By T.J. Turrisi
Reynolds doesn’t usually need much help to win its duals, but the Raiders’ road will be a bit smoother this evening.
As the No. 1-seed, Reynolds (17-0) faces the fourth-seed Saegertown Panthers (6-1) in the District 10 Class AA team duals semifinals at 5 p.m. at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse. No. 2 Greenville (17-3) takes on No. 3 Fort LeBoeuf (10-3) in the other half.
Saegertown will be without its only 2009 state qualifier in Adam Armstrong (135), as well as talented freshman Zach Armstrong (145) in facing the Mercer County juggernaut.
Panthers head coach Jim Mulligan did not comment on the brothers’ recent decision to leave the team in midseason.
In last season’s matchup at the team dual championships, the Panthers were defeated 63-3 by Reynolds in the semis.
The Raiders went on to win their third D-10 straight title with a 45-19 victory over LeBoeuf.
Eight of Reynolds’ boys who wrestled the semifinal dual with the Panthers last year are back this season. Saegertown has nine out of the 14 starters returning to the lineup for 2010.
Saegertown’s lone individual winner in that match, David Cotherman, is not with the team this season.
Mulligan is going to take a straightforward approach with his lineup and see what happens.
“I am not going to bump guys around,” he said. “I am just going to take the team up. They are focused an ready to go. I just want them to learn there is nothing to be afraid of. They’ve just got to learn that and believe in themselves.
“They are relentless,” he added of Reynolds. “They will take advantage if we are nervous.”
Andrew Boylan (135, 1-4 record) and Aaron Jackson (145, 4-17) will replace the Armstrongs in the lineup. Both have seen limited action this season.
The dual will start with a matchup between Saegertown first-year freshman Anthony Ripley (11-18) and Reynolds frosh Neal Engstrom (6-10).
Rodney Harnett (13-7) and Brendan Byham (16-13) will likely do battle at 112, followed by a key match at 119.
Undefeated junior Mason Beckman (23-0) will take the mat for Reynolds against Saegertown junior Sean Byham (25-3). Beckman placed third in the PIAA last season, is a two-time PIAA placewinner, and was the Raiders’ only Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament champ this season.
“He’s had Sean’s number, but Sean is excited about the match,” Mulligan said.
Beckman is mentioned in the top five of most national high school rankings. Byham is ranked second in the northwest region by d10wrestling.com.
Reynolds follows that with returning PIAA fourth-place winner Dylan D’Urso (17-5) likely taking on Justin Mitchell (14-13) at 125. At 130, it will likely be Austin Matthews (20-5) and Cody Schultz (10-9) who recently returned from injury for the Panthers.
The Raiders’ last remaining PIAA placewinner will be Adam Matthews (4th) who has been at 135.
“We have shots in the middle,” Mulligan said. “(Tim) Clark is wrestling extremely well.”
Clark (23-5) will be at 140 and could face Justin Rhodes, who is 7-8.
Recent 100-win recipient Luke Taylor for Reynolds has a big match with strong sophomore Brock Lojek (22-11) at 152 pounds.
Mulligan is also optimistic about his upper weights with Dave Andrews (15-13, 171), Josh Tomiczek (24-8, 189) and Branden Stafford (21-8, 285).
“I’ve told my team, there’s 27 or 28 different teams in the district that would love to be here,” he said. “I personally think Reynolds, Greenville and Fort LeBoeuf are in the top 10 in the state right now. We just happen to be the fourth or fifth best team in the district. It’s an exciting time right now.”
The district champ will move on to the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals to face one of several teams on Friday, Feb. 12. Those vying for that spot include the D-12 and D-1 champs, the D-3 runner-up and the D-2 winner.
The D-10 runner-up advances to the PIAA first round to face the WPIAL second-place finisher on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at a time and place to be determined.
T.J. Turrisi can be reached at 724-6370, ext. 276 or by e-mail at tjturrisi@meadvilletribune.com.
District 10 Class AA semifinals
at Edinboro University
No. 1 Reynolds (17-0) vs. No. 4 Saegertown (6-1)
103: Neal Engstrom (R) vs. Anthony Ripley (St); 112: Rodney Harnett (R) vs. Brendan Byham (St); 119: Mason Beckman (R) vs. Sean Byham (St); 125: Dylan D’Urso (R) vs. Justin Mitchell (St); 130: Austin Matthews (R) vs. Cody Schultz (St); 135: Adam Matthews (R) vs. Andrew Boylan (St); 140: Justin Rhodes (R) vs. Tim Clark (St); 145: Tyler Miller (R) vs. Aaron Jackson (St); 152: Luke Taylor (R) vs. Brock Lojek (St); 160: Tyler Rhodes (R) vs. Brock Henderson (St); 171: Jeremy Fowler (R) vs. Dave Andrews (St); 189: Greg Baptiste (R) vs. Josh Tomiczek (St); 215: Jamar Henry (R) vs. Casey Chapman (St); 285: Blake Heim (R) vs. Branden Stafford (St).
No. 2 Greenville (17-3) vs. No. 3 Ft. LeBoeuf (10-3)
103: Matt Wilkerson (Gv) vs. Jack Middleton (FLB); 112: Brandon Puckly (FLB) vs. TBD; 119: Jacob Brown (Gv) vs. Taylor Fox (FLB); 125: Jacob Riffe (Gv) vs. Mitch Kaltenbaugh (FLB); 130: Blake Horne (Gv) vs. Cody Pace (FLB); 135: Luke Marshall (Gv) vs. Riley Smith (FLB); 140: Cody Copeland (Gv) vs. David Church (FLB); 145: Randy Perkins (Gv) vs. Shawn Stancliff (FLB); 152: David Holiga (Gv) vs. Jeremy King (FLB); 160: Tyler Landfried (Gv) vs. Casey Pace (FLB); 171: Ryan Kuhn (Gv) vs. Craig Cihon (FLB); 189: R.J. Malson (Gv) vs. Evan Dailey (FLB); 215: Nick Weaver (Gv) vs. Lee Zeigler (FLB); 285: Dillon Sarcinella (Gv) vs. Brandon Bradney (FLB).
