Maples fall in wrestling team playoffs
CLAYSVILLE — Mapletown’s highly successful team wrestling season ended Wednesday night as the Maples fell to South Fayette, 70-3, at McGuffey High School in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.
This was Mapletown’s first ever appearance in the team playoffs, as the program was restarted five years ago.
The Maples (11-10) got to the Class AA playoffs by way of a 48-21 triumph over Mount Pleasant last week in the Section 2-AA fifth-place match-up.
“We all knew tonight was going to be a tough match for us,” Mapletown coach Chris Shilk said. “I was really happy with the wins we got against Bentworth and Mount Pleasant over the last couple of weeks. Those were big wins for us and I give the kids a lot of credit for a great season. South Fayette is a big school and has been here before.”
The Lions (14-6) faced McGuffey, a 62-7 winner over South Side Beaver in the other first-round contest, later in the night. The winner of that match-up advanced to the semifinals on Saturday at Chartiers-Houston.
Mapletown had some wrestlers sit out the first round dual because of injuries and couldn’t overcome South Fayette’s experience and depth throughout the evening.
The Lions took a 24-0 lead through the first four matches by way of two pins and two forfeits.
The Maples got on the board when Shawn Hennessey recorded a 6-4 decision at 182 over Mark Kurchena.
After both grapplers were shut out in the first period, Hennessey carried a 3-2 edge into the third period.
The senior grappler than earned an escape and a takedown in the final period to increase his lead and held onto the win after a late takedown forced him to his back.
“Shawn is finally healthy and I was happy that he got the win tonight,” Shilk said. “He has been with this program for years and we knew if he could stay aggressive on top he could win. They were even on their feet and the difference maker was his ability to turn the kid when he was on top. This is a great moment for him in this environment.”
Cory Supan pinned Tanner Weston at 3:25 in the 195 contest, followed by a forfeit to the Lions at 220 and then a hard-fought pin by Rasaun Culberson over Harley Gee at 285.
After a forfeit to South Fayette at 106, Mapletown had a chance to get points at 113, but South Fayette’s Gary Loeffler edged out Noah Hixon 6-4 in overtime.
The Lions wrapped up the contest with a forfeit at 120, a major decision at 126, a second-period pin at 132 and then a decision at 138.
Despite the end of their team season, the Maples will be back in action on Feb. 20 at McGuffey in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Sectionals.
“To get here and to introduce this type of environment to our kids is huge,” Shilk said. “We knew that this could be a special year for us in the off-season. We had the most numbers we had in the preseason and we knew we were going to be able to fill out a line-up. We had a nice crop of kids coming up and our experienced guys led this team.”