HERSHEY — Ivan Balavage made Scranton Prep wrestling history with his performance in the first two days of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Balavage, a junior 195-pounder from Avoca, became the first Cavalier to earn a state wrestling medal and the first to win more than one bout in the same state wrestling tournament. Balavage’s older brother, Thor, now wrestling on the NCAA Division II level at Newman College in Kansas, is the only other Scranton Prep wrestler with more than one state victory after winning once each in 2015 and 2016.
Ivan Balavage had one bout left Saturday to determine whether he would finish seventh or eighth in the state. The top eight in each weight class receive medals.
Balavage clinched his state medal when he pinned Luke Walter in 57 seconds Friday.
The only Greater Pittston wrestler to make it through last weekend’s Northeast Regional, Balavage had a bye in Thursday’s preliminary round.
Balavage took the mat just once Thursday and lost, 11-2, to Noah Fleshman from Bermudian Springs. He won by forfeit over Central’s Jared Smith in the first round of consolations to move to Friday.
Two more wins to start Friday clinched the medal.
Balavage defeated Saegertown’s Tyler Brooks, 8-5, before pinning Walter. He still had a chance to finish as high as third at that point, but lost, 4-2, to Blairsville’s Jerry Moore Friday night.
Going into Saturday, Balavage was 34-5 on the season with half of his wins coming by pin. His career record was 92-22.
CLASS 2A NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Balavage went 3-1 in decisions with District 4 wrestlers in the Class 2A Northeast Regional March 3-4 at Williamsport to take third and qualify to wrestle in Hershey.
After defeating Towanda’s Steve Johnson, 10-5, Balavage lost, 2-1, to Wyalusing Michael Wilcox in the semifinals.
Balavage clinched a spot in the regional consolation final and a berth in the state tournament with a 6-3 decision over Lewisburg’s Dakota Snyder. He then won 6-3 again, beating Mifflinburg’s Walter, the same wrestler he pinned for a state medal in Hershey, for third place in the region.
Balavage led Scranton Prep to a 22nd-place finish with 20 points.
Wyoming Area was 30th out of 35 teams with six points.
Freshman Corey Mruk had the only win for the Warriors while placing sixth at 160 pounds.
After losing his quarterfinal by technical fall, Mruk received a forfeit from Hanover Area’s Noah Rakowski. He then lost two straight.
Adam Buczynski (182), Luke Walter (195) and Damon Barhight (285) were each pinned in the quarterfinals before losing low-scoring decisions in the consolation quarterfinals.
CLASS 3A NORTHEAST REGIONAL
Pittston Area’s Jason DeBoard went 2-2 at 160 pounds March 3-4 at the Class 3A Northeast Regional in Bethlehem.
DeBoard reached the quarterfinals by opening with a 6-4 win over LaSalle’s Pat Deacon.
Nazareth’s Cade Wilson pinned DeBoard in 4:13 of the quarterfinals.
DeBoard bounced back with a 7-2 win over Hazleton Area’s Jeremy Aquino before being eliminated when he was pinned by Reed Custer from Emmaus in 1:29.
