PIAA WRESTLING

Denny happy to medal

By TOM WARING

Courier Times

HERSHEY - Jon Denny's sophomore season ended with a pair of losses, but the Neshaminy High School wrestler accomplished something pretty impressive.

Of all the PIAA Class AAA 103-pounders in the state, Denny finished eighth. Last night, coach Vic Stanley proudly hung the eighth-place medal around Denny's neck on the awards platform at Hersheypark Arena.

"I lived up to what I wanted to do," Denny said. "My goal was to place. I know I can place higher, but eighth is really good. I'm happy with that."

Denny said he was inspired to win a medal for his grandmother, Jean Denny, of Florida. Jean Denny has cancer and is facing upcoming surgery. Her grandson is pulling for her to get better.

Jon Denny, who finished 29-9, said he'll spend the off-season wrestling and will be better next season with the help of Stanley and assistant coach Steve Herceg.

He looked to be on his way to a seventh-place medal, holding a late one-point lead against Dallastown's Byron Dunlap. But, Dunlap earned a reversal and three back points with 26 seconds to go to pull out a 9-5 victory.

Denny clinched a medal by beating Selinsgrove's Chad Kerstetter, 8-4, in the second round of consolations. He was trailing, 4-0, in the second period. Denny prevailed with a reversal and five back points in the third.

Denny was pinned in 2:50 by Chartiers Valley's Scott Hutton to move to the seventh-place bout. The bout was tied at the time.

Still, Stanley said that Denny "turned the corner" at states. He continued to show an ability to come from behind to win and score points from the top position.

"I think he had a great tournament," he said. "He lost two close matches. He will not lose those two close matches next year."

Sunday, March 12, 2000