PHOENIX TRIO FALL INTO DISTRICT 4 AA CONSOLATIONS

By Joe Walker

WILLIAMSPORT – The Sugar Valley Rural Charter School Phoenix qualified three wrestlers for the tough District 4 Class AA Tournament and after day one of the tournament, as Hunter Berry, Jarren McCloskey and Wyatt Conoway are all still alive in the consolation rounds at the Williamsport High School. 

Conoway (21-14) won his preliminary round match by pinning Gavin Whiteknight of Milton in 1:35 of the first period, Conoway was leading 7-2 at the time of the fall. The Phoenix junior then dropped his championship quarterfinal round bout with second seeded and Towanda standout Riley Vanderpool by a 15-0 technical fall in 1:47 of the first period. Conoway will now wrestle in Saturday morning’s first round of consolations. 

Phoenix freshman Berry (23-10) was caught and pinned in 30 seconds of the first period of his preliminary round bout with Isaiah Harvey of Wyalusing. Berry will join Conoway in the first round of consolations at 114 pounds. 

The third member of the Phoenix in the tournament is senior Jarren McCloskey, who was a victim of a close 6-5 upset by Keegan Bagley of Sullivan County in the preliminary round. McCloskey is the Phoenix’s all-time career win leader with an 82-44 record and will join his teammates in the consolation round one Saturday morning at 9:00 am. 

Montoursville leads the team race with 78 points and 8 wrestlers in the championship semifinals, while Towanda is currently in second place with 53 points and six semifinalists. Warrior Run is third with 48 points, while Montgomery is fourth with 44 points and Line Mountain rounds out the top five with 43 points. The Phoenix is in 22nd place of the 29 team field. 

SVRC PHOENIX RESULTS: 

CHAMPIONSHIP RD 1: 

114 – Isaiah Harvey (Wyalusing) pinned Hunter Berry (SVRC), :30 

139 – Keegan Bagley (Sullivan County) dec. Jarren McCloskey (SVRC), 6-5 

145 – Wyatt Conoway (SVRC) pinned Gavin Whiteknight (Milton), 1:35 

CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS 

145 – Riley Vanderpool (Towanda) tech fall Wyatt Conoway (SVRC), 15-0, 1:47