Hempfield wrestlers change weight classes in advance of section tournament

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, February 20, 2018 | 8:30 PM

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When Hempfield wrestling coach Vince DeAugustine was winning WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA titles, there was no internet to help wrestlers figure out what weight class was the best for them.

“It was all word of mouth,” said DeAugustine a three-time WPIAL and two-time PIAA champion. “I know Brian (teammate Burrows), Robbie (Mt. Pleasant's Waller) and I would talk about the weight classes.

“Now, you can get on the internet and find out what weight the top wrestlers in the state are competing at. As a coach, if you don't utilize the internet, you're not doing your job.”

Weight changes are affecting three Hempfield wrestlers as the Class AAA individual tournament season begins Saturday with section tournaments at Kiski Area (Section 1), Connellsville (2), Fox Chapel (3) and Trinity (4).

So when Hempfield senior Luke Kemerer decided to wrestle up a class for the upcoming tournaments, his coach said it was because he felt better wrestling at 152 pounds instead of 145.

Kemerer, the returning WPIAL 138-pound champion and a Pitt recruit, said he uses the internet to watch the sport he loves, not to scout upcoming opponents.

“I'd rather not worry about my opponent,” Kemerer said. “I let my coach do that. Once I made my decision to wrestle at 152, I've enjoyed practice even more. It allows me to work on different things and not worry about weight and my opponent.”

DeAugustine said decisions to move this late in the season are hit and miss.

“Ty (Linsenbigler) is moving to 138 after competing at 132,” DeAugustine said. “It's more of a weight issue. He's actually moving to a tougher weight class. Kyle (Burkholder) staying at 113 is a weight issue.

“No matter what weight class you're entered in, it's going to be tough.”

No movement is allowed now after the WPIAL posted tournament brackets Tuesday.

The Class AA section and WPIAL tournaments were held last weekend at Canon-McMillan. On Friday and Saturday, the top seven wrestlers in the 14 weight classes will compete at the Southwest Regional at IUP's Kovalchick Conference and Athletic Complex.

Jefferson-Morgan senior Gavin Teasdale and Ligonier Valley senior Robert Patrick are seeking their fourth regional titles and are seeded first this weekend.

Patrick (27-0) won his fourth District 6 title at 170 pounds Saturday at Altoona. He is a two-time PIAA Class AA runner-up.

Teasdale (32-2) is a three-time PIAA champion and is competing at 126.

“Titles will come if I wrestle the way I'm capable of,” Teasdale said. “I need to continue to improve. I have to stay aggressive to make sure my opponents wrestle me and don't lay back.”

Other WPIAL wrestlers to garner top seeds are Quaker Valley freshman Connor Redinger (31-1) at 106 and South Side senior Joe Demor (37-1) at 145.

Derry junior Dom DeLuca (42-3) is looking forward to a possible rematch at 220 pounds with Huntingdon senior Landon Fisher, who pinned him during the PIAA team tournament.

DeLuca, who is battling a sore shoulder, said he just has to fight through the pain for another week.

“It's going to be completely healed,” DeLuca said. “But I'm motivated and ready to go.”

He's looking forward to a week off prior to the state tournament, which begins March 8 in Hershey.

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

Tags: Hempfield Area, Ligonier Valley