Dalton Wenner and Sierra Chiesa shake hands before their latest match. (Photo by Richard Sayer).
Girl meets boy...
It's a wonder nobody has drawn a fake moustache across Dalton Wenner's face. As in villain.
The Cranberry freshman has three victories this year over the wrestling world's darling, Northwestern's Sierra Chiesa, the first girl to win a District 10 title, qualify for states and win a match at states.
That third victory by "Mr." Wenner -- as he was referred to on Twitter -- came in the "blood round" of states, preventing "Ms." Chiera from earning a state medal.
(So, boo...kidding, of course.)
Wenner (Dalton), Brosius, McFetridge medal at states
Cranberry's Dalton Wenner (107), Elijah Brosius (121) and Brayden McFetrdige (215) earned medals in the 2A state wrestling tournament March 9-1`1.
Wenner and McFetridge grabbed seventh place medals, while Brosius settled for his second straight eighth-place finish.
Sophomores Connor Reszkowski (133) and Dane Wenner (139) also earned spots in the tourney. In fact, McFetridge is the only senior in the Cranberry contingent.
Here's a round-by-round blow of the action at states:
107 -- DALTON WENNER bye; dec. Jacob Sombronski, United, 7-0; lost to Will Detar, Trinity, 6-0; dec. Sierra Chiesa, Northwestern, 11-5; lost to Kole Davidheiser, Faith Christian, 7-0; vs. Gage Swank, Muncy
121 --ELIJAH BROSIUS bye; dec. Jackson Rush, West Perry 3-1; lost by tech fall to Brandt Harer, Montgomery, 16-1 ; dec. Jack Kazales, Quaker Valley, 2-0; lost to Aiden Grogg, Saucon Valley, 2-1; lost to Max Wirnsburger, Meadowbrook Christian, 3-2 UTB
133 -- CONNER RESZKOWSKI lost to Colten Shunk, Penns Vallley (31-8), 5-0; was pinned by Chase Bell, Reynolds, 1:17; vs.
139 -- DANE WENNER bye; lost to Reagan Milheim, Warrior Run (46-4), 14-0; dec. Landon Ulderich, Berlin Brothers Valley, 3-2; lost to Tyler Morrison, West Perry, 6-0
215 -- BRAYDEN MCFETRIDGE bye; was pinned by Seth Ross, Lackawanna Trail (36-4), 1:51; pinned Ryan Weidner, Mount Carmel, 3:49; pinned Kollin Brungart, Penns Valley, 2:06; dec. Grant Mathias, Berlin-Brothers Valley, 5-0; lost to Vitali Daniels, Bentworth, 8-0; won by forfeit over Owen Reber, Berks Catholic
Dalton Wenner wins regional title,
4 more Berries qualify for states
Freshman Dalton Wenner claimed the 107-pound title Saturday in the North West 2A regional wrestling tournament at Sharon High School.
The Berries also qualified four more wrestlers for the state tourney March 9-11 at the Giant Center in Hershey. Taking thirds were Elijah Brosius (121), Dane Wenner (139) and Brayden McFetridge (215). Conner Reszkowski (133) placed fourth at his weight. The season for 152-pounder Devyn Fleeger ended, but he still finished in the top eight.
The Berries finished fourth in the team standings behind Ft. LeBoeuf, Clearfield and Reynolds. Grove City was a distant fifth in the 16-team event. Cranberry was only four and a half points behind Reynolds
Coach of the Year!
Cranberry's Dustin Wenner (left) and then posing with his six regional qualifiers, was voted District 9 2A "Coach of the Year" by his peers.
Dalton Wenner, McFetridge claim D-9 titles
Freshman Dalton Wenner (107) and senior Brayden McFetridge won titles, leading Cranberry to a third-place finish in the District 9 2A wrestling tournament Feb. 25 at Clarion.
The Berries sent four wrestlers to the finals, but Elijah Brosius dropped a 2-0 decision at 121, and Conner Reszkowski lost 7-0 at 133. Brosius won the 107-pound title last season.
Sophomore Dane Wenner was third at 139, getting a pin in the consolation finals. Devyn Fleeger was fourth at 152.
Also placing were Alex McLaughlin (114) and Brandon Murray (127), who were fifth at their weights. First-year heavyweight was a win away from making the consolation semifinals, but he was eliminated by an injury default.
The top four at each weight qualified for regionals.
The Berries finished behind only Clearfield and St. Marys in the 16-team event. They were 4.5 points behind the Flying Dutchmen. They also finished 12.5 points ahead of perennial power Brookville.
Regionals will be Friday and Saturday at Sharon High School. The top four at each weight advances to the state tournament the following week.
District 9 2A champions
Dalton Wenner far left bottom row, Brayden McFetridge second from right top row
Wrestling is
nothing if not
picturesque
No matter what Rich Sayer's photos might show, make no mistake: Cranberry downed Franklin, 47-15, on Feb. 13.
The Knights prevailed in the feature match, however, as veteran Cael Dailey blanked freshman sensation Dalton Wenner, who was up a weight a 114. The score was 4-0.
There were four pins in the match, three by Berries Dane Wenner, Devyn Fleeger and Henry Milford. Jonah Heckathorne had a fall for Franklin.
Other winners on the mat for Cranberry were Brandon Murray (major), Connor Reszkowski and Brayden McFetridge (tech falls) and Jack Nuhfer (decision). There were three forfeits and a no bout at 107, where Dalton Wenner normally can be found.
The Berries, who do most of their wrestling in tourneys these days, are 7-2 (counting the District 9 2A duals.)
The Knights are 5-10.
Both teams will now get ready for the post-season. Franklin will be in a D-10 2A section this weekend at Sharon. Cranberry is off until Feb. 24-25 when it competes in the D-9 2A tourney at Clarion University.
Berries celebrate Howland title...
(Cranberry team photo)
...and a fourth-place finish at Fred Bell
Brayden McFetridge stands on the awards podium after winning the 215-pound crown at the Fred Bell tourney. He used a last-second takedown and back points to upset top-seeded and defending champ Troy Peterson of McDowell for the 215-pound title. McFetridge is normally a 189-pounder.
Cranberry's freshman 107-pounder Dalton Wenner has won all three tournament titles he's been in this season. His most recent conquest: the 41-team field in the Fred Bell event on Jan. 28. He previously won the Mid-Winter Mayhem Jan. 14 at IUP and the Howlad, Ohio, Invitational on Jan. 21..
Franklin's Jonah Heckathorne run action at the Howland invite (Tracy Kockler)
Cael Dailey battled back from a loss in his first match to finish fourth at the Fred Bell event. (Richard Sayer)
Both wrestlers, along with teammate Drew Kockler, were named second team all-region.
Knights at a Glance (final)
Berries at a Glance (final)
Another Berry Banner was presented before Cranberry's match with Redbank Valley, This one went to Elijah Brosius, a District 9 champion last season. He's pictured here with Cranberry coaches Andrew Brosius, Mike Crocker, Darren Wenner and Dustin Wenner.
Medaling in the 13-14 age group at the Keystone State Games were Aiden Thompson, seventh at 87 pounds, and Brandon Murray, fifth at 130.
Aiden Thompson, an 87-pounder, won his second straight District 9 junior high wrestling tournament title, helping Cranberry to a third-place finish behind Port Allegany and Brookville. Skyler Myers (145) also won his weight for the Berries. Other place-winners were: Derek DeLong, third at 130; and Peyton Sloan (101), Xander Piercy (115), Aaden Hubbard (122) and Seth Brooks (138), all with fourths. Colby Fry (108) and Liam Turner (155) were Cranberry's other entries.