Plum senior on track for first title; Kiski’s Oravec sets record
Saturday, March 12, 2005
By David Assad, Tri-State Sports & News Service
HERSHEY, Pa. — It has been a case of “been there, done that “for 125-pound Plum senior Sean Clair after two days at the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament at the Giant Center.
Clair advanced to the semifinals for the third consecutive year after a 4-3 decision yesterday against Eric Albright of Red Lion.
Clair (39-1) wants to avoid a “been there, done that “episode in the semifinals. He has lost in the semifinals the past two seasons.
Clair has emerged as the favorite to claim the 125-pound title after two-time PIAA runner-up Seth Ciasulli of Easton was upset, 4-3, by State College’s Kyle Fluke in the first round Thursday. Also gone from the winner’s bracket is Steve Mytych of Northampton, a pretournament co-favorite with Ciasulli.
“This is my last shot at the title, “said Clair, who faces Fluke today in a semifinal match. “I really want it this time. I don’t feel I’m any greater or less than anyone else. It’s whoever wants it more that day. Everyone is at the same level. It’s whoever has the better mind-set when they walk out on the mat. There’s not a bad wrestler here.”
Clair’s victory against Albright (36-2) was not pretty. Holding a 3-2 lead, Clair rode Albright for all but eight seconds of the third period before deliberately letting him escape. Clair was given a 4-2 lead late in the match after a third caution was called on Albright for moving before the referee’s whistle on restarts.
“I’ve always been nervous about the semifinal up here, but I’m not going to do that this year, “Clair said. “I refuse to let it happen.”
Here are other notable PIAA Class AAA semifinalists from the WPIAL:
Gateway sophomore Jay Ivanco became the first Gateway wrestler since Ryan Lang in 1993 to reach the semifinals. Ivanco (39-1) scored a 4-0 win against Chuck Mulloy of Penncrest in the quarterfinals. Ivanco’s only loss this season was to senior Chris Neidermeier of Waynesburg, who was upset in the quarterfinals on a second-period fall against Chris Sheetz of Upper Perkiomen.
Kiski Area senior Tyler Oravec earned a 10-3 decision against Paul Girafalco of Downingtown East, giving Oravec his 48th victory to break the WPIAL single-season record held by Steve Peperak of Connellsville in 1983.
Two-time reigning PIAA champion Donnie Jones, a Greensburg Salem senior, earned a 5-3 decision against Thad Frick of Nazareth at 152. Jones’ expected championship showdown tonight with another two-time PIAA champion, Joey Ecklof of Northampton, is still in line after Ecklof won in overtime in his quarterfinal match against Travis Uncapher of Greensburg Central Catholic, 2-1.
Wrestling Gear
