Good haul: Raiders earn 5 medals at Powerade Tournament
Mac Church of Waynesburg Central (front) tries to break free of Nic Bouzakis of Wyoming Seminary Thursday in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School, Bouzakis won a 3-2 decision in the 132-pound finals. (Photo by Marc Billett)
Waynesburg Central蘑菇视频 Joe Simon (back) keeps a hold of Adam Schweitzer of Notre Dame Green Pond during the 120-pound weight class Thursday in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School. Simon won a 5-1 decision. (Photo by Joe Tuscano)
Rocco Welsh (right) of Waynesburg Central locks up with Gabe Annold of Wyoming Seminary during a consolation bout Thursday in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School. Welsh won a 4-3 decision.
Mac Church of Wayesburg Central has his hands full with Nic Bouzakis of Wyoming Seminary during the 132-pound finals Thursday in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School. Bouzakis won a 3-2 decision. (Photo by Marc Billett)
CANONSBURG 鈥� You could see the disappointment in his face and sadness in his eyes.
Mac Church, a junior from Waynesburg Central High School, had just come within one point of sending his match into overtime, and two points of putting the match against Nic Bouzakis of Wyoming Seminary in his pocket.
Instead, it was Church left questioning himself after a 3-2 loss to Bouzakis in the 132-pound finals of the Powerade Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School Thursday afternoon.
鈥淚 feel I鈥檓 better than these kids,鈥� Church said. 鈥淚 get too nervous in these matches. I think I have to relax out there and start believing in myself, which I鈥檝e think I鈥檝e done. I feel nine times out of 10 I can beat that kid.鈥�
Over the past three weeks, Church has lost to the No.1-ranked wrestler in his weight class in the country, Bouzakis; and the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the country in Nasir Bailey of Rich Township in the Walsh Ironman Tournnament; and defeated the No. 3 ranked wrestler in the country, Cameron Catrabone of Williamsville-North, N.Y., in Powerade.
But one out of three does not meet Church蘑菇视频 expectations.
鈥淚鈥檓 angry because I lost this and I wanted to win this tournament again,鈥� said Church, a returning state champion. 鈥淚f I keep training like I am (for) the rest of the year, I might win all these tournaments next year. I have to start worrying about how strong I am and not how strong the other kids are. I have to stop worrying about other kids and worry about myself.鈥�
Nick Feldman of Malvern Prep was named Outstanding Wrestler after winning the heavyweight class.
Dayton Pitzer of Mount Pleasant won the pin award, sticking four opponents in 3:48 on the way to winning the 215-pound title. Pitzer won a 4-2 decision over TJ Stewart of Blair Academy, N.J., in the final.
Church was one of five medalists for Waynesburg: Joseph Simon (120), Rocco Welsh (172), Brody Evans (189) and Noah Tustin (Hvy) were the others.
Simon took third in his weight class after a 3-1 decision over Gavin Caprella of Lima Central Catholic in Ohio. Simon registered an escape and takedown in the final 1:23 of the match.
Welsh took third at 172 with a 4-2 decision over Rune Lawrence of Frazier. Lawrence, a returning state champion, went 4-2 in the tournament.
But it was the bout before that one that tried Welsh蘑菇视频 patience. Welsh built a 3-0 lead heading into the third period against top-seeded Gabe Arnold of Wyoming Seminary.
Arnold escaped to make it 3-1, then drove into Welsh with a double-leg takedown to tie it 3-3 and hurting Welsh in the process. Welsh shook it off and escaped with 23 seconds left for the win.
鈥淗e hit me right above the eyebrows,鈥� Welsh said. 鈥淚t蘑菇视频 getting crazy. There are a lot of good kids here. This gets me ready for the postseason. I wrestled him a couple months ago at 鈥榃ho蘑菇视频 No.1?鈥� and he beat me in overtime. So that one felt good to get back.鈥�
Evans wrapped up seventh place at 189 with a 3-1 decision over A.J. Frichione of Bergen Catholic, N.J. Evans led the whole way after a first-period takedown.
Tustin ended in sixth place at heavyweight after being pinned by Dom Brogna of Bergen Catholic in 3:27.
Connellsville蘑菇视频 Jared Keslar went 4-2 at 160 and place fourth. The Falcons finished 10th in the team standings.
Mount Pleasant ended up 26th in the 65-team field and Frazier was 53rd.