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WILLIAMSPORT — Finally, Zac Faust has exorcised that Magic Dome demon that’s been haunting him for the last few years.
The GAR 195-pound grappler won that golden ticket to the Giant Center in Hershey.
Faust used a business-like performance in his semifinal against Milton’s Gage Heller, and scored a reversal with 20 seconds left against Benton’s Logan Womelsdorf in the championship to earn gold at the PIAA Class 2A Northeast Regional tournament Saturday in Williamsport.
“I just wanted to score. I knew that I needed at least one point,” Faust said. “And I ended up hitting a nice reversal to end up on top. To win a regional title is great. To win a regional title with my best friend Saul (Wilkins) is even better.”
District 2 brought home three gold medals in all. In addition to Faust, GAR’s Saul Wilkins pinned Line Mountain’s Garrett Kieffer in the second period of the heavyweight championship, and Charlie Johnson’s third-period escape at 126 was the difference in a 3-2 win over Central Columbia’s Lewis Williams.
A total of seven Wyoming Valley Conference wrestlers earned a trip to the 2A bracket next week. Included in that group are Meyers’ Colin Pasone (106) and TJ Cistrunk (182), Lehman’s RJ Driscoll (120) and Derek Dragon (170), Wyoming Area’s Johnson (126) and GAR’s Faust (195) and Wilkins (285)
Other District 2 wrestlers that qualified for states included 220-pounders Cole Fuller of Western Wayne and Scranton Prep’s Thor Balavage.
It will be the second straight trip to the state tournament for Johnson, Dragon and Wilkins.
“It’s been like a bad curse for him, so it’s nice that Zac got that off his back,” GAR head coach Rick Simon said. “Now, he has that trip to states and he was able to reach one of his goals. The reason you wrestle is to experience that entire state atmosphere, and now, Zac will be able to do that. He will get his opportunity to wrestle with the best of the best.”
Williamsport hasn’t been kind to Faust at all. In his first three years, the GAR 195-pounder won just one match – an 8-7 victory when he was a sophomore.
Last year appeared to be the one. But he sustained an injury in his championship quarterfinal against Canton’s Connor Route, which forced him out of the tournament. His regional record entering this year’s event was 1-6.
This year, nothing was stopping him. And when he rolled through Womelsdorf’s grasp and scored the two-point, bout-clinching reversal for the 2-1 victory, his journey was complete.
Watching Faust just fired up Wilkins more.
The heavyweight got two takedowns in his final before rolling the Line Mountain sophomore to his back in the second period.
It’s the second regional title for Wilkins, a 36-match winner.
“I knew I was going to push him hard for all six minutes, but I saw an opportunity and I took it,” Wilkins said. “And when I saw my man Zac pull his match out, I couldn’t contain myself. We’ve both worked hard for everything and that hard work paid off.”
Johnson, who rolled through his semifinal, found himself in a battle with District 4 champ Williams. The Wyoming Area junior got a third-period escape and fought off two Williams’ shots in the final seconds en route to the 3-2 victory.
“I couldn’t really get my shot off, and when I saw there was like 22 seconds left, I knew that I had to play defense the whole time,” said Johnson, a two-time state qualifier. “I’m just ready. I just have to focus on what the real goal is, and that’s getting on the state podium. The undefeated record really means nothing.”
Pasone, who lost his first match Friday night, rolled through Hanover Area’s Jeff Bennett and used a two-point victory over Line Mountain’s Collin Klinger to reach the third-place match against No. 8 seed Dennis Route. There, he dominated to an 11-1 major decision.
Driscoll’s path was similar to Pasone’s. He lost his opener to Wyalusing’s Josh Haley, but rolled in the consolation bracket – defeating Milton’s Noah Stamm and Hughesville’s Trevor Sones to earn rematch with Haley in the third-place bout. The Lehman sophomore was pinned in the second period of that bout.
At 170, Dragon found himself in a tussle with Montoursville freshman Gavin Hoffman in the championship semifinals, tied 1 late in the third period. But the Warrior hit a five-point move on Dragon with less than 10 seconds left to secure the victory. Dragon, though, earned his ticket to Hershey after a major decision over Benton’s Jeremy Walsh in the consolation finals before grabbing the third-place finish over Milton’s Brandon Stokes.
