DAVIDSVILLE —
Two local wrestling heavyweights – one literal, one figurative – dominated the 43rd Conemaugh Township Holiday Tournament on Saturday.
John Rizzo, the reigning PIAA Class AA champion at 285 pounds, claimed the championship, the Outstanding Wrestler Award and the fastest-pin trophy while Westmont Hilltop won another team title.
Rizzo, who was Richland’s lone champion, pinned each of his opponents on his way to the final round, where he beat Westmont’s Josh Duplin 7-2 for the championship.
“I’m not satisfied, per se, but it went all right for me,” Rizzo said. “He’s always a tough opponent. He always gives me a tough match, but I was able to score points on him, which was what I wanted to do. I didn’t score as much as I would have liked to, but I scored enough.”
The weekend marked the first time Rizzo wrestled a high school match since capping his sophomore season with a state title.
“I think there’s definitely a target on me, but I'm looking forward to it,” Rizzo said.
“I look at it as I want to go win a state title, not defend it. I want to go win another. I want to go after the kids and try to beat everyone in the state.”
Duplin was one of seven Hilltoppers to place in the top two of the round-robin tournament. Logan Blackburn (103 pounds), Josh Polacek (119), Tanner Hough (135), Ryan Burnheimer (189) and Don Shovestull (215) captured titles for Westmont while Mike Walsh (130) finished second.
“This is always a good start-up tournament,” Westmont coach Matt Beaujon said. “We wrestled well, but we saw some things we need to improve. We’re going to go improve them, but as a whole, I thought we were in pretty good shape and we came out aggressive. That’s all you can ask for.”
Beaujon wasn’t sure if it was the fourth or fifth consecutive title for Westmont.
What he was sure of was that some new Hilltoppers made big contributions.
“Our young guys, (Shovestull) and Blackburn really wrestled good tournaments,” Beaujon said. “For them to wrestle their first varsity tournament and win it, that’s impressive, and it that always helps the team effort as well.”
Mount Union was second in the team standings and Northern Garrett (Md.) was third, just ahead of a resurgent Johnstown squad.
Johnstown’s Malcolm Harris beat Southern Huntindon’s Brennan Shields – a District 6 runner-up a year ago – for the 125-pound championship. Harris built a 9-0 lead before pinning Shields in the second period.
“Malcolm’s been wrestling really well,” Johnstown coach Gary Radnoti said. “He’s done a lot of wrestling over the summer.”
William “Trey” Leath also won a title for Johnstown, beating Westmont’s Walsh 8-3 at 130 pounds.
“He broke in last year as a 10th grader,” Radnoti said. “He’s one of 10 juniors on the team. That makes for a bright future.”
Jaron Vuckovich (160) and Gervon Simon (171) finished second for the Trojans.
Conemaugh Township’s Cory Berchick won the 145-pound championship, beating Mount Union’s Ronnie Grove, while teammate Tanner Cahill was second at
140 pounds after falling to Mount Union’s Blake Morder.
Mickey Sanders also finished second after losing to Blackburn at 103 pounds.
Blackburn joined Polacek, Burnheimer and Shovestull as Hilltoppers with falls in the final round.
Hough beat Bellwood-Antis’ Trevor Helsley 11-2.
Richland’s Jordan Cinko, who placed second at 189, was the only other local wrestler to finish in the top two.
Sports
Related Photos
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Richland’s John Rizzo (left) and Westmont’s Josh Duplin wrestle for the championship Saturday at the 43rd Conemaugh Township Holiday Tournament. ANdy Marchese/For The Tribune-Democrat
Discussion
Rizzo wins CT tourney title
Team championship goes to Westmont
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