Three Ellwood City wrestlers medaled at the WPIAL Individual Wrestling Tournament this past weekend and all will advance to the PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional tournament at the Ed Frey Arena, Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex at Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Friday and Saturday.
Junior Austin Walley placed second at 182lbs while Donavin Chambers (3rd at 132lbs) and Jake Alberts (4th at 120lbs) also placed and advanced.
“All three boys wrestled a strong tournament,” said head coach Craig Alberts. “Each of them are fired up to advance to the SWR. These men have been working hard together for years since they were young in the REC youth wrestling program.”
Austin Walley finished runner-up in the 182-pound classification. Walley fell in the championship to Mt. Pleasant freshman Dayton Pitzer.
Pitzer knocked off Ellwood City junior Austin Walley, 8-4 decision, in the finals.
Walley has beaten everybody he’s faced except for Pitzer, who also defeated Walley, 9-6, in the Southmoreland tournament finals in December.
“I’m happy, but I’m not satisfied. I still need to tweak some things. I’m very excited to compete this weekend,” said Walley. “I’m a competitor, so I love the chance to wrestle good guys.”
Walley was seeded No. 2 for the WPIAL tournament after he defeated Freedom senior Bryson Miller in the Section 2 finals, 3-2. It was the third time this season Walley defeated Miller.
Winning a consolation match Saturday to place third was Ellwood City’s Donavin Chambers (132), while Jake Alberts collected three weight-class victories and placed 4th at 120 pounds.
“I am very proud of their efforts and competitiveness this entire year. The hard work they have put in is starting to pay off,” Alberts added.
Austin Walley (30-2 overall) will open against Ryder Kocik of Huntingdon Area in the 182-pound division. With three victories Walley would find himself in the championship match and could face one of two familiar foes – Bryson Miller, of Freedom, whom Walley has defeated three times this season, or Mount Pleasant sensation, Dayton Pitzer (35-1 overall), who felled Walley in the WPIAL tournament this past weekend.
“Pitzer and Austin are on the opposite side of the bracket,” said Alberts. “They could match up again in the finals.”
For Austin Walley, Chambers and Alberts, one must advance to the top six at this weekend’s Southwest Regional to make the PIAA Tournament.
Donavin Chambers will open against Trevor Weyandt of Chestnut Ridge in the 132-pound opening round while Jake Alberts opens against Baylor
Shunk of Penns Valley in the 120-pound opening round.
Wrestling will start at 1:00 on Friday.
FULL BRACKET — www.wpial.org/2019-SW-AA-Region-Brackets.pdf
Tickets are available at the door. Doors will open 45 minutes before the start of each session. Friday night and Saturday morning sessions: Adults -$6; Students – $3. Saturday Evening: Adults – $8; Students – $4. All Day Saturday Pass: Adults – $14; Students – $7. All-session pass: Adults – $20; Students – $10.
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