Bald Eagle Area wrestling comes up short against Reynolds to be eliminated from PIAAs

Nate Cobler
·8 min read

What a ride it has been for Bald Eagle Area’s wrestling team this season.

The Eagles didn’t suffer their first loss of the season until Jan. 25 to Central Mountain, who is ranked second in the state in Class 3A. Their other two losses coming into Friday were to Bishop McCort (No. 2, district finals) and Notre Dame Green Pond (No. 3, PIAA first round)

BEA saw its dual meet portion of the season come to a close on Friday with a heartbreaking, 27-25 loss to Reynolds in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships consolation first round. The Raiders are ranked fifth in the state by PA Power Wrestling.

“It wasn’t for lack of effort. What a dual meet — you don’t see many dual meets with that score. We won seven bouts, but bonus points got us,” Eagles coach Ron Guenot said. “Reynolds is a heck of a team. It stings, there’s no doubt about it. The kids worked hard. We faced some adversity with a couple injuries here, but that’s wrestling. We’re here and had a good experience. The sun will come up tomorrow, and we’ll get back at it next week.”

The dual began with the teams trading victories at 215 and 285 pounds.

Bald Eagle Area’s Gage Gardner (right) looks for an opening on Reynolds’ Kolton Wilkinson in their 215-pound bout of the Eagles’ 27-25 loss on Friday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships consolation first round. Gardner won 3-0.
Bald Eagle Area’s Gage Gardner (right) looks for an opening on Reynolds’ Kolton Wilkinson in their 215-pound bout of the Eagles’ 27-25 loss on Friday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships consolation first round. Gardner won 3-0.

BEA’s Gage Gardner collected a 3-0 win over Kotlon Wilkinson. Reynolds’ Casey Resek used a second period escape on the edge of the mat, where the Eagles’ Eric Clark thought they were out of bounds, for a 1-0 win.

BEA’s Tanner Gueot and Caden Judice each picked up tough wins to give the Eagles a 9-3 lead. They each needed points in the third period to earn their victories.

Reynolds reclaimed the lead thanks to a 6-2 win from Hudson Wolbert, and a 27-12 technical fall from Louie Gill in 5:34.

The Eagles’ Lucas Fye locked up a cradle on Logan Stewart at 133 pounds for a fall in 55 seconds to give BEA the lead back, 15-11.

“Some of those close matches, we won in the third period. If you’re scoring in the third period, most of the time you’re going to win,” Ron Guenot said. “Lucas’ win against Stewart, that kid is ranked ahead of him for what it’s worth. It was a great rebound for Lucas there.”

The Raiders tied the dual up with a 9-1 major decision from Greyden Gustas at 139 pounds. They took the lead again, 21-15, thanks to a pin from Chase Bell over Kayson Tice.

Bald Eagle Area’s Mason Reese finishes off a takedown on Reynolds’ Emery Johnson in their 114-pound bout of the Eagles’ 27-25 loss on Friday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships consolation first round. Reese snuck past Johnson, 4-2.
Bald Eagle Area’s Mason Reese finishes off a takedown on Reynolds’ Emery Johnson in their 114-pound bout of the Eagles’ 27-25 loss on Friday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships consolation first round. Reese snuck past Johnson, 4-2.

BEA’s Mason Reese kept his winning ways on the week by hanging on for a 4-2 win over Emery Johnson.

Reynolds’ Vito Gentile pinned Gavin Bennett with 37 seconds remaining to make the dual score, 27-18, with two bouts left.

The Eagles’ Cameron Dubbs nearly pinned Louie DeJulia at 172 pounds, but collected a 7-3 win to give his team a shot of winning.

Bald Eagle Area’s Cameron Dubbs controls Reynolds’ Louie DeJulia in their 172-pound bout of the Eagles’ 27-25 loss on Friday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships consolation first round match. Dubbs beat DeJulia, 7-3.
Bald Eagle Area’s Cameron Dubbs controls Reynolds’ Louie DeJulia in their 172-pound bout of the Eagles’ 27-25 loss on Friday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships consolation first round match. Dubbs beat DeJulia, 7-3.

BEA looked to Caleb Close to get a fall against Colton Tupper, who coach Guenot said was pinned only once this season. Close tried his best, throwing everything at Tupper, but was unable to get the fall. However, Close almost stalled out Tupper, which would’ve given the Eagles the win.

