Stanton makes Blue Ridge history
Published: March 10, 2010
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Blue Ridge’s Alex Stanton, top, heads toward victory and a pin of Logan Mensinger, of Southern Columbia, during their bout at 140-pounds in the quarterfinals of the Class AA Northeast Regional Wrestling Championships. TIMES-SHAMROCK PHOTO/CHRIS MANNING
Blue Ridge's Alex Stanton wanted to make school history.
And with grit and determination, he accomplished that goal.
On Saturday at Williamsport High School, Stanton brought home a Northeast Regional wrestling title - the first for the program - and advanced to next week's PIAA Class AA Championships in Hershey starting Thursday, Mar. 11, and concluding Mar. 13, at the Giant Center.
"Guys have come in second place and did well, but no one has actually won this regional title (from Blue Ridge)," Blue Ridge coach John Ciotoli said.
To win his title in the 140-pound bracket, Stanton had to defeat the defending regional champion and state-medal winner, Shamokin's Derrick Shingora.
Controlling the match, Stanton, pulled away for an 8-0 major decision.
"I'm pretty stoked about it," said Stanton, who improved to 36-1 on the season. "He was quite an aggressive kid. He likes to attack all the time. I changed up my style so I could play defense a little bit.
"I ended up catching him on his back in the first period, so that was five points there."
To get into the final, Stanton pinned Darren Stucker of Meyers in 1:58. It's Stanton's second win over Stucker in the last two weeks, having pinned him in the District 2 Class AA semifinals.
Before he could attack a pile of chicken wings in celebration, Stanton reflected on being the first regional champion from his school.
"It absolutely adds something," Stanton said. "It's quite amazing."
Elk Lake wrestlers competing in regionals had their time cut short, with all Warrior wrestlers losing their first round matches.
Warriors Keaton Bennett (125) and Brandon Cleveland (189) won their first round consolation matches as Bennett beat Hanover John Elick by 4-2 decision and Cleveland pinned Meyers’ Mike Glowiniak in 3:56.
However, they would both be handed losses in the consolation semifinals as Mifflinburg’s Ethan Midkiff won by tech. fall over Bennett and Milton’s Ryan Solomon won by 5-0 dec. over Cleveland.
Blue Ridge’s Mike Pipitone (135) lost in the first round to Muncy’s Troy Hembury but beat Elk Lake’s Derrick Smith in the first round of consolations to advance to the consolation semifinals where Warrior Run’s Chris Pfirman handed him a 11-1 major decision loss.
Mountain View’s Craig Butler (145) lost to Lewisburg’s Curt Schneider in the first round and was pinned by Lee Supsic of Shamokin in the first round of consolations.
Montrose’s Zach Thorne lost to Montoursville’s Caleb Lomas in the first round and was eliminated after being defeated by Troy’s Beau Parker in the first round of consolations.
Susquehanna’s Thomas Maby (135) had a similar fate as he was beat by Warrior Run’s Pfirman in the quarterfinals and faced a loss to Canton’s Garth Mahosky in the first round of consolations.
In the team standings Blue Ridge finished in 12th with 26 points while Benton took first with 115.5 and Elk Lake finished in 28th with five points. Susquehanna, Montrose and Mountain View did not place in the team standings.
Quarterfinals
119: Sean Heggs (East Juniata) dec. Devon Maye (EL), 8-4; 125: Caleb Willey (Towanda) pinned Keaton Bennett (EL), 3:30; 130: Adam Kritzer (Line Mountain) major dec. Devin Fiorentino (EL), 14-1; 135: Chris Pfirman (Warrior Run) pinned Thomas Maby (SUS), 4:23; Troy Hembury (Muncy) major dec. Mike Pipitone (BR), 10-2; Josh Lahr (Shamokin) major. dec. Derrick Smith (EL), 9-0; 140: Alex Stanton (BR) pinned Logan Mensinger (Southern Columbia), 3:28; 145: Curt Schneider (Lewisburg) pinned Craig Butler (MV), 1:02; 160: Mike Cobb (Wyalusing) pinned Tyler McCauley (EL), 3:36; Caleb Lomax (Montoursville) pinned Zach Thorne (MON), :35; 189: Brandon Smith (Lewisburg) dec. Brandon Cleveland (EL), 6-4; 215: Josh Mihalik (Wellsboro) dec. Jacob Eastman (EL), 7-4; Nick Dawson (Montoursville) dec. Damien Botts (BR), 5-3; 285: Jeff Mach (South Williamsport) dec. Josh Ralston (EL), 3-1.
Semifinals
140: Stanton (BR) pinned Darren Stucker (Meyers), 1:58
Consolation First Round
119: Heath Strickland (Muncy) pinned Maye (EL), 1:57; 125: Bennett (EL) dec. John Elick (Hanover), 4-2; 130: Ben Emmett (Central Columbia)_pinned Fiorentino (EL), 3:49; 135: Pipitone (BR) major dec. Smith (EL), 13-2; Garth Mahosky (Canton) pinned Maby (SUS), :54; 145: Lee Supsic (Shamokin) pinned Butler (MV), 4:26; 160: Garrett Llewellyn (Danville) dec. McCauley (EL), 6-2; Beau Parker (Troy) tech. fall Thorne (MON), 16-0, 2:39; 189: Cleveland (EL) pinned Mike Glowiniak (MEY), 3:56; 215: Eastman (EL) dec. Andy Engler (Loyalsock), 11-5; Botts (BR) dec. Brad Poust (Hughesville), 3-2; 285: Aaron Schultz (Towanda) pinned Ralston (EL), 1:29.
Consolation Semifinals
125: Ethan Midkiff (Mifflinburg) tech. fall Bennett (EL), 15-0, 3:25; 135: Chris Pfirman (Warrior Run) major dec. Pipitone (BR), 11-1; 189: Ryan Solomon (Milton) dec. Cleveland (EL), 5-0; 215: Nick Dawson (Montoursville) dec. Eastman (EL), 7-3; Josh Mihalik (Wellsboro) dec. Botts (BR), 4-0.
Finals
140: Stanton (BR) dec. Derek Shingara (Shamokin), 8-0.
