrestling Final Results

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 28, 2015 | 11:27 PM

After winning back to back WPIAL and PIAA Team Championships, Franklin Regional flexed their muscles at Penn Hills on Saturday night. The Panthers would become the Southwest Region individual team champions thanks to four wrestlers winning gold and six total wrestlers advancing to next weeks PIAA Championships.

The four wrestlers who won gold for Franklin Regional did so in dominating fashion. Devin Brown won his second WPIAL Championship by packaging together four takedowns to defeat Gage Curry of North Hills 10-4. At 120, Spencer Lee won his second WPIAL gold when he got a quick takedown on Belle Vernon’s Zach Hartman and put him to his back to pick up a fall in 1:38. At 145, Michael Kemerer was tied at one with Jarod Verkleeren of Belle Vernon before he hit a third period takedown that put Verkleeren on his back. Kemerer would pick up the fall in 5:22 to win his second WPIAL title. Josh Shields would also win his second WPIAL Championship with a major decision victory over Paul Dunn of Bethel Park 17-7.

The story of the night though came at 132 pounds. Two time WPIAL Champion Luke Pletcher of Latrobe, a junior who has not lost since early in his freshman season and is ranked number one in the country would take on AC Headlee of Waynesburg, a senior who is a one time WPIAL Champion and is ranked number six in the country. After both wrestlers would get an escape in regulation, they would go to overtime tied at one. After scoreless overtime/double overtime periods, the match would come down to the ultimate tiebreaker. Pletcher, who scored first, would have choice. He chose the bottom position. Headlee would ride Pletcher out for the 30 seconds necessary to win the match and his second WPIAL Championship. For his extraordinary efforts, Headlee would be recognized at the tournaments Outstanding Wrestler.

Other wrestlers to win multiple WPIAL Championships were: Sam Krivus of Hempfield at 138 (who won his third), Vincenzo Joseph of Central Catholic at 152 (who won his second), and Tyler Worthing of Kiski Area at 220 (who won his second).

For a full recap of the WPIAL AAA Individual Championships, listen in to Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle, Monday night at 7:00 PM, here on the MSA Sports Network.

1st/2nd:

106: Caleb Morris (Waynesburg) dec. Job Chishko (Penn Trafford) 4-2 OT

113: Devin Brown (Franklin Regional) dec. Gage Curry (North Hills) 10-4

120: Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional) fall Zachary Hartman (Belle Vernon) 1:38

126: Ethan McCoy (Latrobe) dec. Joe Blumer (Kiski Area) 3-0

132: AC Headlee (Waynesburg) dec. Luke Pletcher (Latrobe) 2-1 OT UTB

138: Sam Krivus (Hempfield) dec. Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) 4-3

145: Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) fall Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon) 5:22

152: Vincenzo Joseph (Central Catholic) maj. dec. Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional) 15-5

160: Josh Shields (Franklin Regional) maj. dec. Paul Dunn (Bethel Park) 17-7

170: TeShan Campbell (Penn Hills) dec. Austin Bell (Belle Vernon) 1-0

182: Kellan Stout (Mount Lebanon) inj. def. Milton Kobaly (Belle Vernon) 1:37

195: Drew Phipps (Norwin) dec. Zach Smith (North Allegheny) 5-3

220: Tyler Worthing (Kiski Area) dec. Fred Mantsch (Hempfield) 3-1 OT

285: Tyler Mears (Latrobe) dec. Chase Logan (Hempfield) 4-2 OT

3rd/4th:

106: Louis Newell (Seneca Valley) dec. Logan Macri (Canon McMillan) 5-4

113: Hunter Baxter (Pine Richland) dec. Noah Levett (Kiski Area) 7-3

120: Chris Eddins (Greensburg Salem) dec. Zeke Beatty (Laurel Highlands) 2-0

126: Tyler Kenney (Connellsville) dec. Mike Heinl (Shaler) 7-4

132: Josh Ridgeway (Norwin) dec. Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) 6-2

138: Dom Giannangeli (Franklin Regional) dec. David Kelly (Pine Richland) 9-3

145: Micah Kusturiss (Canon McMillan) dec. Brandon Ingram (McKeesport) 7-1

152: Ethan Smith (Latrobe) dec. Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park) 5-4

160: Tony Palumbo (Central Catholic) dec. Brendan Burnham (Pine Richland) 3-2

170: Jake Shaffer (Latrobe) dec. Brooks Wilding (Upper St. Clair) 9-3

182: Matt McGillick (Penn Trafford) inj. def. Josh Bahr (West Allegheny) 0:00

195: Eli Grape (Upper St. Clair) dec. Nathan Barcaskey (Moon) 6-2 2OT

220: Dylan Davis (Latrobe) inj. def. Stephon Peake (Hopewell) 0:00

285: Louis Mauro (Connellsville) dec. Zach Jablonski (Montour) 6-2