Curry and Joseph Dominate Allegheny County Tournament

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Sophomore Gage Curry won his second Allegheny County Championship

Sophomore Gage Curry won his second Allegheny County Championship

Gage Curry has returned to 106 lbs. and proved why he is considered one of the best in the State and Nation. Gage didn’t wrestle any longer than (1:31) in his five matches all resulting in a pin in the first period. In the finals Curry downed Pine-Richland’s tough freshman Hunter Baxter in just (0:28) seconds. Curry remained undefeated bringing his season record to (24-0). Baldwin senior De’Adrian Carter bounced back to finish in third place.

At 113 lbs. talented freshman Luke Landfield (North Allegheny) dominated a slim field picking up two falls, a major decision, and tech-fall in the finals against junior Kevin Statler (McKeesport Area). Wrestling up at 113 lbs. South Park freshman Dallas Bulsak finished third after falling to Landfield (14-2) in the semifinals.

Shaler Area sophomore Mike Heinl improved on his runner-up finish a season ago by capturing the 120 lbs. Championship defeating Mount Lebanon senior Kevin Kinyua in the finals (5-2). Senior Scott Stossel (North Allegheny) repeated his 2013 finish by placing third at 120 lbs. after falling to Kinyua for the second time this season in the semifinals (4-1).

North Allegheny senior Dom Forys continued his dominance this season at 126 lbs. by capturing his fourth career Allegheny County Tournament Championship. Forys picked up two falls and three tech-falls including in the finals over Thomas Jefferson’s Braden Flinn. Baldwin’s sophomore Nick Zewe turned in a third place finish coming in to the tournament un-seeded.

South Fayette’s Mike Carr improved on his fourth place finish from a season ago winning the 132 lbs. Championship defeating North Allegheny freshman Jake Hinkson in the finals (6-2). Hinkson had an impressive rookie performance being unseeded and defeating the #3, #6, and #2 seeds en route to the finals. Shaler Area sophomore Jake Hartman finished in third in a strong field that featured many of the WPIAL’s top 132 lbs wrestlers.

Central Catholic junior Vincenzo Joseph would rather forget his 2013 Allegheny County finals. In that match the sophomore was dominated by Dom Forys in a (13-2) major decision defeat. This season the stronger Joseph has continued his dominance on the WPIAL and State level. Joseph captured his second career County Championship by earning a major decision (8-0) over returning PIAA State medalist Jake Wentzel (South Park) in the finals. Shaler Area junior Jordan McGonigle earned his third career County Medal by finishing in third place at 138 lbs.

At 145 lbs. senior Corey Widling (Upper Saint Clair) improved on his third place finish a season ago by winning his first County Championship with a (5-0) victory over Plum’s Eric Green in the finals. Widling was able to defeat Central Catholic junior Tony Palumbo (4-3) in the semifinals. Palumbo bounced back to finish in third place at 145 lbs.

Sophomore and returning PIAA State qualifier Greg Bulsak lived up to his #1 seed by capturing the 152 lbs. Championship. Bulsak, who finished fourth at the 2013 County Championship, was able to hold off previously undefeated junior Nate Hall (West Allegheny) in the semifinals (1-0). Hall went on to finish in third place at 152 lbs.. In the finals Bulsak defeated talented senior and returning State qualifier Grant Fetchet (South Fayette) by a score of (4-0).

Penn Hills junior Te’Shan Campbell greatly improved on his 2013 fifth place finish by upsetting #1 seed Brandon Burnham (Pine-Richland) in the semifinals (5-3). Campbell, the #4 seed, met #3 seed Jonathan Avon (North Hills) in the finals and secured his first career County Championship with a decisive (7-1) victory. Pine-Richlnd junior Brendan Burnham, a returning PIAA Class AAA State seventh place medalist, finished in fourth place falling to fellow junior and PIAA Class AA State seventh place medalist Jared Walker (South Fayette) by a (4-3) score.

170 lbs. #1 seed and returning Allegheny County Tournament Champion Kyle Coniker (Central Catholic) repeated as the Champion with a (5-0) victory over Hampton’s Brendon Olszewski. It was the second time this season Coniker downed Olszewski. A marquee match-up between Noah Wilps (Chartiers Valley) and Coniker did not take place as Wilps is out with an injury. Unseeded senior Byron Minous (Thomas Jefferson) finished in an impressive third place defeating #5 seed and Gateway senior Austin Davidson (11-6) in the third place match. Minous improved on his seventh place finish at the 2013 County Tournament.

Returning PIAA State Qualifier Kellon Stout (Mount Lebanon) won his first County Championship after a runner-up finish last season. Stout earned four falls including a pin over North Hill’s Elliott King in the finals (1:25). King is having a much improved season after finishing (11-16) last season. North Allegheny’s Clay Byerly had a solid tournament finishing in third place after falling to Stout (7-1) in the semifinals.

2x PIAA Class AAA State Qualifier Cole Macek (Montour) has adjusted well to his drop to 195 lbs. Last season Macek was the County runner-up at 220 lbs. but earned his first County Championship as a senior. Macek picked up two falls, a tech-fall, major decision, and an impressive (11-4) victory over North Allegheny’s #1 seed Zach Smith in the finals. Zach Smith recorded four victories by fall before falling to Macek. Plum junior Nathan Turchick improved on his (2-2) finish from a season ago by finishing in third place at 195 lbs.

At 220 lbs. North Allegheny junior Layne Skundrich won the County Championship with a (3-0) decision over junior Mike Roper (Chartiers Valley). Skundrich improved on his third place finish from a season ago while South Allegheny’s Seth Hitchens improved on his sixth place finish in 2013 by earning a third place medal.

#1 seed and Mount Lebanon junior Zeynul Zaynullayev continued his impressive season by capturing the County Championship with a fall over #2 seed and talented senior Stephen Turchick (Plum) by fall in (5:17). It was an improvement for both wrestlers as Zaynullayey finished in fourth last season while Turchick went (2-2) in 2013. #6 seed sophomore Zack Jablonski (Montour) wrestled to third place for his first career County medal.

Final Brackets can be found here!

Team Scores can be found here![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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