BY ERIC KNOPSNYDER
HERSHEY — Local wrestlers saved the best for last in the semifinals of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships on Friday night.
Heavyweight John Rizzo of Richland was the only wrestler from The Tribune-Democrat’s coverage area to advance to this afternoon’s state finals. Rizzo beat Josh Duplin of Westmont Hilltop 3-2 in rideout in the semifinals. After allowing Duplin to escape in the second period and again in the second overtime, Rizzo was able to hold his Westmont rival down for the victory.
“It’s unbelievable, especially to win like that,” said Rizzo, who beat Duplin for the fourth time this season.
Rizzo dropped down to a single-leg attack to bring Duplin back to the mat multiple times in the rideout period, but he said that wasn’t planned ahead of time.
“We didn’t have a strategy,” Rizzo said. “It was just second nature. I wasn’t planning on going that far – I wanted to beat him earlier, but it happened. My back was against the wall, and I came through.”
Duplin scored the first point in the match, giving him his choice of position for the rideout period, and, seemingly, the advantage.
“I knew he did, but I’ve got to tell you that we have all the confidence in the world in Johnny Rizzo,” Richland coach Tom Smith said. “I knew I had made some statements earlier to (The Tribune-Democrat) that I thought that he could get to this point, and here he is. I’ve known Johnny for a long time, and I know not to doubt that young man. He’s a gamer.”
Smith, who shared a big hug with Rizzo as well as assistants Bill Bassett and Robert Sakmar after the victory, said the celebration won’t last too long. That’s because unbeaten Joe Chittester of Ridgway awaits Rizzo in this afternoon’s final round, which begins at 2:30 and will be televised live by the Pennsylvania Cable Network.
“We’re going to enjoy this for about 10 minutes, and then we’re going to go out and get ready for (today),” Smith said. “We’re going to get a good night’s rest, and we’re going to be totally focused on Chittester. We know that he’s an excellent wrestler. We’ve been watching him, and we’re going to have our hands full, but we’re going to come out and be ready to go, just as he is.”
Four other local wrestlers weren’t so fortunate in the semifinals.
North Star’s Nick Roberts, the defending champion at 103, suffered his first loss of the year at the hands of Zain Retherford. The Line Mountain wrestler scored a takedown with 21 seconds left in the second period to tie the match and took the lead by escaping with 50 seconds left in the third.
Roberts’ 140-pound teammate, Richard Baker, ran out of magic in the semifinals. Baker, who won his first two matches with dramatic flurries at the end of matches, lost 8-2 to Seth Beitz of Juniata. Beitz took Baker down three times, with the final one coming with 1:04 remaining in the third and virtually sealing the victory.
Westmont Hilltop’s Tanner Hough, who knocked off returning state champion Arty Walsh of Juniata earlier in the day, didn’t have as much luck against unbeaten Mason Beckman of Reynolds in the semifinals. Beckman scored four takedowns in an 11-3 victory over Hough.
Portage’s Shawn Perich was taken down three times by Sharon’s Jordan Moss, who won a state title in 2008, in an 8-5 match in the 145-pound semifinal.
