Sun., March 14, 1999 Pirozzola No. 1 Staff and Wire Reports HERSHEY, Pa. -- The proverbial monkey is off the back of Nesham-iny High's Mike Pirozzola. After two straight excruciating one-point losses in the state finals, Pi-rozzola hit paydirt last night by winning the 140-pound crown in the PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships at the HersheyPark Arena. A junior, Pirozzola won his final when he decisioned Anthony An-drews of Johnstown, 11-5. In other results last night, Council Rock's Rocky Mantella (135) and heavyweight Tony Milone each came in second. Pirozzola roared into the final by pinning three straight opponents, including a 27-second fall over Keith Kleckner of Pottsville in the semifinals. Against the lightning-quick An-drews, who brought a 23-0 record into the finals, Pirozzola was unable to get anything going in the first period. In the second period, however, the Pirozzola scored with one of his pat-ented headlocks for a 5-point play and an 8-2 lead. Andrews came back to close the gap to 9-5, but Pirozzola then locked it up with a takedown in the final 30 seconds. With his victory, Pirozzola be-came just the fifth wrestler in Neshaminy history to win a state title. His final record for the year was 36-0. Only a sophomore, Mantella decisioned Mark Bredly of Bethel Park, 10-5, to reach the final. The Council Rock wrestler got off to a good start in the final with a takedown to take a 2-0 lead against Harley Anderson of State College. After a scoreless second period, Anderson took bottom to start the third. Mantella (38-2) then deliberately al-lowed Anderson to escape, leading to a takedown that put Anderson ahead, 4-2, midway through the third period period. Mantella was awarded one point late in the match when Anderson was called for locking hands and was working on a switch when time ran out in his 4-3 loss. A major success story who didn't even ad-vance out or regions last year, Mil-one's opponent in the final was Nazareth's rug-ged Steve Itterly. A senior with a record of 35-4 prior to the final, Milone grabbed the early advantage with a takedown. Itterly came back with a reversal and two takedowns for a 6-4 lead after two. Early in the third period, Itterly (38-4) was able to turn Milone for a sudden pin at the 4:22 mark. Finals 103--Jeff Breese, McGuffey, pinned Jim Collins, Northern Lebanon, 3:16. 112--Justin Spates, Mount Pleasant, dec. Mario Stuart, Liberty, 4-2. 119--Mike May, Derry Area, dec. Josh Moore, Franklin, 6-3. 125--Mike Maney, Bald Eagle Area, dec. Ryan McCallum, Wilson, 8-3. 130--Eric Frick, Hollidaysburg, dec. Corey Guenot, Bald Eagle Area, 5-1. 135--Harley Anderson, State College, dec. Rocky Mantella, Council Rock, 4-3. 140--Mike Pirozzola, Neshaminy, dec. Anthony Andrews, Johnstown, 11-5. 145--Justin Giovinco, Plymouth Whitemarsh, dec. Troy Letters, Shaler, 5-3. 152--James Woodall, Pittston, dec. Charlie Brenneman, Hollidaysburg, 14-8. 160--Garrett Bontempo, DuBois, dec. Matt King, Connellsville, 4-3. 171--Nick Richmond, McGuffey, dec. Justin Millard, Bald Eagle Area, 7-3. 189--Jon Trenge, Parkland, pinned Jacob Lininger, Lower Dauphin, 2:32. Hwt--Steve Itterly, Nazareth, pinned Tony Milone, Council Rock, 4:22. Outstanding wrestler--Mike Pirozzola, Neshaminy. Coach of the year--Dick Rhoades, Bald Eagle Area. Team Scoring Leaders= Bald Eagle Area 791/2, McGuffey 60, Parkland 561/2, Easton 46, Hollidaysburg 43, Council Rock 39, Liberty 39, Shaler 37, Franklin 34, Pittston 33, Neshaminy 29, State College 27, Nazareth 26, Mount Pleasant 25, DuBois 24. Semifinals= 103--Jim Collins, Northern Lebanon, dec. Joey Rivera, Stroudsburg, 5-1; Jeff Breese, McGuffey, major dec. Josh Schwerin, Hempfield (Dist. 3), 11-2. 112--Justin Spates, Mount Pleasant, dec. Brian Burns, Pottsville, 3-0; Mario Stuart, Liberty, dec. Brian Hutton, Chartiers Valley, 6-4 (OT). 119--Josh Moore, Franklin, dec. Josh Perrin, Somerset, 7-1; Mike May, Derry Area, dec. Eric Chambers, Central Dauphin East, 5-4. 125--Mike Maney, Bald Eagle Area, dec. Byron Warner, Dallastown, 4-2; Ryan McCallum, Wilson, dec. Anthony Rivera, Shikellamy, 10-8. 130--Eric Frick, Hollidaysburg, dec. Scott Moore, Franklin, 5-3; Corey Guenot, Bald Eagle Area, dec. Derek Zinck, Upper Perkiomen, 9-3. 135--Rocky Mantella, Council Rock, dec. Mark Bredl, Bethel Park, 10-5; Harley Anderson, State College, major dec. D.J. Schilling, Shaler, 11-1. 140--Anthony Andrews, Johnstown, major dec. Brad Washburn, Liberty, 12-4; Mike Pirozzola, Neshaminy, pinned Keith Kleckner, Pottsville, 0:27. 145--Justin Giovinco, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, dec. Sean Jenkins, Parkland, 5-2; Troy Letters, Shaler, dec. Jesse Reed, Bald Eagle Area, 1-0. 152--James Woodall, Pittston, major dec. Chris Vecchio, Governor Mifflin, 11-3; Charlie Brenneman, Hollidaysburg, dec. Bill Boeh, North Allegheny, 5-3. 160--Matt King, Connellsville, dec. Todd Schuchert, Norwin, 6-4; Garrett Bontempo, DuBois, dec. Todd Wearing, Seneca Valley, 1-0. 171--Justin Millard, Bald Eagle Area, dec. Brock Hostetter, South Western, 7-3; Nick Richmond, McGuffey, dec. Tom Kirdahy, General McLane, 5-4. 189--Jacob Lininger, Lower Dauphin, pinned Eddie Strauss, Allentown Central Catholic, 2:33; Jon Trenge, Parkland, dec. Jon Sauve, Cumberland Valley, 10-4. Hwt--Steve Itterly, Nazareth, dec. Steve Kovach, West Chester East, 4-2; Tony Milone, Council Rock, dec. John Piergallini, Easton, 7-0.

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