By Bill West

Published: Sunday, March 4, 2012

JOHNSTOWN -- Fort Cherry senior heavyweight Corey Garry now needs an entire hand to show the number of times he's wrestled -- and beaten -- Chartiers-Houston senior Nate Grandelis.

Garry won his first PIAA Class AA Southwest Regional championship Saturday night by edging Grandelis, 1-0, in the finals at Cambria County War Memorial. He prevailed, 2-1, in overtime last weekend during the WPIAL tournament, and he beat Grandelis, 1-0, two weeks ago in the Section 1-AA competition. Then there were two regular-season wins.

"It's gets really old," Garry said. "I'm just sitting there with my face in my hands because I'm so nervous. He knows everything I do."

A sign of frustration, Grandelis shoved Garry off the mat and into a row of chairs as the match concluded.

Repetition at the regional became a prominent theme, as several championship bouts included foes who were familiar with one another.

In a rematch of the 126-pound WPIAL title bout, Derry senior Jimmy Gulibon defeated Keystone Oaks junior Nick Zanetta, 11-3, to become a four-time Southwest Regional champion, though only the last two titles were won in Class AA.

Zanetta went into the match with a plan, something he lacked last week when he lost, 11-4. He wanted to focus on tie-ups and controlling the tempo. After one period, he trailed, 2-0.

"The first time, I was a little intimidated," Zanetta said. "This time, I knew what was coming, and I was more prepared. Hopefully, we'll meet again in the (PIAA) finals. Maybe the third time will be a charm."

The winners and losers in each weight class -- along with the third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishers -- advance to the PIAA tournament, which begins Thursday at Giant Center in Hershey.

Unbeaten Burrell junior 182-pounder Dakota DesLauriers defeated Valley sophomore Terrell Fields for the fifth time this season. DesLauriers, who pinned Fields in the Section 3-AA and WPIAL finals, repeated the feat to become a two-time regional champion.

"Terrell is tough, and it's nice to see the top two guys at regions coming out of the same section," said DesLauriers, who improved to 42-0 on the season.

Southmoreland senior 195-pounder Jordan Kitta won his second title with a 2-1 victory over Avella sophomore Jacob Temple. Both escaped during their period on bottom, and the match-deciding point came on a stall call with 33 seconds left in the third period.

When Kitta and Temple met in the championship bout of the Burgettstown tournament Jan. 20, the Southmoreland senior prevailed, 3-1, in overtime.

"He's a tough kid, a good defensive wrestler," Kitta said. "It's tough to get in on him. I tried to move more, keep my pace up (this time). ... I kept shooting and didn't get him. Fortunately, I got that second stall call."

Said Temple: "My main thing is trying to stay away, get him to mess up on his feet, but he didn't because he's a good wrestler, stays in position. ... I like to wrestle kids like that. It gives me an idea of how much I've improved."

Kittanning sophomore Jason Nolf and Bedford sophomore Ryan Easter entered their 113-pound championship match with some history: The former beat the latter, 5-1, last year in the finals.

This time, the score was 8-0 in favor of Nolf, who improved to 39-0 for the season and 83-0 in his career.

Jefferson-Morgan junior Dustin Conti also kept his record unblemished on the way to a title in the 170-pound weight class. Conti (43-0) escaped in the ultimate tiebreaker portion of overtime to defeat previously unbeaten United senior John Blankenship, 2-1.

"I knew I had that match," said Conti, a first-time champion. "He was just a strong kid."

Medal rounds

106 pounds

Championship: Justin Patrick, Ligonier Valley, d. Josh Brown, Claysburg-Kimmel, 8-2.

Consolation: Austin Griffiths, Southmoreland, d. Austin McDermitt, Burgettstown, 4-2.

Fifth-place: Richie McGinnis, Chartiers-Houston, d. Brendan Howard, Jefferson-Morgan, 4-2.

113 pounds

Championship: Jason Nolf, Kittanning, m.d. Ryan Easter, Bedford, 8-0.

Consolation: Joshua Patrick, Ligonier Valley, p. Zach Swarrow, Beth-Center, 2:59.

Fifth-place: Seth Carr, South Fayette, d. John Demaske, Jefferson-Morgan, 5-2.

