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2010 State Champions
103:
Connor Schram-Canon McMillan-FR
112:
Jimmy Gulibon-Derry-SO
119:
Nico Megaludis-Franklin Regional-JR
125:
Mitchell Port-Bellefonte-SR
130:
Steve Spearman-Erie McDowell-SO
135:
Josh Dziewa-Council Rock South-SR
140:
Josh Kindig-Blue Mountain-SR
145:
Andrew Alton-Central Mountain-SR
152:
Dylan Alton-Central Mountain-SR
160:
Marshall Peppelman-Central Dauphin-SR
171:
Kenny Courts-Central Dauphin-JR
189:
Jamie Callender-Council Rock North-SR
215:
Spencer Myers-Selinsgrove-SR
285:
Evan Craig-Abington Heights-SR
Cael Sanderson --- Jeff Upson
WVU vs. PSU
12/11/2009
Congratulations Stan DuBelle on your Induction
into the PWCA Hall of Fame
41st Annual PWCA Hall of Fame- State College, PA April 25, 2010
Pictured from L to R (Darryl Kelvington, Gary Johnson, Stan DuBelle, Dick Bane, Rick Kelvington, Tom Upson)
NEW PA POWER RANKING T-SHIRTS...ON SALE NOW!
ONLY $10.00
FRONT OF SHIRT
BACK OF SHIRT
Please Keep Eric Hess and His
Family in Your Thoughts and Prayers
Pittsburgh Wrestling Club Crowns 3 Champions
In the first annual FloNationals held at Walsh Jesuit High School in Ohio, Pennsylvania shined. Scratch that, Pittsburgh shinned. The Pittsburgh Wrestling Club crowned three champions with Derry Area’s Jimmy Gulibon at 112 lbs. and Travis Shaffer at 135 lbs., along with Tyler Wilps from Charters Valley at 171 lbs. In addition to its 3 champions, the Pittsburgh WC placed 4 wrestlers. The event featured state champions and place winners from all over the nation. FloNationals was open to all high school grade levels (9-12) and made its mark as a premier off-season tournament. PA was well represented across the entire State with at least one place winner from 7 out of 12 Districts. The Districts included 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12. Of the 16 place winners from PA 12 are underclassmen and will be returning to PA wrestling next season. Two of PA’s place winners came from Prep schools, the explosive sophomore Jason Luster from Kiski Prep at 152 lbs. and Wyoming Seminary’s senior Donald McNeil at 215 lbs. There were only four weights in which a PA wrestler did not place at. Look for this event to grow in size in the coming years, especially in PA participants.
103 lbs.
6th- Austin Miller-Hempfield
8th- Godwin Nyama-Brashear
112 lbs.
1st- Jimmy Gulibon-Derry Area
125 lbs.
7th- John Pezze-Norwin
130 lbs
3rd- Ronnie Garbinsky-Tyrone Area
4th- Ty Lydic-Greater Latrobe
135 lbs.
1st- Travis Shaffer-Derry Area
5th- Matt Cimato-LaSalle College
8th- Jake Schultz-Lewistown
140 lbs.
5th- Kyle Moran-Oxford Area
152 lbs.
2nd- Jason Luster-Kiski Prep School
6th- Travis McKillop-Burrell
7th- Jordon Moss-Sharon
171 lbs.
1st- Tyler Wilps-Charters Valley
215 lbs.
4th- Donald McNeil-Wyoming Seminary
285 lbs.
2nd- Jeff Tarley-Beth-Center
2011: Derry Moves to AA Westmont Hilltop to AAA
Jimmy Gulibon has the chance to become only the tenth wrestler is PA history to win four state titles and the first since Jeremy Hunter in 1993-1996. The Derry Area sophomore just finished the season with his second dominating state title and now holds a career record of 75-2. Derry Area moved from AA to AAA in the 2008-2009 season returning to AAA for the first time since 2002. From 2002-2008 Derry competed in AA and was led by Derry Trojan, Troy Dolan, who won 3 state titles from 2005-2007. Unfortunately for AAA fans, if Gulibon does in fact win two more state titles, it will be in AA where the competition will be just as intense. Depending on how much Jimmy grows, he could be facing several accomplished wrestlers such as Arty Walsh, Randy Cruz, Cody Wheeler, and Shane Rankin. AAA will also lose senior Travis Shaffer who has already placed 3 times in Hershey. As a freshman Shaffer placed fifth at 125 lbs. when Derry was in AA, he again took fifth his sophomore year at 135 lbs. in AAA, and just this past season Travis placed fourth at 135 lbs. to end his junior season. Shaffer will certainly be in competition to capture a state title for Derry in 2011. For the past two seasons, Derry Area has brought much competition and skill to AAA and they will be missed by many. Derry is being replaced in WPIAL AAA Section 3-A by Mars Area, who will be making the jump to AAA in 2010-2011.