Cistrunk also bounced back after his first loss of the tournament, decking Southern Columbia’s Steve Toczlousky in the second period. He wasn’t on the mat very long in his third-place match, dropping Towanda’s Dakoatah Manning in just 29 seconds.
PIAA Class 2A Northeast Regional
Teams: Athens (AT), Benton (BEN), Bloomsburg (BLOOM), Blue Ridge (BR), Canton (CAN), Central Columbia (CC), Elk Lake (EL), GAR (GAR), Hanover Area (HA), Hughesville (HU), Lackawanna Trail (LT), Lake-Lehman (LL), Lewisburg (LEW), Line Mountain (LM), Meyers (MEY), Midd-West (MW), Mifflinburg (MIF), Milton (MIL), Montoursville (MONT), Montrose (MT), Montgomery (MG), Mount Carmel (MCA), Muncy (MUN), Scranton Prep (SP), Shamokin (SHA), South Williamsport (SW), Southern Columbia (SCA), Sullivan Count (SC), Towanda (TOW), Troy (TY), Valley View (VV), Warrior Run (WR), Western Wayne (WW), Williamson (WILL), Wyalusing (WY), Wyoming Area (WA).
Top 10
1. Wyalusing, 87; 2. Benton 79.5; 3. Montoursville, 70.5; 4. Southern Columbia, 64.5; 5. Lewisburg, 50; 6. Line Mountain, 41; 7. GAR, 40; 8. Troy, 34.5; 9. Towanda, 32; 9. Warrior Run, 32.
Championship Semifinals
106: Alan Diltz (BEN) dec. Collin Klinger (LM), 9-4; Jaret Lane (SCA) dec. Wyatt Lutz (MONT), 3-1.
113: Cameron Newman (LM) dec. Brian Friery (LEW), 3-0; Angelo Barberio (MUN) dec. Lucas Drick (MG), 3-0.
120: Brian Courtney (AT) dec. Josh Haley (WY), 4-3; Jordan Gessner (LEW) maj dec. Trevor Sones (HU), 12-2.
126: Lewis Williams (CC) dec. Eric Hunt (WR), 3-1 OT; Charlie Johnson (WA) maj dec. Mike Stuart (BEN), 14-2
132: Zack Lebarron (WR) maj dec. Anthony Vitale (BEN), 8-0; Creighton Edsell (WY) dec. Carl Gorg (WILL), 8-7.
138: Collin Edsell (WY) dec. Nate Jones (SW), 1-0; Keith Batkowski (MONT) dec. Sam Miller (BLOOM), 5-1.
145: Kent Lane (SCA) dec. Dakota Nixon (MUN), 3-0; Zach Fry (HU) pinned Steven Yates (TOW), 1:32
152: Billy Barnes (SCA) dec. Dayton Wickwire (TOW), 11-4; Dominic Vitale (BEN) won by injury default over Tanner Ebright (MW), 0:42.
160: Cole Walter (MIFF) tech fall over Ki Thompson (WILL), 15-0, 3:26; Justin Haley (WY) dec. Josiah Miller (SA), 5-0.
170: Nick Stephan (TY) dec. Brandon Stokes (MIL), 9-3; Gavin Hoffman (MONT) dec. Derek Dragon (LL), 6-1.
182: Garrett Hoffman (MONT) tech fall over Blaise Cleveland (EL), 16-0, 5:27; Logan Aikey (LEW) dec. TJ Cistrunk (MEY), 12-7.
195: Logan Womelsdorf (BEN) pinned Tyler Cole (CAN), 3:21; Zac Faust (GAR) dec. Gage Heller (MIL), 6-0.
220: Dylan Otis (WY) pinned Cole Fuller (WW), 0:29; Ben Cerney (MONT) dec. Thor Balavage (SP), 2-1.
285: Saul Wilkins (GAR) dec. Jordan Troup (BLOOM), 5-1; Garrett Kieffer (LM) pinned Dylan Brennan (TY), 0:51
Championship Finals
106: Alan Diltz (BEN) tech fall over Jaret Lane (SCA), 17-1, 6:00
113: Cameron Newman (LM) dec. Angelo Barberio (MUN), 4-1
120: Brian Courtney (AT) dec. Jordan Gessner (LEW), 12-6.
