First Posted: 2/23/2015
KINGSTON – Charles Johnson emerged from the District 2 Wrestling Championships with the district’s best record.
The Wyoming Area junior said he would gladly trade it in for something he wants more.
By winning his second straight District 2 Class AA championship at 126 pounds Feb. 21, Johnson improved to 31-0. Colin Pasone of Meyers, who was limited to 17 bouts because of injuries, has the only other unbeaten record.
Johnson said he takes a little bit of pride in the distinction of having the best record.
“But, it doesn’t really mean much,” Johnson said. “I’d rather be on the state podium.
“If I have to absorb a loss to get there; if I get on the state podium, I’ll be happy. That’s my goal.”
Johnson moved a step closer by qualifying for the Feb. 27-28 Class AA Northeast Regional in Williamsport for the third straight year, in pursuit of a second straight trip to Hershey where he did not place last season.
The perfect record has included many overwhelming performances. Johnson has shown the ability to string together a dizzying series of takedowns, letting an opponent back up to quickly go after another, as well as what it takes to end a match early.
Johnson showed both on the second day of the district tournament.
After wrestling for just 1:39 on the first day – in a quarterfinal win over Hanover Area’s Mike Gronkowski – Johnson won his title with a semifinal technical fall and the quickest pin of the championship round.
Johnson defeated Western Wayne’s Braden McIntosh by a 19-4 technical fall in 5:00. He pinned Kevin Huerto of Meyers in just 24 seconds.
“When you wrestle, you’re always looking for the fall,” Johnson said. “I thought it was going to be a lot later.”
Johnson said the approach he takes to trying to win has more to do with the opponent than the setting.
“It all depends,” Johnson said. “Everyone has a different feel. Sometimes things are there; sometimes things aren’t.
“Sometimes, you’ll be able to take a kid down repeatedly, but you won’t be able to pin him. Sometimes, you can take a kid down and pin him.”
Johnson saw an opening, combining a front headlock and ankle pick into a cradle for the pinning combination.
The title was one of two by juniors from the Greater Pittston area.
Thor Balavage, who wrestles for Scranton Prep, won the 220-pound title.
Balavage (36-1) pinned his championship match opponent in the first period earlier this year, but Western Wayne freshman Cole Fuller has improved since then. Fuller pinned his first two district opponents in a total of 2:07 to push his record to 35-6 and reach the final.
“He just wrestled me tough,” said Balavage, who pulled out a 3-1 decision by being the aggressor and drawing two penalty points for stalling by Fuller.
Balavage was fourth in the district as a freshman and second last year.
Wyoming Area finished a strong fifth in the 14-team field, advanced four wrestlers to regionals and had nine wrestlers earn medals by placing in the top six.
The Warriors had 147.5 points, just one half behind fourth-place Valley View and well ahead of the rest of the pack. Meyers won with 218 points while Lake-Lehman outscored Western Wayne, 171-159, for second.
Patrick Heck fell short of a third straight title but reached the final and took second at 132 pounds. He pinned two opponents before losing to Valley View’s Zack Meckes in the final.
Jude Polit-Moran and freshman Justin Joseph took third at 170 and 182 pounds to advance to Williamsport.
Polit-Moran joined Johnson and Heck by reaching the 30-win mark during the tournament. He pinned Scranton Prep’s Ivan Balavage, Thor’s younger brother, in 2:13 of the consolation final.
Joseph upset second-seeded Trent Phillips from Lackawanna Trail, 7-5, in the consolation finals then took third with his 6-5 decision over Josh Bullock from Lake-Lehman.
Four other Warriors missed advancing by one place. Tyler Vince (106), Kendrick Beyer (138), Zachary Briggs (152) and Adam Buczynski (160) took fourth. Briggs and Buczynski lost two-point decisions in the consolation finals. Both of Buczynski’s losses were by two points.
Frank Yurek lost his last two bouts by an injury default and a forfeit and had to settle for sixth place at 220 pounds.
