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By JOE PETRUCCI
jpetrucci@leader.net
Saturday, March 08, 2003 Page: 1B
HERSHEY – Maybe because he was still a little giddy, Berwick 112-pound
senior Jeremy Griffith didn’t know where to rank his second-round consolation
victory on Friday.
But by conventional standards, it’s easy. When you beat a returning state
silver medalist who entered the PIAA Wrestling Championships undefeated and
guarantee yourself a medal, that’s the tops.
Griffith, eighth here last year, hung on in the third period to defeat
Clearfield sophomore Brad Pataky and move on to third-round consolations. He
was one of five WVC wrestlers still alive in Class 3A action who were
aggressive offensively and guaranteed a medal for a top-eight finish.
Berwick’s Nick Yalch (130) and Mike Viti (215), Pittston Area’s John
Laboranti (189) and Coughlin’s Ryan Kittrick (275) also will receive medals.
Which medal they wrestle for will be decided this morning as third-round
consolations will run simultaneously with championship semifinals starting at
9 a.m. Fourth-round consolations are slated for 10:30, with consolation finals
(the bouts for third, fifth and seventh) are at 6 p.m. Championship finals
start at 8.
An escape to start the third period gave Griffith an 8-2 lead, but Pataky
(22-2) caught him in a roll-away, resulting in a five-point move with 50
seconds left that drew him within 8-7. Griffith responded with a reversal and
two takedowns in the final 35 seconds, however, to win 14-9.
“It got real close and I knew it was coming,” said Griffith, who will
next face Quakertown sophomore Nate Nauroth (36-6), the Southeast bronze
medalist. “I couldn’t go out not placing after I did last year.”
After getting pinned in the quarterfinals by Upper Merion sophomore Clint
Collins (28-0), Yalch was down 6-3 against Governor Mifflin junior Chris Ramos
(25-5) heading into the third. The four-time District 2 champion for the
Bulldogs started on bottom and quickly got an escape. As time wound down,
Yalch used his favorite move for a takedown with about 15 seconds to go and
three near-fall points came at the buzzer for a 9-6 win.
“Half my points come on that move,” said Yalch. “It’s like taking the
legs out on a table. It opens up a lot. Kids never see it coming.”
Yalch will next meet Hempfield senior Corey Schwerin (36-5), the South
Central third-place finisher.
Viti (34-5) was finally able to get some offense going. Having only scored
four points in his two bouts on Thursday, Viti got two takedowns against North
Allegheny senior Chris Glomb (28-10) in a 5-2 victory. Glomb made the mistake
of trying to get into a brawl with the muscular Bulldog junior.
“I made him think that I was going to tie up with him and I was able to
get a nice single on him,” said Viti, who will face Easton’s Marcus Millen
(36-10), who he beat in the semifinals at regionals, in the third-round
consolations. “As the rounds go on, I’m getting more confident, just like at
regionals.”
Laboranti (35-2), who also had difficulties scoring, used a third-period
flurry to wear down North Allegheny senior Eric Cassidy (37-4), the Southwest
champ. The Patriot junior district champ was down 2-0 heading into the third,
but scored a quick escape and soon after hit a takedown and two near-fall
points en route to a 10-5 decision. Laboranti used slide-bys for two takedowns
in the third.
“I made him tired. I had a side headlock that choked him,” said
Laboranti, Pittston Area’s first medalist since Jason (second) and James
(third) Woodall in 2000. “I was trying to get him off balance. He was leaning
on me.”
Laboranti will next face Solanco senior Bret Caldwell (36-7), the South
Central bronze medalist, this morning.
Kittrick (34-4) had lost to his second-round consolation opponent Jason
Groller (35-13) of Easton in their previous two meetings – including 6-2 at
last weekend’s regional tournament. Kittrick’s second-period takedown and a
third-period escape held up against Groller, the Northeast champ, who got
aggressive too late.
“(Coughlin coach Dana) Balum and I knew, everybody looks for the overtime
or double-overtime win down here,” said Kittrick, who will become Coughlin’s
first medalist since Bucky Greeley (fifth) in 1990. “They’re not looking for
low-percentage moves. He told me to go for them.”
The satisfaction for Kittrick, who won his first district title two weeks
ago and will next face Kiski Area senior Branden Rupert (31-8), the Southwest
runner-up, was significant.
“You come down here, everybody knows you’re good,” Kittrick said. “You
get a medal, everybody knows you’re great.”