PIAA Team state tournament begins today

[Callthestall]

The greatest dual I ever saw was when Nazareth and Northampton went at it maybe mid 1990s. At the time, they both were Top 5 Nationally. Seems to me this was before the State Dual Tournament was implemented.
It came down to Heavyweight and if I recall Grimm? won it for the K-Kids.
Footnote. After match, which was held in Nazareth, which was being remodeled, a nasty fight broke out in foyer and escalated outside. A guy took a brick and hit another guy in the head with it. Blood was everywhere. They had to medivac the poor guy. A series of charges were brought against the guy that used the brick, who I think did jail time

 

[oldcougar65]

“Upper Perk vs Nazareth in the semi's was the all time greatest dual I ever saw --- winner was state champ, and this time it was UP.. They won on a takedown in the last second of the last match.”

That was 2006. Chris Sheetz was ahead of his opponent with a decision. But needed a major to avoid going to criteria, which was in favor of Nazareth. That last second takedown secured the major and the dual and UP beat Easton for the title.

If anyone has video of that takedown, please let me know.

Doofus, it was cooler than that. We were sitting with all the Nazareth fans (though I'm an D1 fan first and was rooting for UP). During that meet, almost every bout was decided in the last 10 seconds in a way that affected the team score. For example, Zac Kemerer got a tech at 6:00 with swipes during short time. Other matches were much the same. Now to the last match. There were I think 3 seconds to go and they went to standing start. Sheetz stepped in and threw a nasty headlock (all his headlocks were nasty). Referee awards the points as the buzzer sounds.. Pandemonium ensues. Nazareth fans whining at the top of their lungs. Suddenly the ref makes a motion. He's waving off the 2 points. Nazareth fans erupt in a frenzy.. But then the killer. Ref walks over to the table and explains, he's waving off the 2 back points he awarded. The takedown was good!
Oh, the anguish with the Nazareth contingent. Bitter anger. Me and my buddy were laughing our butts off. It was great.
Upper Perk blew Easton away in the final. They were an AA sized school that chose to wrestle up at AAA. They had 3 state champs on that squad.

 

[Str8DBLz]

Brookville did win that year AA with kids such as Jason Gilligan (RIP), Keith Ferarro both on the team. Keith is now at clarion U as HC. But both wrestled at Lock haven after HS. I believe there was a few Stout boys and Jeremy Reitz on that team as well.

I was at that tournament. Bald Eagle Area beat Upper Perkiomen in the first AAA finals. I think the score was like 53-0. BEA was loaded with seniors and were ranked #1 in the country --- though I think Brookville beat them in a dual during the season.
All Upper Perks kids were freshmen and sophomores - though they were pretty good. One of them was Derek Zink, who AA'd at Lehigh a couple of times. The other final was Brookville vs Wyalussing Valley(?). Every kid at every weight for both teams was good. I think Brookville pulled it out.

You are right about the Northampton coach throwing a hissy fit and refusing to send his varsity after Northampton won D11 duals. As I recall, his JV got beat by Gettysburg and Upper Perk knocked off Gburg to get to the finals -- just based on memory.

State duals are a great event. Several of the greatest duals I've ever seen were at state duals. The aforementioned Brookville vs Wyalusing was one. 5 or 6 years later, Upper Perk vs Nazareth in the semi's was the all time greatest dual I ever saw --- winner was state champ, and this time it was UP.. They won on a takedown in the last second of the last match.

On the one hand, I'm very disturbed about the lack of attendance at state duals. You get to see the top teams in the state. Some say wrestling is an individual sport, but I've always preferred the team aspect. And state duals are all about team.

But I look at the bright side. I get to sit in Section 107 every time I go to state duals. When you try to buy state individual tickets, Section 107 is never available. So keep not attending state duals, and I'll keep getting the good seats.

 

[PAgeologist]

THAT'S MY NUTS!

Congrats on getting 3rd.

I wasn't sure Ridge was going to be that good this year. They lost a couple good wrestlers last year. I'm impressed they placed 3rd again. They've built a really nice program there, although it wasn't bad when I went to Ridge (class of 94).

 

[johnstownsteel]

I wasn't sure Ridge was going to be that good this year. They lost a couple good wrestlers last year. I'm impressed they placed 3rd again. They've built a really nice program there, although it wasn't bad when I went to Ridge (class of 94).

He was a few years older than you but did you know McGill? I think his first name was Terry. Curious if he is Jareds Dad. I graduated in 90 and Ridge always had scrappy teams.

 

[Callthestall]

“Upper Perk vs Nazareth in the semi's was the all time greatest dual I ever saw --- winner was state champ, and this time it was UP.. They won on a takedown in the last second of the last match.”

That was 2006. Chris Sheetz was ahead of his opponent with a decision. But needed a major to avoid going to criteria, which was in favor of Nazareth. That last second takedown secured the major and the dual and UP beat Easton for the title.

If anyone has video of that takedown, please let me know.

I noted about the great Nazareth-Northampton match I saw in the early 1990s. I also saw Northampton who I think was #1 PA team against I think #1 NJ team in "The Pit"
Great article about that time and Northampton rise to the top.

https://www.mcall.com/sports/varsit...ampionship-wrestling-0121-20150121-story.html

 

[PAgeologist]

He was a few years older than you but did you know McGill? I think his first name was Terry. Curious if he is Jareds Dad. I graduated in 90 and Ridge always had scrappy teams.

I didn't know him.

 

[helixville]

Newbie here but been a lurker for awhile. CR grad and was at state duals yesterday. Jared McGill's dad is Scott, Terry (buf) McGill's older brother. Curious as to jtownsteel identity as im a 90 grad too.

 

[dbldoofus]

Doofus, it was cooler than that. We were sitting with all the Nazareth fans (though I'm an D1 fan first and was rooting for UP). During that meet, almost every bout was decided in the last 10 seconds in a way that affected the team score. For example, Zac Kemerer got a tech at 6:00 with swipes during short time. Other matches were much the same. Now to the last match. There were I think 3 seconds to go and they went to standing start. Sheetz stepped in and threw a nasty headlock (all his headlocks were nasty). Referee awards the points as the buzzer sounds.. Pandemonium ensues. Nazareth fans whining at the top of their lungs. Suddenly the ref makes a motion. He's waving off the 2 points. Nazareth fans erupt in a frenzy.. But then the killer. Ref walks over to the table and explains, he's waving off the 2 back points he awarded. The takedown was good!
Oh, the anguish with the Nazareth contingent. Bitter anger. Me and my buddy were laughing our butts off. It was great.
Upper Perk blew Easton away in the final. They were an AA sized school that chose to wrestle up at AAA. They had 3 state champs on that squad.

Thanks Cougar. That was the best explanation I have ever heard. I live in UP (and still have my 2006 State champ t-shirt) and have spoken to a few of the guys on the team, including Fiorito and Sheetz and you have explained it better than anyone.
I was at the UP Blair match that year. http://www.pa-wrestling.com/hs/news_story.htm?id=914

 

[johnstownsteel]

Newbie here but been a lurker for awhile. CR grad and was at state duals yesterday. Jared McGill's dad is Scott, Terry (buf) McGill's older brother. Curious as to jtownsteel identity as im a 90 grad too.

I'm a Conemaugh Twp grad. Wrestled against Ridge a few times. Their kids were always tough. I split a couple matches against Terry McGill...the second one he had me figured out and beat my ass pretty good. It was quite ugly.. Lol

 

[amattaro]

Waynesburg with 0 seniors. Quite an accomplishment finishing 2nd in state.