AAA maybe losing a great wrestler and consistent program in Derry Area, but will reload with the addition of Westmont Hilltop to AAA. Westmont Hilltop finished the 2009-2010 season with a 15-3 dual meet record and also qualified 5 wrestlers to the PIAA AA Championships, 3 of the 5 were place winners. All three place winners will return next season to compete in AAA. The addition of Westmont to District 6 AAA will help offset the losses due to graduation such as the Alton’s, Mitchell Port, and Jon Gingrich. Westmont Hilltop has competed in District 7’s Powerade Tournament for several years and has had much success in the holiday tournament. The Hilltoppers are coached by Matt Beaujon. Westmont Hilltop’s most recent state champion was Zach Bennett who captured the 189 lbs. title as a sophomore in 2007, a year prior, as a freshmen, Bennett was a state runner-up at 171 lbs. Overall I feel the addition of Westmont Hilltop to AAA will add more depth to an already deep class in both District 6 and the State.
Former Bellefonte Freshmen Honored in Atlanta
J.R. Wert, formally of Bellefonte, PA, captured his first state title as a freshmen in Georgia. He and a fellow teamate were honored in Atlanta this past week. To read the full article click here.
Central Mountain Shines Despite Injuries
The 2010 AAA State Individual Tournament was Central Mountain High School’s Tournament. The Wildcat’s coach Doug Buckwalter was named the AAA Coach of the year. Sophomore Brian Brill placed fifth at 140 lbs. Senior Zach Corl was a state runner-up at 285 lbs. and senior standouts Dylan and Andrew Alton dominated the finals for Dylan’s third state title at 152 lbs. and Andrew’s second state title at 145 lbs. The Wildcats also secured the tournaments team championship with a total of 89.0 points. It would not be complete without the Tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award going to a Central Mountain Wildcat; Andrew Alton was named the tournaments Most Outstanding Wrestler for his dominating performance at 145 lbs. Andrew had two tech-falls, including one in the finals, and two falls en route to his state championship.
Central Mountain may have done very well for themselves, but they could have done even better had the injury bug not hit. Senior Cody Dolan, ranked sixth at 215 lbs. prior to the State Tournament, was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Central Mountain endured another blow when they lost senior Jordan Rich at 135 lbs. when he broke his ankle during the second round against Canon-McMillan’s Nick Catalano. Rich had placed all three years prior to his senior season. Jordan placed seventh at 103 lbs. as a freshmen, fourth at 112 lbs. as a sophomore, and fourth at 125 lbs. his junior season. All signs pointed that before his injury, Jordan would have placed this season at 135 lbs. Rich will attend Bucknell University in the fall 2010 where he will wrestle.
Despite placing third at the State Dual Tournament after losing by one point to Team Champion Central Dauphin, Central Mountain had one of the best high school teams in the Country. I believe that the 2009-2010 season will always be remembered as the year PA witnessed two of its best teams perform in PA State history. Both Central Mountain and Central Dauphin sent three wrestlers to the finals and both produced two state champions and one runner-up. I feel both teams were champions in their own right and I will miss the intensity that the Alton twins and Marshall Peppleman brought to PA Wrestling.
After waiting in the rain to get into the finals, and the time getting later and later, I found myself encouraging Dylan, Andrew, and Marshall to pin their opponents in the finals so I could get some rest on the day-light-savings-time night. I do not think PA will see that for quite some time where 3 wrestlers are so dominate that fans expect nothing but the best from them in each and every single match. I wish all graduating seniors the best of luck in both academic and extra circular activities. Whether you choose to wrestle or not, take my advice; take advantage of the time you have in college, it goes by in a flash.
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