Connellsville defeats Easton in AAA wrestling championships
Associated Press
HERSHEY, Pa. – Connellsville ended Easton’s four-year reign as the PIAA Class AAA wrestling dual meet champion, defeating the Red Rovers 34-25 Saturday at Giant Center.
Connellsville (28-3) swept the last five matches to overcome a 25-15 deficit and become the first state dual meet champion from District 7 since the PIAA introduced the state team championship format for the 1998-99 season.
In Class AA, District 11 champion Northern Lehigh won its first state dual meet championship by defeating previously unbeaten District 10 champion Reynolds 35-22. Reynolds had beaten Northern Lehigh 36-26 last month in the Ultimate Duals in Brookville last month.
Easton, which had won 14 straight PIAA team championship matches, was in position to win its 15th straight when it gained a 10-point lead going into the ninth bout at 130 pounds.
Easton’s Josh Oliver was leading Connellsville state medalist Steve Bell 4-3 late in the match when Bell reversed and pinned Oliver with only one second remaining. That win narrowed the score to 25-21 in Easton’s favor and triggered Connellsville’s five-match sweep.
Easton had beaten Connellsville 38-19 in last year’s PIAA championship match.
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