Norwin sophomore Kurtis Phipps wins 2nd WPIAL wrestling title

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 3, 2018 | 9:48 PM

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Norwin sophomore Kurtis Phipps wasn't happy with how he earned his second WPIAL/Southwest Regional Class AAA title Saturday at Canon-McMillan.

Phipps was awarded a penalty point in the second period of his match against Seneca Valley freshman Alejandro Herrera for a 1-0 victory.

“I don't like the way I got my point, but a win is a win, so I had to grind it out.” Phipps said. “If I was the official, I would have called it off and gone into overtime. That can easily be a match next week.”

The top four wrestlers in each of the 14 weight classes advanced to the PIAA championships Thursday at Giant Center in Hershey.

Phipps said he wrestled Herrera numerous times in the past, so they know each other's style.

“It's awesome to be a two-time champion,” Phipps said. “I doubt it will be at 106 again. We can see if I can make it three next year probably up a couple weight classes.”

Also winning their second titles were North Hills sophomore Sam Hillegas (120 pounds), Belle Vernon senior Zach Hartman (160) and Laurel Highlands senior Ian Edenfield (220).

The list of three-time WPIAL champions will remain at 74 after Waynesburg senior Caleb Morris and Albert Gallatin senior Tim Wallace (182) were denied in their respective quests.

Morris was pinned by Hillegas, and Wallace dropped a 9-2 decision to Christian Sequete of Butler.

Franklin Regional junior Colton Camacho, ranked No. 1 in the state at 132 pounds by PaPowerWrestling.com, needed overtime to edge good friend Nick Coy of Penn-Trafford, 5-3.

Coy grabbed a 2-0 lead with a reversal in the second period, but Camacho used two escapes in regulation to tie the score and send the match into overtime.

Both wrestlers got escapes in the two tie-breaker overtime periods, but after Coy's escape to tie the score 3-3, Camacho used a snap-down move to secure the win with a takedown.

“It feels pretty good to win a title, but I didn't wrestle my pace,” Camacho said. “I've wrestled Nick multiple times this season, but it never got down to overtime. A win is a win, and I was able to win WPIALs.”

It was the third time Camacho has beaten Coy this season. They were practice partners at Young Guns earlier this season.

“It's pretty tough wrestling the same guy that's just as good as you,” Camacho said. “You know what's coming when you wrestle so many times.”

Kiski Area was the WPIAL team champion and had four individual champions: Noah Levett (138), Cam Connor (145), Jack Blumer (152) and Isaac Reid (285).

Levett was awarded his first title by medical default over Waynesburg senior Jackson Henson. Connor edged Penn-Trafford senior Job Chishko, 2-1. Blumer defeated Pine-Richland freshman Cole Spencer, 6-3, and Reid used a takedown in the final 10 seconds to beat West Mifflin senior Gerald Brown.

Belle Vernon had two champions: Hartman and junior Scott Joll (170). Hartman defeated Canon-McMillan sophomore Gerrit Nijenhuis, 3-1, and Joll outscored Waynesburg senior Kyle Homet, 8-6.

Connellsville senior Nate Ansell rallied to defeat North Hills senior Nathan Mankey, 8-6, in overtime at 195, and Edenfield defeated Upper St. Clair junior Jake Slinger, 6-3.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Kiski School, North Hills, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Waynesburg, Waynesburg Central, West Mifflin