By Guy Cipriano
Quentin Wright finishes 1-2 at 157 pounds
LOCK HAVEN — Bald Eagle Area’s Quentin Wright found a different way to prepare for his junior season.
Wright unofficially started a year filled with lofty goals by competing in Saturday’s Mat Town Open at Thomas Field House.
Wright was the lone high school wrestler participating in the tournament which switched from a team to an open format this season.
“I heard about it a few weeks ago, “Wright said. “My dad is looking to get me some matches because I will get a lot of forfeits this year.”
With his father, Paul, and brother and Lock Haven 165-pounder, Landis, watching his every move, Wright finished 1-2. He found himself in the 157-pound quarterfinals after defeating Penn State’s Jason Lapham 10-5 in the sudden victory period of an opening round bout.
Lapham won Penn State’s 157-pound wrestle-off earlier this month. Wright followed the victory with decision losses to Old Dominion’s Chris Brown and Penn State’s Jon Clemens.
“Getting that first win was great, “said Wright, who finished second at 145 pounds during the 2006 PIAA Class AAA championships. “I was really proud of myself, but it kind of doesn’t show for itself because I ended up losing the next two matches and losing to another Penn State guy. It was an eye-opening weekend where I learned a lot of things that I need to work on.”
Experience and size represented the biggest difference between the 17-year-old Wright and his competitors. Wright will start this season at 160 pounds. He made a small weight cut to compete at 157.
“A lot of these college guys have a lot more muscle mass, “he said. “You can give up age or you can give up muscle. When you give up weight and age both, it’s just too much to handle especially against college guys.”
Wright said he’s not done competing in college opens. He plans on participating in next Sunday’s Nittany Lion Open at Rec Hall, a day after BEA opens its season at Class AA power Reynolds. Landis Wright placed sixth at the Nittany Lion Open as a high school senior last year.
“It was cool seeing him here, “said Landis, who went 4-1 to place third at 165. “I didn’t know how he was going to end up. College kids have the mature strength. My brother is strong, but he doesn’t have that mature strength.
“He likes to muscle kids and that’s kind of what beat him. In high school, he can just muscle kids. Up here, I knew that he wouldn’t be able to manhandle anybody and he would have to rely on his skills. I enjoyed watching him.”
Fluke, Cook finish fourth
Two other members of Centre County’s Class of 2006 had solid tournaments.
Edinboro freshman and State College graduate Kyle Fluke placed fourth at 133 while Lock Haven freshman and Bald Eagle Area graduate Mike Cook finished fourth at heavyweight.
Fluke, who lost to Lock Haven starter Danny Lopes 4-3 in the consolation final, went 2-2 Saturday to improve his college record to 7-5. He will return to the area for Nittany Lion Open.
“I think have done well at the opens, “said Fluke, who started his college career by placing fourth at the Buffalo Open earlier this month. “It’s my first year in college and I’m still getting used to it.”
Cook, last season’s PIAA Class AAA 215-pound champion, was competing in his first college open after finishing 0-2 during last weekend’s Pennsylvania Duals.
“Everybody was saying that this was going to be a big jump, “Cook said. “Wrestling here and taking fourth out of 16 kids makes you feel good about it.”
Penns Valley graduate and Penn State freshman Nathan Andrews went 1-2 at heavyweight while Bellefonte graduate and Penn State freshman Mike Lorenzo went 1-2 at 165. Landis Wright defeated Lorenzo 5-1 in the opening round.
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