126: Charlie Johnson (WA) dec. Lewis Williams (CC), 3-2
132: Zack Lebarron (WR) pinned Creighton Edsell (WY), 2:26
138: Collin Edsell (WY) dec. Keith Batkowski (MONT), 3-1
145: Kent Lane (SCA) tech fall over Zach Fry (HU), 15-0, 4:40
152: Billy Barnes (SCA) dec. Dominic Vitale (BEN), 8-2
160: Cole Walter (MIFF) tech fall over Justin Haley (WY), 18-2, 2:56
170: Nick Stephani (TY) dec. Gavin Hoffman (MONT), 5-2
182: Garrett Hoffman (MONT) dec. Logan Aikey (LEW), 4-1
195: Zac Faust (GAR) dec. Logan Womelsdorf (BEN), 2-1
220: Dylan Otis (WY) dec. Ben Cerney (MONT), 5-0
285: Saul Wilkins (GAR) pinned Garrett Kieffer (LM), 3:54
Consolation Quarterfinals
106: Dennis Route (CAN) pinned Jacob O’Brien (MT), 1:28; Colin Pasone (MEY) maj dec. Jeff Bennett (HA), 17-4
113: Brandon Judge (VV) won by forfeit; Shane Casey (SCA) pinned Garrett Kolb (LL), 3:54
120: RJ Driscoll (LL) dec. Noah Stamm (MIL), 7-3; Brett Uhrin (VV) pinned Anthony Kasper (MEY), 1:41
126: Kaidon Winters (AT) pinned Kevin Huertero (MEY), 1:51; Dalton Revels (TY) pinned Braden McIntosh (WW), 3:26.
132: Blake Carl (LM) pinned Patrick Heck (WA), 1:36; Zack Meckes (VV) maj dec. Tyler Baltrusaitis (LT), 14-1.
138: Travis Butcher (CAN) dec. Tyler Patronick (MEY), 12-6; Josh Sayre (LL) maj dec. Noah Ratkowski (HA), 14-3.
145: Cody Klinger(BLOOM) maj dec. Harrison Clookey (WW), 13-0;
152: Zack Bennett (MIL) dec. Jimmy Stuart (LL), 5-2; Matt Judge (VV) dec. Gino Setta (MEY), 5-0.
160: Breycin Fulmer (TOW) maj dec. Quince Hutchings (MEY), 12-4; Josh Brown (WW) pinned Rocco Pacini (LT), 2:32.
170: Jeremy Walsh (BEN) maj dec. Derek Fisher (NANT), 8-0; Dylan Ammerman (SC) dec. Jude Polit-Moran (WA), 6-0.
182: Steve Toczlousky (SCA) dec. Zach Zimmerman (TY), 6-3; Dakoatah Manning (TOW) pinned Justin Joseph (WA), 3:45.
195: Dakota Swoyer (WW) pinned Warner Mendoza (WY), 1:20; Allen Yancoskie (MCA) dec. Mike Slivinski (LL), 9-6
220: Roger Horton (AT) pinned Mitch Peters (TOW), 3:54; Wes Shurock (MCA) pinned Moe Toure (GAR), 4:37.
285: Jon Ward (LEW) pinned Zach Roediger (HA), 0:52; Dawson Otis (WY) pinned Zach Venesky (VV), 1:29.
Consolation Semifinals
106: Dennis Route (CAN) dec. Wyatt Lutz (MONT), 7-2; Colin Pasone (MEY) dec. Collin Klinger (LM), 5-3.
113: Shane Casey (SCA) dec. Lucas Drick (MG), 4-0; Brian Friery (LEW) pinned Brandon Judge (VV), 3:41.
120: RJ Driscoll (LL) dec. Trevor Sones (HU), 4-3; Josh Haley (WY) maj dec. Brett Uhrin (VV), 9-0.
126: Mike Stuart (BEN) maj dec. Kaidon Winters (AT), 9-0; Eric Hunt (WR) dec. Dalton Revels (TY), 7-5.
