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PA Cyber student state wrestling champion
(Editor’s Note: Ben Clymer is a senior PA Cyber student, a son of Scott and Carol Clymer. He plans to attend Hofstra University in the fall. Ben’s older brother Scott, now wrestling for Liberty University, is a former PA Cyber student and Pennsylvania state wrestling champion.)
Clymer, Haddad take the gold
The two grapplers lead the way as area 2A wrestlers win 13 medals in Hershey.
By Gary R. Blockus Of The Morning Call March 9, 2008
Two out of three in the finals weren't bad; they were very, very good.
And the third wasn't that bad, either.
Northwestern Lehigh senior Ben Clymer and Bethlehem Catholic senior Ziad Haddad captured championships at the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center on Saturday.
Clymer won the 171-pound title with a dominating 11-1 major decision over Gene Baier of Montoursville, and Haddad, who had two pins in the tournament, earned a 4-2 decision over previously unbeaten senior Philip Catrucco of Sharpsville to claim the heavyweight crown.
And the third finalist from the area, Northwestern junior Evan Yenolevich (119), suffered an overtime loss for the second straight year to claim silver. In all, area 2A wrestlers seized 13 medals in Hershey on Saturday.
Clymer had additional honors coming. His impressive performance in the finals -- and the fact that he defeated previously unbeaten favorite Jon Fausey of Line Mountain in the semifinals -- earned him the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award.
Northwestern picked up an additional trophy for finishing second in the team race.
When Yenolevich lost, it looked like Burrell would take over second place because both four-time place-winner Shane Welsh (135) and returning champion Jordan Shields were favored in their matches. Both lost, however, and the Tigers earned the silver medal even before Clymer got on the mat.
''It's funny how that worked out,'' Northwestern coach Bryan Klass said. ''We went into this tournament just hoping to get all five guys to place, and we got four. To get second, we're really proud of that.''
Klass was equally as proud of Clymer, who won districts and regionals this year and last, but was academically ineligible for the state tournament last year.
''He had a great tournament,'' Klass said. ''He went into the finals off the toughest bracket.''
Haddad was certainly impressive throughout the tournament, but Catrucco tried to avoid the Becahi heavyweight's ability to pin by stalling throughout the match. No matter, Haddad's 4-2 victory may have been narrow, but it was very comfortable.
''I can't even describe this feeling,'' he said after winning the title.
Yenolevich ran into Line Mountain's Tyler Erdman, who was down a weight class from last year, when he finished seventh. The Northwestern wrestler was the aggressor throughout, which ended up costing him the match.
The consolation medal rounds weren't exactly a stroll through Chocolate World for the area's wrestlers. All three wrestlers shooting for thirds lost. Two of three going for fifth lost, and two of four going for seventh lost.
Still, every one of the wrestlers was in the mix to win.
Pen Argyl junior Austin Williams (125) finished fourth after losing 4-2 to Cody Kelly of Reynolds, who finished third at 112 last year.
Saucon Valley senior Reuben Herrera (145) also finished fourth, losing 5-3 in overtime to Bermudian Springs junior Devin O'Brien after getting reversed.
At 215, Palmerton senior Justin Petersen (43-4), who will be playing football at Albany in the fall, dropped a 3-2 heart-breaker to Mount Carmel senior James Haynes, who gave up a stalling point with 40 seconds left, then didn't get hit again despite running out of bounds several times. Haynes had pinned Petersen in the quarterfinals.
Also at 215, Northern Lehigh senior Casey Hedash finished sixth to end his season with a 33-6 record after losing to Lackawanna Trail sophomore Lance Moore 3-1 in overtime. Hedash had beaten Moore in tie-breaker during the Friday quarterfinals.
Northwestern junior Ricky Williams, who did not qualify for states last year, went out on a winning note with a forfeit win to claim fifth at 135 pounds. Teammate Victor Konno ended his scholastic career with a sixth-place finish after a 6-3 loss to Cambria Heights senior Glenn Winslow, whom he had beaten 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Konno also captured an eighth-place finish at 125 last season.
Wilson junior D.J. Hartrum (125) ended his season on a winning note, however, by pinning in 1:47 for a seventh place medal.
Brandywine sophomore Zane Yocco (112) earned his second straight seventh place finish, this time recording an 8-6 decision over Benton sophomore Mike Rhone, whom he had beaten in the preliminary round.
Senior teammate Brad Stoudt, who probably wrestled the last match of his career on Saturday, losing 8-3 to Bermudian Springs senior Tyler Stambaugh, whom he had beaten previously this season.
Pius X sophomore Justin Mazza (103) also finished eighth, losing a 2-0 decision to Athens sophomore David White.