Perry Advances into Regional Semifinals
By Joe Walker
CANONSBURG – Central Mountain Wildcat senior Dalton Perry advanced into the Western Class AAA Regional Tournament championship semifinals, while six other Wildcats are still alive in the consolation rounds, five losing after advancing into the championship quarterfinals.
Perry (37-3) advanced into the semifinals after posting back-to-back major decision wins, as he opened the tournament with a 16-6 major decision over Devin Junko (31-13) of Trinity. The Bucktail senior then posted a solid 15-3 major decision over District 9/10 runner-up Jacoby Thompson (36-6) in the championship quarterfinals. In Saturday’s championship semifinals he will face District 7 (WPIAL) runner-up Kase Chopp (42-7) of Butler.
The Wildcats Gavin Heverly (114), Collin Bauman (121), Aiden Kunes (121), Bryce Brungard (189) and Hayes Henry (285) all won their opening round bouts, but were then defeated in their quarterfinal round bouts. Patrick Tarantella (133) dropped his opening round match, but then bounced back and won his first round consolation bout.
Heverly (30-10) opened with an 11-1 major decision win over District 9/10 third place finisher Aiden Thompson (22-12) of Cranberry, but then in the quarterfinals he was trailing 4-0 when he was pinned by District 7 (WPIAL) champion Nico Kapusta (14-0) in 5:25. In the second round of consolations Heverly will face Parker Jennings (28-21) of Trinity.
Bauman (20-18) recorded a fall in 34 seconds over District 8 runner-up Jakari King (7-7) of Allderdice in the opening round, but then he was pinned my District 7 (WPIAL) champion Leo Joseph (35-4) of Greater Latrobe in 3:11 of their quarterfinal round match. In the second round of consolations, Bauman will meet Pierce Reinhart (30-10) of Bethel Park.
Kunes (33-9) opened the tournament will a fall over District 9/10 third place finisher Joshua Dobson (24-11) of Punxsutawney and then in the quarterfinals he dropped a 5-0 decision to District 7 (WPIAL) Santino Sloboda (43-0) of Butler, who finished sixth in the state last season and is the top seed in the tournament. In the second round of consolations, Kunes will face Evan Sala (20-6) of Mount Lebanon.
Brungard (33-14) pinned Elijah Lane (4-10) of Westinghouse in just 27 seconds of the first period of their opening round bout and then in the quarterfinals he dropped a 7-3 decision to District 7 (WPIAL) champion Jake Stephenson (18-0) of Waynesburg Central. In the second round of consolations, the Wildcat senior will face District 9/10 runner-up Matthew Eggelston (21-10) of Erie McDowell.
Wildcat freshman Hayes Henry (13-19) opened the tournament with a 14-5 major decision win over Bryan Clark (6-4) of Obama Academy and then in the quarterfinals he was pinned by District 7 (WPIAL) fourth placer Bradyn McConneha (35-9) of North Allegheny. In the second round of consolations he will face District 9/10 third place finisher Noah Lucarelli (19-17) of Cranberry.
Freshman Tarantella (32-14) dropped his opening bout to A J Snatchko (35-11) of West Allegheny by a 3-0 count, Shatchko getting a third period takedown to win a tight match. In his first round consolation bout, Tarantella bounced back with an 18-3 tech fall over Spranjal Gurung (7-18) of Brashear. In the consolation second round he will meet Nicholas Berrena (10-16) of State College, who Tarantella has beaten twice this season.
District 7 power Thomas Jeffersonleads the team race after the first day with 55 points and five semifinalists, while fellow District 7 member Connellsville is second with 48 points and four semifinalists. Bellefonte is currently in third place with 42.5 points and four semifinalist and Mifflin County is in fourth with 38.5 points and four in the semi’s. Altoona is fifth with 37.5, State College sixth with 32.5 and Central Mountain seventh with 28.5 points.
Saturday’s action gets started at 9 am with the consolation second round, followed by the championship semifinals and championship semifinals. The top five place finishers will advance to the PIAA State Class AAA championships.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 16:
114 – Gavin Heverly (CM) maj dec Aiden Thompson (Cranberry), 11-1; … 121 – Collin Bauman (CM) pinned Jakari King (Allderdice), 0:34; … 127 – Aiden Kunes (CM) pinned Joshua Dobson (Punxsutawney), 3:06; … 133 – AJ Snatchko (West Allegheny) dec Patrick Tarantella Jr. (CM), 3-0; … 145 – Dalton Perry (CM) maj dec Devin Junko (Trinity), 16-6; … 189 – Bryce Brungard (CM) pinned Elijah Lane (Westinghouse), 0:27; … 285 – Hayes Henry (CM) maj dec Byron Clark (Obama), 14-5.
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS:
114 – Nico Kapusta (Hempfield Area) pinned Gavin Heverly (CM), 5:25; … 121 – Leo Joseph (Greater Latrobe) pinned Collin Bauman (CM), 3:11; … 127 – Santino Sloboda (Butler Area) dec Aiden Kunes (CM), 5-0; 145 – Dalton Perry (CM) maj dec Jacoby Thompson (Meadville), 15-3; … 189 – Jacob Stephenson (Waynesburg) dec Bryce Brungard (CM), 7-3; … 285 – Bradyn Mcconneha (North Allegheny) pinned Hayes Henry (CM), 2:33
CONSOLATION ROUND !
133 – Patrick Tarantella jr. (CM) tech fall Spranjal Gurung (Brashear), 18-3 1:29