“For guys that end up here in a few weeks, they’re going to be that much further ahead. Being down on the floor, seeing what it’s like down here and in this atmosphere, that’s going to be a step in the right direction,” coach Guenot said. “Hopefully, that calms their nerves, when they get down here in a few weeks.

“I think it’s definitely a bonus for everybody, not just the kids that maybe make it in a few weeks, the second team kids and kids that might not be here, but what an experience for them to be here with the team and have fun.”

Bald Eagle Area’s Tanner Guenot locks up a cradle on Notre Dame Green Pond’s Jacob Volpe in their 107-pound bout of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round. Guenot collected a 13-2 major decision.
Bald Eagle Area’s Tanner Guenot locks up a cradle on Notre Dame Green Pond’s Jacob Volpe in their 107-pound bout of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round. Guenot collected a 13-2 major decision.

Thursday’s action

The Bald Eagle Area coaching staff knew what they were up against in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A dual championships.

The Eagles were going to need a flawless match to pick up a monumental win over Notre Dame Green Pond, who won the team title two years ago.

When it was all settled, BEA suffered a 41-16 loss, to be sent to the consolation bracket.

However, coach Guenot and the team were in high spirits.

“I liked the effort. I think we are coming together as a team, and enjoying the moment as much as we can,” he said. “Win or lose, it’s all about the effort. If you give a great effort, and you come up short, tomorrow is another day.”

BEA kept the dual close through the first half.

It began with the Eagles’ Gardner suffering a 1-0 loss to the Crusaders’ Gino Guerrisi at 285 pounds. However, Tanner Guenot was able to give BEA a one-point lead.

Guenot took down Notre Dame’s Jacob Volpe in the first period to lead 2-0. In the second period, Guenot opened with a reversal and put Volpe to his back twice, but couldn’t get the fall.

The third period saw Guenot collect a pair of reversals for a 13-2 major decision.

The Crusaders’ Ayden Smith, who is the defending 114-pound champion, earned a fall to put his team back out front.

Bald Eagle Area’s Caden Judice scrambles with Notre Dame Green Pond’s Cooper Feltman in their 121-pound match of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round match. Judice topped Feltman, 4-2, in sudden victory.
Bald Eagle Area’s Caden Judice scrambles with Notre Dame Green Pond’s Cooper Feltman in their 121-pound match of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round match. Judice topped Feltman, 4-2, in sudden victory.

The Eagles’ Judice needed a takedown with 12 seconds remaining in sudden victory to beat Cooper Feltman, 4-2. It got BEA to within 9-7.

After Notre Dame’s Tanner Berkenstock and Gavyn Kelton topped Dawson Lomison and Fye, respectively, the Crusaders led 15-7.

BEA’s Reese stepped to the mat against Nino Morici and snapped off a first period takedown. Midway through the second period saw Reese call for injury time when the pair were in a scramble.

Bald Eagle Area’s Mason Reese battles for positioning with Notre Dame Green Pond’s Nino Morici in their 145-pound bout of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round. Reese shut out Morici, 3-0.
Bald Eagle Area’s Mason Reese battles for positioning with Notre Dame Green Pond’s Nino Morici in their 145-pound bout of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round. Reese shut out Morici, 3-0.

He shook it off, and went on to ride Morici for the final period to secure a 3-0 win. It had the Eagles within 21-10 — the closest they’d be the rest of the dual.

“They just stayed mentally tough the whole match, and kept scoring points in some close matches. They wrestled tough and took advantage of what was there,” coach Guenot said of his three winners. “Judice went out there in overtime (and got the win). Tanner scored a lot of points. Reese banged his knee up a little bit there, but stayed mentally tough, and stayed after it. It was a nice win for him.”

After Notre Dame’s Nathan Thomas saw his 8-2 lead after two periods disappear to an 8-5 win over Bennett at 152 pounds, the Crusaders got bonus points by way of a forfeit and pin from Keegan Ramsay.

BEA’s Close received a forfeit at 189 pounds as the dual ended with the Crusaders’ Connor Smalley racking up a 19-3 technical fall on Kyle Watson in 5:42.

