Greensburg Salem senior soundly beaten in 152-pound final, 10-3
By David Assad, Tri-State Sports & News Service
HERSHEY, Pa. — After hundreds of PIAA Class AAA wrestling matches this weekend, the showdown that everyone had waited to see turned into a letdown.
Two-time PIAA champion Donnie Jones of Greensburg Salem lost decisively, 10-3, at 152 pounds to Joey Ecklof of Northampton last night at the Giant Center. Ecklof (31-3) won his third consecutive PIAA title.
It was believed to be the first time in PIAA history two two-time champions met in a final.
Jones (37-2) trailed 4-3 midway in the second period and almost scored a takedown that would have given him a lead. However, a restart was called before Jones could finish the move as the competitors went out of bounds.
Shortly after the match resumed, Ecklof successfully executed a quick takedown, giving him a 6-3 lead. Then Ecklof immediately had Jones’ back exposed to the mat, giving him an insurmountable 9-3 lead. Jones let Ecklof escape at the start of the third period but could not mount any serious takedown attempts.
“Everybody’s got to lose sometime, “Jones said. “Nobody goes through life without setbacks.”
Jones is a West Virginia University recruit. Ecklof is headed to Pitt on a wrestling scholarship. A woman, who said she was Ecklof’s mother, approached Jones right after he left the medal stand with his silver medal.
“I want to apologize for all the hype [the media and fans] made about this, “the woman said. “I’m sure you and my son will meet again in college a few times. Good luck to you in college.”
Jones took some solace in the words, but the disappointment on his face was obvious.
“I just didn’t wrestle [well] and he did, “said Jones who won by technical fall in the morning semifinals against Ryan Uber of Warrren. “It was [Ecklof’s] day and it wasn’t mine. If I can wrestle better, it’s a different match. It’s as simple as that.”
The second-most intriguing match of the night was Plum senior Sean Clair’s meeting against Connellsville senior Steve Bell. Bell won the 125-pound match, 7-5, in overtime.
Bell’s Connellsville teammate, junior Ashtin Primus (45-6), also took home a gold medal by pinning Tim Darling of Nazareth in 3:15.
Against Clair, Bell scored the decisive takedown 17 seconds into overtime. Bell (47-4) lost, 5-4, in the Southwest/WPIAL final a week earlier against Clair (40-2). Clair led yesterday, 4-3, midway in the third period, but was taken down late in the period while he was being warned for stalling.
Clair was in the final for the first time in his scholastic career after losing in the semifinals for two consecutive years.
“I’ve been wrestling here [at the Giant Center] for a while, but it has a completely different feel in the finals when the spotlight is on you, “Clair said. “After I got warned [for stalling], I knew I had to take a shot in overtime. When I did that, and then backed away, he took his shot and it was a good one when he swept my leg.”
Connellsville coach Tom Dolde, Jr., credited Bell’s stamina for making the difference in overtime and Bell agreed.
“The difference this week was that I came out with more intensity, “Bell said. “I just pushed him to his limit and he broke. I felt great going to overtime and I’ve felt great all week.”
“I get the feeling he could have gone another six minutes. He’s definitely peaking right now, “said Dolde, named state coach of the year after leading the Falcons to the PIAA Class AAA title in Hershey last month.
Other WPIAL wrestlers who claimed PIAA Class AAA titles were Trinity senior Dan Burkholder at 140 pounds and Waynesburg senior Corbin Semple at 171.
Burkholder (24-1) defeated Clint Collins of Upper Merion, 10-2, in the title match. Semple (43-4) was a winner by upsetting returning champion Nick Guida of Parkland, 4-3.
North Allegheny sophomore Rob Waltko was a surprise finalist at 160 pounds, but he lost by pin in the third period against Austin Carter of Council Rock South.
Connellsville finished in a tie for first with Council Rock South in the team standings with 68 points. It is the first time a WPIAL team has finished first since Canon-McMillan in 1992.
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