Boys' Wrestling Game Summaries

Senior Derek Devine’s run through the PIAA Class AAA individual wrestling tournament came to a conclusion on Friday afternoon following a second round consolation loss to Michael Leyland of Roman Catholic. Devine fell by a 5-0 decision to Leyland in his final bout as a North Allegheny Tiger.

Devine ends the 2017-2018 season with a record of 29-10, while winning a second straight Section 3-AAA title at 285 pounds in the process. Also a coveted football recruit at left tackle, Devine will continue his football career next season at the University of Virginia.

Congratulations to Derek Devine and the North Allegheny wrestling team for a terrific season.

PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships - Day Two

The lone representative of the North Allegheny wrestling team in Hershey will continue into day two of action at the PIAA Class AAA individual wrestling tournament. Senior Derek Devine earned a split in his first two matches of the tournament on Thursday.

Devine fell in a narrow 2-1 decision to Ryan Stewart of Warwick in his first bout but rebounded with a 5-1 decision over Paolo DiSanto of Plymouth Whitemarsh in the consolation bracket.

In day two, Devine will return to action in the second round of consolations with a bout against Michael Leyland of Roman Catholic. You can follow all the action at the state wrestling tournament with our friends at WJPA Radio by clicking here.

PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships - Day One

North Allegheny senior Derek Devine claimed a fourth-place finish at the WPIAL Class AAA individual wrestling tournament on Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School and qualified for the PIAA individual wrestling tournament next week. Devine was one of six North Allegheny wrestlers who competed in day two of action at the WPIAL tournament.

Devine started the day in the winner’s bracket but dropped a 9-1 decision to West Mifflin’s Gerald Brown in the semifinal bout. In the consolation bracket, Devine bounced back with a 4-2 win over Nathan Hoagland of Mt. Lebanon to reach the third-place bout. In the third-place bout, Devine put forth a valiant effort before dropping a narrow 1-0 decision to Isaiah Vance of Hempfield.

Sophomore Freddy Junko put together a nice run in the consolation bracket at 113 pounds, picking up wins over Garrett Thompson of Franklin Regional and Kellen Lynch of Thomas Jefferson before eventually falling the fourth round of the consolations with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Jordan Watters of West Allegheny.

Similar to Junko, junior Jon Hoover strung together a pair of wins in the consolation bracket with a win by fall over Dylan McAnulty of Indiana and a 5-2 decision over Jake Richardson of Mars prior to a 1-0 loss to Nick Delp of Kiski Area.

At 126 pounds, senior Jacob Downing earned an 8-3 decision in the second round of the consolations over Mason Franks of Connellsville. At 220, sophomore Ben Grafton picked up a 5-3 decision over Andy Mellinger of McKeesport.  Both Downing and Grafton were upended in the third round of the consolations.

Senior Gabe Falo also reached day two of the WPIAL individual tournament. He fell to Zachary Macy of Chartiers Valley in the second round consolations at 132 pounds. For a look at North Allegheny’s results in day two of the tournament, see below.

WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Championships - Day Two

Six North Allegheny grapplers will enter day two of the Class AAA WPIAL individual wrestling tournament at Canon-McMillan High School on Saturday.

Senior Derek Devine is the lone NA wrestler remaining in the winner’s bracket at 285 pounds thanks to a pair of victories in day one. Devine opened the tournament with a win by fall over Ringgold’s Andrew Verscharen and followed that up with a 5-2 decision over Corey Dodson of Albert Gallatin in the quarterfinals. Devine will face Gerald Brown of West Mifflin in the semifinals in day two.

At 160 pounds, junior Jon Hoover also reached the quarterfinal round courtesy of a 12-0 major decision over Casper Hinklie of Connellsville in the first round. However, Hoover dropped a 7-0 decision to Canon-McMillan’s Garrit Nijenhuis in the quarterfinals. Despite the loss, Hoover will continue on in the consolation bracket.

Other Tigers who remain alive in the consolation bracket in day two will be Freddy Junko (113), Jacob Downing (126), Gabe Falo (132) and Ben Grafton (220). For a complete look at North Allegheny’s results from day one action, see below.

You can also follow along and listen to the entire WPIAL Class AAA wrestling tournament courtesy of our friends at WJPA Radio by clicking here.

WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Championships - Day One

North Allegheny will send 10 wrestlers to the WPIAL Class AAA individual wrestling tournament following an outstanding performance at the Section 3-AAA tournament on Saturday. The weekend was highlighted by senior Derek Devine who won his second straight section title with a win by fall over Seneca Valley’s Kevin Meeder at 285 pounds.

There were three silver medalists for the Tigers, including Freddy Junko, Jon Hoover and Ben Grafton. Junko reached the finals at 113 pounds and gave a valiant effort in a hard-fought 6-2 loss to Shaler’s Ryan Sullivan. Sullivan is the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the state and a returning state finalist.

Hoover advanced to the finals at 160 pounds before suffering a medical default defeat to Jake Richardson of Mars in the title bout. Grafton, the fifth-seed at 220 pounds, pinned fourth-seeded Joe Kramer from Shaler and defeated top-seed Saavon Mosby from Knoch by an 8-3 decision en route to the finals at 220 pounds.

Senior Jacob Downing, who attained his 100^th career win last week in a dual meet win over Thomas Jefferson, took home a bronze medal with a win by fall over Robert Palmeri of Pine-Richland at 126 pounds. Also earning Section 3-AAA bronze were Max Stedeford (106), and Gabe Falo (132). Sophomore Nick Marcenelle reached the third-place bout at 145 pounds to qualify for the WPIAL tournament.

Senior Mohammaad Khatami entered the tournament seeded 10^th out of 10 wrestlers but managed to defeated the sixth, seventh and ninth-seeded wrestlers to secure his first ever berth in the WPIAL tournament. Khatami closed out his performance with a 3-1 decision over Jack Turner of Indiana.

Senior Manuel Bautista came into the tournament seeded seventh and notched his first appearance in the WPIAL championships with wins over the 10^th, eighth and sixth-seeded wrestlers. In the fifth place match, Bautista used a takedown in overtime to punch his ticket in a 7-5 decision over Josh Miller of Fox Chapel.

Senior Andrew Wang came up just one win short of advancing with a sixth place finish. For a complete look at the brackets from the Section 3-AAA tournament, click here.

The WPIAL individual championships will be held on Friday and Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School.