Parkland one win from state-title match

by By Mark Wogenrich OF THE MORNING CALL

Posted on February 13, 2010

DENISE SANCHEZ / THE MORNING CALL / February 12, 2010 Parkland's Joe Canelon vs. Boyertown Area's Zach Heffner DENISE SANCHEZ / THE MORNING CALL / February 12, 2010 Parkland's Shaun Heist vs. Boyertown Area's Ryan Schwager DENISE SANCHEZ / THE MORNING CALL / February 12, 2010 Parkland's Rich Trotta defeats Boyertown Area's Adam Benfield DENISE SANCHEZ / THE MORNING CALL / February 12, 2010 Parkland's Mike Ottinger defeats Boyertown Area's Chase Garber DENISE SANCHEZ / THE MORNING CALL / February 12, 2010 Parkland head coach, Ryan Nunamaker and assistant coaches, Derek Jenkins and Jon Trenge, instruct Mike Kistler to take the neutral position DENISE SANCHEZ / THE MORNING CALL / February 12, 2010 Wade Rivera defeats Boyertown Area's Brock Hallman with a score of 16-6 DENISE SANCHEZ / THE MORNING CALL / February 12, 2010 Andy Moore defeats Boyertown Area's Luke Hoffman DENISE SANCHEZ / THE MORNING CALL / February 12, 2010 Parkland's Tarik Haddad vs Boyertown Area's Tyler Mauger

The prime of Parkland's lineup performed as expected, but without an overtime victory from a first-year varsity wrestler, the T+rojans might not be in the state semifinals today.

Forest Touchberry hit a takedown 29 seconds into overtime to edge Connellsville's Jerry Cramer 4-2 and help lift Parkland to a 28-25 victory in Friday's second round of the PIAA Class 3A Team Wrestling Championship at the Giant Center. The Trojans later added a 31-27 victory over Boyertown to reach today's semifinal round in their first trip to the state duals.

Parkland (23-2) will wrestle District 7 champ Canon-McMillan at 11 a.m. today for a spot in the state-championship match opposite either Central Dauphin or Central Mountain.

''We figured we had a shot to get to the final with our draw,'' Parkland coach Ryan Nunamaker said. ''One more to go.''

Easton, which defeated Parkland last week for the District 11 duals title, will seek the third-place medal in the consolation round. In the quarterfinals, the Red Rovers ran into heavyweight-heavy Central Mountain, which shook off a 21-0 deficit to win the last seven bouts in a 40-24 victory. They came back to defeat Connellsville 32-28 to earn a second-round consolation match against Kiski Area.

''They're extremely tough up top,'' Powell said of Central Mountain, the unbeaten District 6 champ. ''We needed two more, maybe three, of the toss-ups. That's a good, experienced team.''

With Central Mountain and Central Dauphin, the two-time defending state-duals champ, in the top half of the bracket, Parkland liked its chances of reaching the championship match. But so did Connellsville, the third-place team from District 7 that took the Trojans to the bitter end. The Falcons led 19-18 with three bouts remaining, but back-to-back wins from Wade Rivera (171) and Tarik Haddad (189) sealed Parkland's victory.

Rivera hit a four-point move with 5 seconds left to score an 11-1 major decision, giving Parkland essential bonus points. Haddad then pinned Zach Fike in 1:20 to clinch the match.

''Those guys have been doing it all year for us,'' Nunamaker said. ''But some of the younger guys really came through as well.''

Chief among them was Touchberry. A junior high district champ last year, the sophomore entered states with a 7-10 record against plenty of tough competition. But Touchberry has won three straight in states, none bigger than the one Friday morning.

Touchberry (130) went to overtime against Connellsville's Cramer, a senior with a 17-13 record. Midway through the first overtime, Touchberry hit a takedown for a 4-2 victory. It was his first overtime win of the season, and those three points ultimately proved decisive.

''It felt really good taking the guy down,'' said Touchberry, who added a 6-5 decision against Boyertown. ''I prepared really well and didn't give up.''

Parkland's lightweights came through in both matches, going 7-3 in the bouts from 103-130. Mike Fake (112) and Brandon Davis (119) won both of their bouts, with Davis getting a critical victory against Boyertown.

The senior (30-5) scored a takedown with 2 seconds left to edge Boyertown's Matt Malfaro 5-4 and give Parkland a 12-0 lead. Malfaro (30-4) had won 16 straight since his last loss, which was to Fake in overtime in January.

''It feels like we can't lose,'' Davis said his team. ''It feels like we're unbeatable. One way or another, we come out on top.''

For Parkland, Mike Kistler went 2-0, including a 10-7 victory over Connellsville's Mike Aumer at 140 pounds. Trailing 6-5 in the third period, Kistler hit a five-point move for the 10-7 victory.

Mike Ottinger rebounded from back-to-back losses to go 2-0, with a technical fall against Boyertown. Rivera (34-2) added a pair of major decisions.

Canon-McMillan (17-3) brings two 30-bout winners to the semifinal, though both are underclassmen. The Big Macs also feature heavyweight Mike Hull, who will play linebacker next year at Penn State.

''We did enough to win, but there are certainly areas we can improve upon,'' Nunamaker said. ''I hope we saved our best stuff for the next match.''

Posted by Lou Rivera

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