132: Carl Gorg (WILL) dec. Blake Carl (LM), 6-4; Anthony Vitale (BEN) dec. Zack Meckes (VV), 7-6.
138: Sam Miller (BLOOM) dec. Travis Butcher (CAN), 8-5; Nate Jones (SW) dec. Josh Sayre (LL), 6-3.
145: Cody Klinger (BLOOM) dec. Steven Yates (TOW), 2-1; Dakota Nixon (MUN) dec. Dalton Hogle (BR), 10-3
152: Zack Bennett (MIL) won by forfeit; Dayton Wickwire (TOW) pinned Matt Judge (VV), 1:55
160: Breycin Fulmer (TOW) dec. Josiah Miller (SA), 5-4; Ki Thompson (WILL) pinned Josh Brown (WW), 0:26
170: Derek Dragon (LL) maj dec. Jeremy Walsh (BEN), 15-5; Brandon Stokes (MIL) dec. Dylan Ammerman (SC), 4-2.
182: TJ Cistrunk (MEY) pinned Steve Toczylousky (SCA), 2:27; Dakoatah Manning (TOW) won by disqualification over Blaise Cleveland (EL), 4:59
195: Gage Heller (MIL) dec. Dakota Swoyer (WW), 3-1 OT; Tyler Cole (CAN) maj dec. Allen Yancoskie (MCA), 11-0.
220: Thor Balavage (SP) dec. Roger Horton (AT), 3-2; Cole Fuller (WW) maj dec. Wes Shurock (MCA), 11-3.
285: Dylan Brennan (TY) dec. Jon Ward (LEW), 3-1; Jordan Troup (BLOOM) dec. Dawson Otis (WY), 5-4 UTB.
Consolation Finals (3rd place match)
106: Colin Pasone (MEY) maj dec. Dennis Route (CAN), 11-1
113: Brian Friery (LEW) dec. Shane Casey (SCA), 4-1
120: Josh Haley (WY) pinned RJ Driscoll (LL), 1:55
126: Mike Stuart (BEN) dec. Eric Hunt (WR), 5-2
132: Anthony Vitale (BEN) dec. Carl Gorg (WILL), 3-1
138: Sam Miller (BLOOM) dec. Nate Jones (SW), 7-3
145: Dakota Nixon (MUN) dec. Cody Klinger (BLOOM), 3-2 UTB
152: Dayton Wickwire (TOW) dec. Zack Bennett (MIL), 7-1
160: Ki Thompson (WILL) dec. Breycin Fulmer (TOW), 7-0
170: Derek Dragon (LL) dec. Brandon Stokes (MIL), 5-1
182: TJ Cistrunk (MEY) pinned Dakoatah Manning (TOW), 0:29
195: Tyler Cole (CAN) pinned Gage Heller (MIL), 2:19
220: Thor Balavage (SP) pinned Cole Fuller (WW), 3:34
285: Dylan Brennan (TY) pinned Jordan Troup (BLOOM), 0:59
5th-6th matches
106: Collin Klinger (LM) dec. Wyatt Lutz (MONT), 4-2 OT
113: Brandon Judge (VV) pinned Lucas Drick (MG), 2:25
120: Trevor Sones (HU) pinned Brett Uhrin (VV), 3:19
126: Kaidon Winters (AT) dec. Dalton Revels (TY), 9-2
132: Blake Carl (LM) dec. Zack Meckes (VV), 10-3
138: Josh Sayre (LL) dec. Travis Butcher (CAN), 3-2
145: Steven Yates (TOW) dec. Dalton Hogle (BR), 4-3
152: Matt Judge (VV) won by forfeit
160: Josh Brown (WW) dec. Josiah Miller (SA), 7-1
170: Jeremy Walsh (BEN) dec. Dylan Ammerman (SC), 9-7
182: Steve Toczylousky (SCA) won by disqualification of Blaise Cleveland (EL)
195: Allen Yancoskie (MCA) dec. Dakota Swoyer (WW), 7-2
220: Roger Horton (AT) dec. Wes Shurock (MCA), 6-0
285: Dawson Otis (WY) dec. Jon Ward (LEW), 2-1