When the District 6-AA wrestling quarterfinals began at the Altoona Fieldhouse on Friday evening, Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis had 11 of the 14 weight classes covered. However, when the dust had cleared, only Eagles T. J. Albright (112) and Robert Waite (119) and Blue Devil Josh Ervine (140) were still standing, ready for today’s semifinal round.
Albright (26-3) pinned Adam Leasure of Marion Center, in 1:05 and shutout Alex Lehman of Richland, 6-0. Albright also shutout Lehman in the Team Duals 3-0 and 10-0 in the Thomas Tournament. In the semifinals, which begin at 1 p.m. this afternoon, T. J. will wrestle top seed Billy Moore (28-2) of Blairsville.
Waite (34-4) pinned Matt Willis of West Branch, in 4:20 and decisioned Anthony Jardina of Richland, 7-1. In the semifinals, Waite, the top seed, will meet Scott Knarr (28-6), the fourth seed from Northern Cambria.
Ervine (24-4), the number four seed, pinned Tim R. Smeal from West Branch, in 0:41, and decisioned Kyle Cravener of United. In the semifinals, Ervine faces the dubious task of wrestling three-time defending state champion Garrett Scott (18-0) of Juniata Valley. Scott still wears a mask to protect a broken jaw, but had little trouble Friday with a pin in just 0:21 and a tech fall that ended in the second period.
Although they didn’t fare well in the quarterfinals, Tyrone still has Cody Weaver (103), Anthony Romano (125), Josh Hunter (130), J. P. VanAllman (135), Sam McCloskey (145), Jake Smerekar (152), Justin Schopp (160), Donnie Conrad (189), Johnny Miller (215) and Brandon Oswalt (275) in the wrestle-backs, which will begin this morning at 10 a.m.
Still alive for Bellwood-Antis in the consolation brackets, are Donnie Partner (112), Timmy Collier (119), Eli Colyer (125), Brandon Beech (130, Ricky Shawley (135), Ronnie Wilson (152) Garett Wyland (171) and Cody Smith (215).
Third round consolations will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a fourth round of consolations at 11:30. Semifinals and fifth round consolations will start at 1 p.m. Third and fifth place consolation finals will be wrestled at 6 p.m. and championship finals will begin at 7:15 p.m. The top five placewinners from each weight class will advance to the Southwest Regionals on March 3-4, at the War Memorial Arena in Johnstown.
