Connellsville youth wrestling shines at state tourneys
Connellsville’s high school wrestling team is consistently one of the top squads in the WPIAL and PIAA, and while its competitors continue to work once they reach the varsity level, the seeds for success were planted in the youth leagues.
The Falcons had a strong showing in the Keystone State Championships and PJW Youth State Championships with one champion and seven place winners.
Reagan Brown earned a 3-0 decision over Clearfield’s Alachia Nelson to win the girls 10-and-under 78-pound title in the PJW Youth State Championships on March 28 and 29 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg.
Brown placed second in the Keystone State Championships at 77 pounds after a 7-0 setback to Norristown’s Beylau Konte in the final on March 15 at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University.
Brown’s teammate, Saylor Harris, was seventh at 78 pounds in the PJW Youth State Championships. She was second in the 9-10 age division at 73 pounds in the Keystone State Championships.
Corbin Kochis won his first three bouts by major decision before a 1-0 victory in the semifinals put him in the 65-pound championship at the Keystone State Championships in the 11-12 age division.
Kochis dropped an 11-0 major decision in the finals to Chestnut Ridge’s Kohyn Deputy and took home the silver medal.
Despite the setback, Kochis had a solid tournament and lost to a wrestler who won a national championship in the U.S. Open that concluded on April 26 in Las Vegas.
Deputy, who is the younger brother of the Class 2A state champion at 107, Kooper Deputy, won freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at 31 kilograms without conceding a point in eight total matches (four from each style).
Kase Boytim earned the silver medal at 55 pounds in the eight-and-under boys division at the PJW Youth State Championships.
Easton Zavada was third in the 9-10 age division at 50 pounds in the Keystone State Championships.
AJ Swink was sixth at 135 pounds in the boys 10-and-under age group at the PJWs.
Juliet Marker was third in the 10-and-under age division at 135 pounds.