By BRAD WYDRA
Fourth Quarter Media
HERSHEY — Southern Columbia fell in the PIAA Class 2A Team Championships, 31-23, to Reynolds for the second consecutive year.
Southern went into the match knowing there were a few key weights that could go either way, and
they lost each of them.
"We knew there were three toss-ups going into that match, and unfortunately they won all three of them,” Southern head coach Jerry Marks said. "Sometimes we start too late, and you can't wrestle just the third period."
Ian Yoder was in close bout at 126 pounds but couldn’t rally and fell 4-2. The Tigers also lost two other matches that were decided by just a point — Lear Quinton (285) and Tyler Waltman (182) — but it was the matches they surrendered bonus points that really hurt.
Southern lost four matches in which Reynolds earned four or more team points, including a technical fall and a pin.
But the Tigers weren’t without their big moments either.
Preston Zachman ignited the team when he secured a pin at 195 after the Tigers trailed 7-0 to start.
Yet, Reynolds managed to avoid pins the rest of the way forcing Gaige Garcia (220) and Gavin Garcia (145) to settle for major decisions in their bouts.
Shane Miller (152) ended his trip at Hershey with a win and a sense of pride, knowing that he was a wrestler his coaches could depend on in his senior year.
“It feels good to end my senior year being a solid guy the coaches can believe in, want to put out there and have some faith in,” Miller said.
Patrick Edmondson proved he was the talented young wrestler he’s billed to be, going 4-0 over three days at team states, including a key 3-1 win in sudden victory.
Some felt though, that Edmondson had earned a pair of back points earlier in the match after the referee appeared to count twice but the points were waved off, paving the way for overtime.
SOUTHERN 31, REYNOLDS 23
106: Gary Steen, R, p. Brady Freese, SC, 1:28
113: Kole Biscoe, SC, dec. Cole Bayless, R, 5-2
120: Beau Bayless, R, tf. Garrett Krebs, SC, 16-1 4:57
126: Andrew Ishco, R, dec. Ian Yoder, SC, 4-2
132: Patrick Edmondson, SC, dec. Kaeden Berger, R, 3-1 SV
138: Rocco Bartolo, R, md. Michael Miner, SC, 15-3
145: Gavin Garcia, SC, md. Alex Ishco, R, 10-2
152: Shane Miller, SC, dec. Jordan Decarmen, R. 7-4
160: Hunter Thompson, R, dec. Cade Linn, SC, 10-8 SV
*170: Cole Toy, R, md. Brandon Gedman, SC, 9-1
182: Bryce Mccloskey, R, dec. Tyler Waltman, SC, 3-2
195: Preston Zachman, SC, p. Braydon Herbster, R, 3:24
220: Gaige Garcia, SC, md. Wyatt Owen, R, 11-1
285: Derrick Skeehan, R, dec. Lear Quinton, SC, 3-2
*match started at 170 pounds.