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By JOE PETRUCCI
jpetrucci@leader.net
Saturday, March 08, 2003 Page: 3B
HERSHEY Lake-Lehman senior Willie Weber wrestled better than ever on
Friday at the PIAA Wrestling Championships. He was aggressive, shot well and
was very much in both his matches.
But the Black Knight has nothing to show for it, and a questionable
unsportsmanlike conduct call against him all but ended his stellar high school
career without a state medal.
“He wrestled so hard, and he has nothing to show for it,” said Lehman coach
Phil Lipski.
After Weber lost 5-4 to Cochranton junior Nate Hogue in the Class 2A
160-pound quarterfinals, Weber was tied with Brookville’s Matt Gilbert 1-1
late in the third. Weber was clearly the aggressor and Lipski was asking for a
stalling call on Gilbert from the official.
Weber never got it, and after being called out of bounds, Weber, in
frustration, muttered to himself, “Jesus Christ” with about 15 seconds to go
in the bout. The unsportsmanlike conduct call gave Gilbert a 2-1 lead. Weber
couldn’t register a point in the final seconds.
“I mumbled it, out of exhaustion,” said Weber, who lost two hard-fought
finals at districts and regionals to Carlo Mercadante of Meyers. “I wasn’t
saying it to a ref. I didn’t even look at him.”
Lipski felt the words he directed at the official also had an impact on the
call.
“He got called on a superficial incidental because I’m working the ref,”
Lipski said.
Weber has battled questionable calls particularly on the edge of the mat
since the district final against Mercadante.
“A couple times when he backpedaled out of bounds, I thought he should have
been called for stalling,” said Weber, who calmly accepted the outcome. “It’s
kind of disappointing. I look and see Mercadante in the finals and he has a
good shot. I should definitely be placing.”
Weber wishes it never happened, but feels he didn’t do anything seriously
wrong.
“I definitely regret saying it … but I would do it again,” Weber said.