Burrell’s Corrado upsets top-ranked Kazalas of Quaker Valley
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Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | 11:39 PM
Burrell's coaches told A.J. Corrado to wrestle aggressively against Quaker Valley's John Rocco Kazalas during their 132-pound bout in the semifinals of the Section 3-AA team tournament Wednesday.
The tactic paid off.
Corrado, a freshman, upset Kazalas — Pennsylvania's top-ranked 132-pound Class AA wrestler in PA Power Wrestling's rankings — using a third-period escape to win, 5-4.
“I knew he was a really good thrower, so I was trying not to get thrown on my back and give up the match,” Corrado said.
The Bucs beat the Quakers, 75-3, then topped South Fayette in the championship match as Corrado posted a 4-2 decision over the Lions' Eli Brinsky.
Corrado scored a first-period takedown against Kazalas to take the lead, which he never fully relinquished even as Kazalas battled back to tie the score in the third period. The freshman's other three points came on escapes.
Kazalas was coming off a championship at last weekend's Allegheny County tournament. The junior became Quaker Valley's first PIAA individual qualifier last season and finished sixth in the state.
“It gives me a lot of confidence,” Corrado said. “If he's No. 1 in the state, I'm up there with all those kids.”
Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.
Tags: Burrell
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