Wraslin' Round-Up

WRASLIN’ ROUND-UP

By Jerry W. Seaman
The Weekly Recorder
March 21, 2008
hebarnwrestling@yahoo.com

DAPPER DAN WRESTLING CLASSIC

Pittsburgh——Senior Dan Conley finished out his scholastic career in front of the hometown crowd Saturday night in the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic at the Fitzgerald Field House.

Dan and the rest of the WPIAL boys put a beating on Team Wisconsin 36-15, which was a lot better than the PA Team. Team USA pounded them for the seventh time in a row by a score of 28-12.

Conley, who was included in the Classic late by a short oversight (he wrestles at 215 pounds) put on a great show. You could tell that he was enjoying this match. He got his opponent, Jake Little, Neenah, Wisc. moving into his single to a double-leg lift and slammed him on his back for a five point move. It looked like a sure pin but he didn’t get the call. He won with a 5-1 decision.

Coach, Terry Havelka couldn’t want a better young man than Dan Conley, his first ever State Champion from Burgettstown High School

Havelka was just named the Coach of the Year by the Observer-Reporter All-District Wrestling Team and Dan Conley was named the Outstanding Wrestler. Our congratulations to them both, they earned it.

When you got the whole United States to chose a wrestling team they ought to be good. This year was one heck of a good one.

Team USA had a total of thirty-six state titles with four individuals that had four each. Tyler Graff, Loveland, CO was a four timer with a 167-1 record. He got his second loss of his career in the final match of the evening when Jordan Oliver, Easton Area, defeated him 3-1 in OT.

Colin Johnston, senior from Canon-McMillan, had a good one at 135 for the USA Team. Mark Weber Goodrich, MI, came in with a record of 224-7 plus four state titles.

Colin wrestled the best I’ve seen him this year. He went after Weber with his style of wrestling. He set him up and hit his shots off his feet but he couldn’t handle Weber’s power. Weber took a 5-3 decision.

Homer Marshall, from the famous Burgettstown Marshall Brothers, received the Dr. Kurt J. Nellis Memorial Award. This award was created to memorialize Dr Nellis for his community service and dedication to amateur wrestling. The award recognizes an individual who has served their community through the sport of wrestling from Western PA.

Marshall, along with John Zuccarro, founded the Burgettstown Cadets Youth Wrestling Program in 1961. This program, like many others, developed many fine wrestlers with the much-needed basic skills.

Four great wrestlers were inducted into the Southwestern PA Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Brian Burrows, 1997- Hempfield High School. Vince DeAugustine, 1997 graduate of Hempfield High School. Bill Camp, 1951- Shaler High School and Troy Letters, 2001 graduate of Shaler High School.