“We knew we had to make some moves to try to get some matchups. (Notre Dame Green Pond is) an outstanding team. We’re here to win,” he said. “We’re not here to try to just keep it close. We went after the win, and we came up a little bit short. Tomorrow is another day, so we’ll see what happens. There is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Bald Eagle Area’s Lucas Fye looks to turn Notre Dame Green Pond’s Gavyn Kelton in their 133-pound bout of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round. Kelton topped Fye, 9-3.
Bald Eagle Area’s Lucas Fye looks to turn Notre Dame Green Pond’s Gavyn Kelton in their 133-pound bout of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round. Kelton topped Fye, 9-3.

PIAA Class 2A Championships

At Giant Center, Hershey

Consolation First Round

Friday

Reynolds 27, Bald Eagle Area 25

215: Gage Gardner, BEA, dec. Kolton Wilkinson, 3-0

285: Casey Resek, R, dec. Eric Clark, 1-0

107: Tanner Guenot, BEA, dec. Angelo Lomonte, 3-1

114: Caden Judice, BEA, dec. Waylon Waite, 4-1

121: Hudson Wolbert, R, dec. Liam Purcell, 6-2

127: Louie Gill, R, tech. fall Dawson Lomison, 27-12 (5:34)

133: Lucas Fye, BEA, pinned Logan Stewart, :55

139: Greyden Gustas, R, major dec. Alex Surovec, 9-1

145: Chase Bell, R, pinned Kayson Tice, 1:49

152: Mason Reese, BEA, dec. Emery Johnson, 4-2

160: Vito Gentile, R, pinned Gavin Bennet, 4:23

172: Cameron Dubbs, BEA, dec. Louie DeJulia, 7-3

189: Caleb Close, BEA, major dec. Colton Tupper, 13-4

Takedowns: BEA 12, R 17

Records: Bald Eagle Area (12-4), Reynolds (12-2)

Other Consolation First Round scores

West Perry 39, Honesdale 23

Warrior Run 41, Berks Catholic 20

Montoursville 42, Burgettstown 23

Friday’s other scores

Quarterfinals

Bishop McCort 51, Burrell 15

Chestnut Ridge 37, Ft. LeBoeuf 36

Bishop McDevitt 35, Clearfield 21

Faith Christian 43, Notre Dame Green Pond 18

Consolation Second Round

Notre Dame Green Pond 39, West Perry 18

Warrior Run 29, Clearfield 24

Montoursville 31, Ft. LeBoeuf 30

Reynolds 39, Burrell 24

Bald Eagle Area’s Dawson Lomison aims to finish off a takedown of Notre Dame Green Pond’s Tanner Berkenstock in their 127-pound bout of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round. Berkenstock edged Lomison, 2-0, in sudden victory.
Bald Eagle Area’s Dawson Lomison aims to finish off a takedown of Notre Dame Green Pond’s Tanner Berkenstock in their 127-pound bout of the Eagles’ 41-16 loss on Thursday in the PIAA Class 2A dual championships first round. Berkenstock edged Lomison, 2-0, in sudden victory.

First Round

Thursday

Notre Dame Green Pond 41, Bald Eagle Area 16

285: Gino Guerrisi, NDGP, dec. Gardner, 1-0

107: Guenot, BEA, major dec. Jacob Volpe, 13-2

114: Ayden Smith, NDGP, pinned Purcell, 2:32

121: Judice, BEA, dec. Cooper Feltman, 4-2 (SV)

127: Tanner Berkenstock, NDGP, dec. Lomison, 2-0 (SV)

133: Gavyn Kelton, NDGP, dec. Fye, 9-3

139: Jared Gonzalez, NDGP, pinned Tice, 3:30

145: Reese, BEA, dec. Nino Morici, 3-0

152: Nathan Thomas, NDGP, dec. Bennett, 8-5

160: Dominic Sumpolec, NDGP, won by forfeit

172: Keegan Ramsay, NDGP, pinned Dubbs, 3:33

189: Close, BEA, won by forfeit

215: Connor Smalley, NDGP, tech. fall Kyle Watson, 19-3 (5:42)

Takedowns: BEA 6, NDGP 13

Records: Bald Eagle Area (12-3), Notre Dame Green Pond (12-1)

Other First Round scores

Burrell 55, Honesdale 8

Bishop McCort 57, West Perry 6

Chestnut Ridge 39, Berks Catholic 22

Ft. LeBoeuf 25, Warrior Run 23

Bishop McDevitt 41, Montoursville 25

Clearfield 42, Burgettstown 27

Faith Christian Academy 54, Reynolds 9