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Copyright © 1999, Calkins Newspapers, Inc. |
Pirozzola, Mantella, Milone crowned champs
By TOM WARING
NORRISTOWN - At last night's Class AAA Southeast Regional wrestling tournament, it was time for the cream to rise to the top.
Locally, Neshaminy High School's Michael Pirozzola and Council Rock's Rocky Mantella continued to roll, while Rock's Tony Milone pulled off an upset.
By the end of the night, Pirozzola led a group of four Redskins who placed in the top three and advanced to the PIAA tournament, to be held at Hersheypark Arena Thursday through Saturday. Other Neshaminy wrestlers moving on are runners-up Dan Winter (145) and Jeff Rotunno (152), along with third-place finisher Neal Oberto (189).
That wasn't the only good news for Neshaminy. Pirozzola, the 140-pound champion, was named Outstanding Wrestler. He helped the Redskins capture the team championship. In the semifinals, Pirozzola, a junior, used a cradle to pin Rock's Sean Collins for his 100th victory. Appropriately, the pin came in 100 seconds.
The only Neshaminy wrestler who did not advance was junior Mike O'Neill, who was eliminated in the 112-pound bracket by his cousin, Penncrest's Evan Bell.
There was also plenty to cheer about if you were a Council Rock fan. Mantella won the 135-pound title, while Gregg Osbeck settled for second at 160. Also, the Indians were the team runner-up.
But the big news occurred in the final bout of the night, before a sold-out Norristown High School gymnasium, when Milone decisioned West Chester East's Steve Kovach, 4-2, in the heavyweight final. Kovach, who edged Milone in the Council Rock Christmas Tournament, finished fourth in the state last year, is undefeated and is No. 1 in the Keystone Wrestling Rankings.
"It feels great. It's awesome," Milone said after accepting his championship medal.
Harry S Truman will be represented in Hershey for the first time since 1991. Mike Moore finished second at 189. Moore injured his knee in a semifinal whipping of Methacton's Eric Ranieri. In the final, North Penn's Kyle Berger took Moore down in the first five seconds. The knee began to bother Moore, and he had to default just 14 seconds into the bout. Afterward, he said he hoped to be ready for states.
Pennsbury had just one wrestler, Keith Jones, at the tournament. Jones, a junior who came out of nowhere to make states last season, re-established himself as a guy who wrestles his best when it counts. In the 130-pound semifinals, Jones used two back points at the buzzer to edge Cheltenham's previously unbeaten Max Galka, 4-3. Jones settled for second place when he was overwhelmed by Upper Perkiomen's Derek Zinck in the final.
Mantella won his final, 8-3, over Upper Perkiomen's Bobby Fieger. Last season as a freshman, he was just denied a trip to states when he placed fourth at regionals. Mantella said the competition will be tough at states, but he's confident.
"I think I can go with those guys," he said. "I'm hoping to do good. I hope to place in the top three."
Pirozzola, a state runner-up each of the last two years, continues to dominate. He's pinned his last six opponents in the postseason. He wants a state championship.
"I'm focused. I'm wrestling well," he said. "But, (a regional title) is not as important as the ultimate goal. There's a lot of work yet to be done."
As pleased as Pirozzola is with his individual performance, he's thrilled that Neshaminy swept the sectional, district and regionals crowns.
"I'm even happier for the team," he said. "I'm proud of the guys."
Pirozzola's toughest competition at states will likely come from Greensburg-Salem's Greg Jones, whom hed downed, 10-8, in a December tournament.
Note: Former Neshaminy wrestler and head coach Ed Curran was inducted into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in a ceremony before the finals. As a senior in 1984, Curran won the 126-pound state title. He was a four-time sectional champion, a three-time district champ and a four-time state qualifier. In addition to his state title, he placed fourth twice. He had a 120-7 career record. Sunday, March 7, 1999 |