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HERSHEY — Eric Laytos is chasing District 2 history.
Sure, the Lackawanna Trail junior has a long way to go, but with a successful tournament this weekend he could be in position to become the second three-time PIAA Champion from the district. The only other athlete to accomplish the feat was Meyers’ Jay Patterson in 1978, 1979 and 1980. Abington Heights’ Evan Craig got to the finals three times, but won twice, the last being in 2010.
Laytos, a 215-pounder, opened his 2011 PIAA Class 2A tournament on Thursday the same way he ended the 2010 event when he won the state title – with a fall.
This time, he pinned Bethlehem Catholic’s Josh Alpha in 4:28.
“Just throw it in when you get a chance to do it, then wrapped it around his head and throw him,” Laytos said about his pinning combination. “It’s nice to win (in the preliminary round) and show everyone I can do it again, that I’m going for it again.”
Laytos is not only a defending state champion after becoming the first in school history, he is the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the state by many outlets and is the favorite by several to claim another title.
But the Lions’ standout is not bothered by the pressure.
“You can’t let the pressure get to you,” the Trail grappler added. “Of course there’s everyone who is waiting for you to lose, but that’s just how they are. It’s not a big deal.”
Laytos was one of eight defending champions in Class 2A to open the tournament with a win. None of the returning champions in either classification lost Thursday.
FALLING FAST
Only three pins in the championship round of the Class 2A tournament were under one minute on Thursday, and two of them occurred at 215.
The quickest fall of the round was by Tamaqua’s Garth Lakitsky, who pinned his opponent in 46 seconds. Danville’s Dylan Dailey recorded the second fastest fall in 2A with a 50-second pin.
The quickest pin overall in the championship rounds came from Pittsburgh Central Catholic 189-pounder Perry Hills. The Class 3A wrestler pinned his opponent in 38 seconds. His next opponent is defending state champion Kenny Courts from Central Dauphin, who had the second fastest fall in 3A – getting his opponent on his back in 1:00.
ONE DOESN’T SURVIVE
Hardly any upsets occurred during Day 1 of state tournament action.
In both classes, only one of the grapplers who entered unbeaten or as a defending state titlist lost his first match.
That unwanted honor goes to Trinity 215-pounder Kyle McWreath, who lost and saw his undefeated record fall to 32-1 in Class 3A.
There will be at least two unbeatens to go down today. In Class 3A, South Western’s Cameron Throckmorton (36-0) and Nazareth’s Zach Horan (46-0) will meet in the 130-pound quarters. The other matchup of lossless opponents will be at 171 where Bethel Park’s Nick Bonaccorsi (40-0) and Plymouth Whitemarsh’s JM Staudenmayer (39-0) will hook up.
BACK IN ACTION
After a three-year stint helping Meyers coaches, Frank Kastreva is returning to the media side of the sport.
Kastreva, who was known as the proprietor of WVCD2.com, will begin a statewide rankings poll next season.
The new website, which will begin ranking Class 2A and 3A wrestlers beginning Oct. 31, is www.premierparankings.com. The poll will list the top 16 grapplers and teams in each classification. Kastreva and Sean McMahon will also be hosting a live webcast Sunday nights beginning next season and plan to broadcast finals of tournaments from around the state with video and audio.
The site is running now, but the rankings won’t begin until next season.