Posts by Eric Knopsnyder
Eighth-Grader Mason Gibson Makes Super 32 History
Mason Gibson may be small in stature, but he’s not short on confidence (Photo by Sam Janicki). The 14-year-old from District 6’s Forest Hills Middle School believed heading into the Super 32 tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, that he could become just the second eighth-grader to bring home a belt from the varsity division. Gibson,…
Read MoreState Finalist and Fargo Champ Kolby Franklin Plans To Transfer
After winning a stop sign in Fargo, Kolby Franklin has been given the green light to change schools. Franklin, who was a PIAA runner-up at 195 pounds as a freshman for St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy, told PA Power Wrestling on Wednesday that he is transferring to Wyoming Seminary for his sophomore season. “The decision to…
Read MorePA Wrestlers Claim Crowns at Ohio TOC
Four Pennsylvania wrestlers won Ohio Tournament of Champions titles in the Elite Division on Saturday in Columbus, including a pair of Union City seniors. Bears teammates Gavin Henry (190 pounds) and Matt Long (285) captured championships to join Canon-McMillan senior Kenny Hayman (132) and Freedom Area sophomore Trent Schultheis (160). Two of the championship matches…
Read MoreJust Like Old Times: Luke Pletcher, Micky Phillippi Meet In NCAA Quarters
PITTSBURGH – There are no secrets here, not in a quarterfinal between two former practice partners who grew up a few miles from one another in Westmoreland County. Not for a pair of three-time PIAA champions who have faced each other so many times through the years that neither can give an accurate estimate on…
Read MoreNCAA Qualifier Kellan Stout At Home With Pitt
PITTSBURGH, PA – Dozens of wresters will be “coming home” for the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh next week, but Pitt’s Kellan Stout beat them there by a full two seasons. The redshirt junior, who started at Penn State before transferring closer to his Mount Lebanon home, received an at-large bid for at 197 pounds. “That’s…
Read MoreDorian Crosby Knocks Off Returning State Champ Hunter Catka in Quarterfinals
HERSHEY – Coming off a loss in the Northwest Region 3A finals, Dorian Crosby was drawn into the top half of the 220-pound bracket with returning state champion Hunter Catka of Sun Valley. The Cathedral Prep wrestler was undaunted. “People say I had a tough draw,” said Crosby, who is ranked fourth. “I didn’t think…
Read MoreBall Game! Cedar Cliff Senior’s Dramatic Takedown Stuns Shaw
HERSHEY, PA – Donovan Ball had lost to Max Shaw twice before, but that wasn’t about to change his mindset going into their 3A State Quarterfinals Match on Friday. The Cedar Cliff senior had a game plan, and he stuck with it for all six minutes of their match. He needed almost all of that…
Read MoreTwo Time Georgia State Champ Dashawn Farber Loving Life in Pennsylvania
HERSHEY, PA – Dashawn Farber doesn’t have Georgia on his mind any longer. The Nazareth junior, who was a two-time state champion in the Peach State before returning to his Lehigh Valley roots, advanced to the 3A State Semifinals with a 12-4 victory over Kibwe McNair of Methacton. “It feels great,” said Farber, who is…
Read MoreKiski Area’s Nick Delp Rides To Win, Hands Dillon Keane First Loss
HERSHEY – The scoring recap of Nick Delp’s 6-3 victory over Dillon Keane shows that nothing happened in the second period. Don’t believe it. No. 9 Delp rode out No. 10 Keane for the entire two minutes, rarely allowing the Bradford senior to get back to his base, let alone scoring an escape or a…
Read MoreWhat You May Have Missed From The South West Class 2A Regional
Here’s what you might have missed at the Southwest 2A Regional at Indiana University of Pennsylvania: The Championships Exactly half of the state’s top-ranked wrestlers in 2A were in the field, and all seven captured titles. For all of the talent and anticipated matchups in the finals, there wasn’t much drama. Thirteen of the…
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