By T.J. Turrisi
March 14, 2010 — HERSHEY — Reynolds’ 119-pounder Mason Beckman climbed to the top of the podium and placed a big cherry on top of a sweet 49-0 season Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey.
The Raiders junior is well-known for his prowess in the neutral position, but it would be his hard work in the offseason on top that brought home his first gold.
With a 2-0 lead from an escape and penalty points in the second period, he rode Benton’s Michael Rhone through the final two minutes.
“Last season and my freshman year I had a lot of trouble riding guys, turning guys and things like that,” Beckman said. “It actually got to the point where if I couldn’t take you down, I couldn’t beat you.
“This summer my brother and my dad said I have to get better on top. It’s the only way I am going to win. So all summer long and all season in practice I’ve been working on top. And sure enough, in the biggest match of the year it shows.”
After earning the match’s first point with 56 ticks left in the second frame, Beckman got in on a deep single-leg and Rhone headed for the outside circle.
With Rhone’s leg as the rope, the two played tug-of-war, and Rhone decided to grab the edge of the mat for extra leverage.
“He was kicking pretty hard for the out-of-bounds line and I was pulling back with all I had,” Beckman said. “It was extremely surprising when he grabbed the edge of the mat. But I’ll take a point either way. I would have preferred the two, but that one was a big point.”
When the match ended, Beckman threw his arms in the air and let out a scream of victory. As a freshman (2nd) and sophomore (3rd) he had come close but this time the bracket was all his.
“It’s absolutely indescribable,” he said. “You dream about it for so long and watch so many other guys win it and come so close. You finally get there and you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s like you’re walking on air. It’s surreal.”
Surreal but lots and lots of fun.
In 2010, in addition to the PIAA title, Beckman also won titles at the Ironman, King of the Mountain and Manheim Tournaments.
“It’s been a blast, and the biggest difference between last year and this year is that I have just been having a ton of fun,” he said. “Every day in practice I came in with a smile on my face. I practiced harder every night. This year I focused more on giving everything I’ve got for six minutes rather than wins and losses.”
Beckman is now 147-12 in a three-year career.
Commodore Perry junior Stephen Ceremuga also closed his season with a perfect mark, taking a 5-4 decision in the 189-pound finals for a 42-0 record.
He became the Panthers’ sixth state titleist in school history and the first since Nevada Walker in 1998. The gold-medal win came against Travis Chesla from Towanda.
For Ceremuga, the difference was also the offseason workouts.
“The difference was the extra time in the summer,” he said. “People underestimate the power of going in three times a week and going on a wrestling mat and drilling with a friend just for a half-an-hour. It got me the state championship.
“All summer long I thought to myself about everything I did, ‘Will this help me on the wrestling mat?’”
Ceremuga was a PIAA qualifier in 2009 but did not win a medal. Now his sights are set much higher.
“I wanna win it next year,” he said. “I’ll be the only one from Commodore Perry to ever get two. That’s what I want.”
Ceremuga is 104-24 with his senior season remaining.
Also reaching the finals from D-10 were Jordan Moss (145) from Sharon and Seneca’s Matt Mongera (215).
Moss lost a 6-3 decision to Nick Carr of South Fayette, scoring the first takedown but giving up four straight points and allowing the clinching takedown with just one second left in the third.
Mongera held a 1-0 edge on Lackawanna Trail’s Eric Laytos in the second period, but Laytos flattened the Bobcats’ sophomore at the 2:16 mark.
Moss’ 2009-10 record was 45-1, and he finished his career with a 166-9 mark with four state medals.
Mongera was 41-14 this season and is 70-25 in his first two varsity seasons.
