Belle Vernon Captures First Ever WPIAL AAA Team Wrestling Gold

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 6, 2016 | 10:29 PM

After coming up short a year ago from being WPIAL Champions, Belle Vernon had no trouble taking care of business Saturday at Penn Hills. The day started with Belle Vernon defeating North Allegheny in the semi finals 54-12. In that match, the Leopards picked up six falls and three major decisions to cruise to a victory.

Belle Vernon’s opponent in the finals was Canon McMillan, who avenged a 15 point December defeat to knock off Kiski Area in the other semi final, 27-25. An upset at 182, where James Zeremenko pinned Tyler Worthing, gave Canon McMillan a 12 point swing from the December match that Kiski Area was not able to overcome.

In the finals Canon McMillan kept it close half way through the match before Belle Vernon rattled off seven straight wins to win WPIAL gold. Canon McMillan won five of the first seven bouts, with a major decision from Brendan Furman and a technical fall from Logan Macri. But Belle Vernon kept it close by getting bonus points with both of their wins, including a fall from Michael Fine and a major decision from Jacob Dunlop.

Although trailing 18-10, Belle Vernon would look to its best wrestlers to get the lead and keep it for good. Zach Hartman and Derek Verkleeren picked up major decisions, Jarod Verkleeren and Milton Kobaly added falls, and Austin Bell received a forfeit to help give Belle Vernon 32 unanswered points to win the match 42-18.

Belle Vernon junior Jarod Verkleeren talked after the match about how special winning WPIAL gold was. “This team, six years ago, we talked about this day. So it is pretty awesome.” Belle Vernon senior Austin Bell added, “we’ve wanted this since we were kids, to win it feels great.”

Kiski Area would claim the third and final spot in the PIAA tournament in AAA thanks to a 43-21 win over North Allegheny. In the match Kiski Area added four falls from Chad Kuhn, Isaac Reid, Noah Levett, and Matt Siszka, while also getting technical falls from Cam Conner and Logan Pollick to get the win.

AAA Championship Match:
Belle Vernon Leopards 42 – Canon McMillan Big Macs 18

195: Nick Konyk (CM) dec. Hunter Ferrera (BV) 7-2

220: Michael Fine (BV) fall Austin Robl (CM) 3:14

285: Brendan Furman (CM) maj. dec. Billy Korber (BV) 11-1

106: Jacob Dunlop (BV) maj. dec. Michael Binni (CM) 15-6

113: Logan Macri (CM) tech. fall Logan Seliga (BV) 26-10, 3:50

120: Skylar Adams (CM) dec. Jake Fine (BV) 6-1

126: Matt Oblock (CM) dec. Tyler Seliga (BV) 5-4 2OT

132: Zach Hartman (BV) maj. dec. Tim Hritsko (CM) 10-2

138: Brock Godzin (BV) dec. Tony Mastrangelo (CM) 8-2

145: Jarod Verkleeren (BV) fall Declan Lewis (CM) 0:27

152: Derek Verkleeren (BV) maj. dec. Micah Kurturiss (CM) 16-7

160: Mitchell Hartman (BV) dec. Blaze Kanosco (CM) 1-0

170: Austin Bell (BV) won by forfeit

182: Milton Kobaly (BV) fall James Zeremenko (CM) 1:23
 

AAA Consolation Match:
Kiski Area 43   North Allegheny 21

195: Francis Duggan (NA) dec. Alex Delp (KA) 12-7

220: Chad Kuhn (KA) fall Derick Devine (NA) 2:30

285: Isaac Reid (KA) fall Chuck Sanders (NA) 0:39

106: Darren Miller (KA) dec, Jacob Downing (NA) 3-2

113: Cam Conner (KA) tech. fall Mohammaad Khatami (NA) 17-0, 5:11

120: Noah Levett (KA) fall Nick Pepe (NA) 1:31

126: Matt Siszka (KA) fall Jatian Qu (NA) 1:08

132: Joe Blumer (KA) dec. Zach Stedeford (NA) 4-0

138: Jake Hinkson (NA) fall Collin Murray (KA) 1:52

145: AJ Boeh (NA) dec. Anthony D’Incau (KA) 2-0

152: Logan Pollick (KA) tech. fall Jacob Smalley (NA) 17-0, 5:58

160: Sean Hoover (NA) dec. Tom Starr (KA) 5-0

170: Vinny Romano (KA) dec. Jacob Fritch (NA) 6-0

182: Jake Woodley (NA) won by forfeit

Tags: Belle Vernon