Pittston Area got six wrestlers through Friday’s quarterfinals and Wyoming Area advanced three to reach Saturday’s resumption of the Wyoming Valley Conference Wrestling Tournament with title shots intact.
Following the first day of the two-day tournament at Lake-Lehman, Pittston Area was sixth out of 12 in the team standings. Only the top three of Tunkhannock, Hazleton Area and Wilkes-Barre Area had more semifinalists and the Patriots were just two points out of fourth place with 56 points.
Wyoming Area was 11th with 32.
The semifinals and continuation of consolation rounds were scheduled to begin Saturday with wrestling continuing through the finals and consolation finals to determine the top four in each weight class.
Pittston Area had semifinalists in the three lightest weight classes after Keegan Bucci, Joii Phillips and Kevin Robey advanced with pins at 106, 113 and 120. Bucci pinned Zach Capie from Nanticoke in 1:15.
The Patriots had another three semifinalists in a row with James Spindler, C.J. Demark and A.J. Gorto from 145 to 160. Spindler got through in overtime. Gorto won a first-period pin.
Nico Solano (138), Dave Sudo (182) and Adrian Colon (220) advanced with consolation victories Friday night.
Jacob Granahan was alive into Saturday after a consolation bye at 126.
Wyoming Area’s Jaden Pepe won twice Friday to reach the semifinals.
Many wrestlers had byes in the preliminary round to get each weight class down to eight quarterfinal contenders, but Pepe had to wrestle in the that round. He made it a quick one with a 20-second pin of Lake-Lehman’s Brendon Boston.
Pepe then won a technical fall over Wyoming Valley West’s Dorian Hoffman, 16-1, in 5:16.
Connor Wrobleski and Vincent Bowers each won once, at 170 and 195, to make the semifinals. Wrobleski won a technical fall by 16-0 shutout and Bowers posted a second-period pin.
Nick Ross went 1-1 at 145 with an 18-second pin in the preliminary round and advanced to Saturday’s consolation round action along with five teammates who got there with the help of byes.