120 pounds

Championship: Nick Roberts, North Star, t.f. Jared Woomer, Bellwood-Antis, 15-0 (3:25).

Consolation: Nate Reckner, South Side Beaver, d. Collin Day, Meyersdale, 8-2.

Fifth-place: Jason Miller, Jefferson-Morgan, d. Brett Beltz, Keystone Oaks, 7-0.

126 pounds

Championship: Jimmy Gulibon, Derry Area, m.d. Nick Zanetta, Keystone Oaks, 11-3.

Consolation: Aaron Toth, Charleroi, d. Ben Rager, Central Cambria, 2-0.

Fifth-place: Shane Pfaunmiller, Chestnut-Ridge, p. Vince Vahaly, Bentworth, 4:47.

132 pounds

Championship: James Dodson, Claysburg-Kimmel, m.d. Brennon Shields, Southern Huntingdon, 9-0.

Consolation: Josh Kwasny, Charleroi, d. Steven Edwards, Burrell, 5-1.

Fifth-place: Damian Corle, Northern Bedford, t.f. Shane Gentry, South Side Beaver, 18-3 (3:26).

138 pounds

Championship: Ty Dively, Claysburg-Kimmel, d. Noah Tarr, Blairsville, 2-1.

Consolation: Nick Szala, Penn Cambria, d. Philip Marra, Burrell, 3-1.

Fifth-place: Nick Gavazzi, Charleroi, d. Trevor Helsley, Bellwood-Antis, 2-0.

145 pounds

Championship: Zach Beitz, Juniata, m.d. Richard Brydon, Forest Hills, 14-6.

Consolation: Tanner Sutton, Chartiers-Houston, d. Dylan Weston, Tyrone, 3-1 (OT).

Fifth-place: Boe Bonzo, Freedom, d. Grant Fetchet, South Fayette, inj. def.

152 pounds

Championship: Cory Berchick, Conemaugh Township, d. Andrew Doak, Blairsville, 3-1.

Consolation: James Otten, Shade, p. Jared Walker, South Fayette, 2:28.

Fifth-place: Kevin Best, Burrell, d. Phil Crook, Marion Center, inj. def.

160 pounds

Championship: Cody Law, Forest Hills, d. Anthony Risaliti, Central Cambria, 5-4.

Consolation: Francis Mizia, Bentworth, m.d. Michael Sutton, Somerset, 15-6.

Fifth-place: Mike Fetchet, South Fayette, d. Bradie Bollman, Chestnut Ridge, 6-4.

170 pounds

Championship: Dustin Conti, Jefferson-Morgan, d. John Blankenship, United, 2-1 TB.

Consolation: Garrett Vulcano, Chartiers-Houston, d. Tyler Dibert, Chestnut Ridge, 8-4.

Fifth-place: Matthew Swartz, Penns Valley, d. Ross Inzana, Cambria Heights, 7-1.

182 pounds

Championship: Dakota DesLauriers, Burrell, p. Terrell Fields, Valley, 3:35.

Consolation: Scott Thompson, Blairsville, d. Jared Beckwith, Tyrone, 7-1.

Fifth-place :Dylan Ludwig, Moshannon Valley, d. Zeke Stroupe, Freedom, 5-2.

195 pounds

Championship: Jordan Kitta, Southmoreland, d. Jacob Temple, Avella, 2-1.

Consolation: James Stodart, Moshannon Valley, d. Kyle Gray, Mapletown, 6-3.

Fifth-place: Allan Cratsenberg, Highlands, d. Nathan Shope, Huntingdon, 7-1.

220 pounds

Championship: John Rizzo, Richland, m.d. Jacob Craig, Berlin-Brothersvalley, 16-6.

Consolation: Greg Kumer, Fort Cherry, d. Jacob Krupa, Bedford, 3-2.

Fifth-place: Cody Jacobs, West Greene, d. Jacob Ludwig, Moshannon Valley, 8-6.

285 pounds

Championship: Corey Garry, Fort Cherry, d. Nate Grandelis, Chartiers-Houston, 1-0.

Consolation: Quinton Hixson, Northern Bedford, m.d. Kyre Strickland, Valley, 12-3.

Fifth-place: Nik Sappie, Carlynton, d. Kenyatta McCloud, Summit Academy, 3-2 UTB.

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