AA Regional recap

Because of some technical problems, I was unable to bring a few final thoughts on the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional Tournament. And there were a number of side issues that went along with the one champion – Kory Bissett of West Greene – and two runners-up – Cody Renner of West Greene and Matt Kosarik of Fort Cherry.
Charlie Wonsettler of Bentworth gave a gutsy performance to take third place. Wonsettler wasn't sure he would even wrestle in Johnstown because of a flareup of a groin injury sustained in football season. He won four matches in the wrestlebacks to qualify for Hershey.
Grady Paxton of Chartiers-Houston missed a berth in Hershey after a 5-3 loss to Mt. Pleasant's Joe Geary for fifth place at 140 pounds. Paxton didn't appear his usual self the match after being tech. falled by Garrett Scott of Juniata Valley in the semifinals. A 10-4 loss to Justin Berrier of Southern Huntingdon forced him into the fifth-place match with Geary.
Derek Yanchak of Bentworth knocked Marco Pecora of Richland out of a trip to Hershey with an 11-10 win for fifth place at 160. Pecora is the son of UPJ wrestling coach Pat Pecora.
Phil Henderson of Chartiers-Houston is one of the toughest wrestlers to score on. In five bouts at 189 pounds, he gave up seven bout points and took third.
Michael Coleman of Apollo-Ridge took fifth place at 145. The interesting part about that is he is the lone member of the team, is coached by his dad, and has former Mt. Pleasant coach Rob Waller sitting in the second coaching chair. Coleman works out at Waller's wrestling club.
Finally, one of the odd parts of the postseason for AA wrestlers is how poor the lightweights are. No one from Washington-Greene County made it to states at 130 or below. Only five qualified for the regional in that span.