SPORTS: Kittanning Wrestles Wins Over Highlands

KSHS 120-pound Jason Nolf pinned his Highland Rams opponent in the 3rd period as Official Bill Straka watches at last night’s match at Kittanning Senior High School.

by David Croyle

It was a good night for wrestling at Kittanning Senior High School as both junior varsity and varsity teams won over the Highland Rams.

Kittanning juniors led with a total team score of 78-18 and clinched the section title. The varsity wrestlers had a final score of 60-18.

Junior varsity head coach Dan Robb praised his team.

“Our kids have been practicing hard the whole season. They wrestle hard. We won our tournament last weekend, took first – which is a big deal for us, which we haven’t done in a few years.”

The junior varsity wrestlers will compete this Saturday in a 12-team tournament at Indiana High School. 

“We’re looking to do fairly well up there. Our kids have a pretty good record so we should go in there looking pretty good as far as the bracketing goes,” Robb said.

Coach Mike Ingram said the junior program has done exceptionally well.

“The last five years, the junior high program has been really tough. We have actually been the team to beat. So we have been doing pretty well.”

210-pound ninth grader Dalton Pepple, 15, surprised his opponent with a pin within the first seven seconds of the match!

“I never knew I was going to do it. The guy was so big I thought I was going to have a struggle doing it. When I thought about it, I came out and grabbed his legs, and pulled him down to the ground. I did it! I’m happy!”

In varsity action, Zach Knize, 17, fought hard to eventually overcome Highland Rams opponent Logan Platt in the 220-pound category.

“I’m glad that I followed through with training, kept my stamina up, to win the match,” Knize said.

The varsity team lost three of the matches. Varsity coach Brandon Newill said it was hard, but will build from the experience.

“They did what I thought they should do. The guys did a good job. I hate to see guys get pinned, like Nathan Watt. I wish he would have fought a little bit more, and Braxton (Olinger), but we will take it as a learning experience and move on.”  

9th Grader Lance Confer, weighing in at 155 pounds, pinned his Highland opponent in the 1st period.

Individual scores were as follows:

Junior High: (Team Score 78-18)

80# – Brendon Mallia pin in 1^st period
90# – Austin Pinkerton pin in 2^nd period
100# – Highland Rams Kain Toy pinned Nick Veri in 3^rd period
110# – Caleb Strobel pin in 3^rd period
115# – Brady Crissman pin in 1^st period
124# – Braydon Toy pin in 1^st period
130# – Brandon Ingram pin in 2^nd period
155# – Lance Confer pin in 1^st period
210# – Dalton Pepple pin in 1^st period

Varsity: (Team Score 60-18)

120# – Jason Nolf pin in 3rd period
138# – Christian Emminger pin in 1^st period
145# – Bren Ingam pin in 1^st period
152# – Taylor Jack pin in 3^rd period
170# – Highland Rams Zach Mazur pinned Nathan Watt in 3^rd period
182# – Zac Croyle pin in 1^st period
195# – Highland Rams Allan Cratsenberg pinned Braxton Olinger in 1^st period
220# – Zach Knize pin in 1^st period
285# – Highland Rams Reily Shane pinned David Grafton in 1^st period

Lady Bobcats Score Win Over Freeport

Elderton's Lady Bobcat Briana Switzer, # 23, shoots successfully to bring her game total points to 14 in last night’s win against Freeport 49-39. Also pictured is Freeport's Senior Lynsey Gugino (#24) and Bobcat's Jillian Glover. Last night was Pink-Out Night, a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society.