The Semifinal 1/23/2012

First Period

Berlin Brothersvalley's Jacob Craig (right) gave Richland's
John Rizzo a big test during their bout at the Richland
Coaches Duals. (Photo copyright Tami Knopsnyder)

Stars and studs: I've seen some people on message boards taking shots at the Richland Coaches Duals for a perceived lack of quality, but champion Chestnut Ridge stacks up favorably against just about any team in District 5 or 6. The Lions staged a furious rally to beat Somerset, which was my pick to win the tournament, and finished ahead of the second-, third-, fourth-, sixth-, eighth- and ninth-ranked teams in District 6. Doesn't sound all that weak to me. ... The same poster also took umbrage with the duals by saying that no state qualifiers squared off in the duals. Maybe not, but the big guys certainly put on an impressive display on Saturday. I don't think you'll find anyone in the country, let alone the state, that says Richland 220-pounder John Rizzo isn't a stud. Two state titles, a finals appearance at the Beast of the East and a top-five national ranking virtually guarantee it. But none of those credentials helped him on Saturday, when he was fighting off a determined Jacob Craig of Berlin Brothersvalley. Craig nearly got a tying takedown in the third period in what ended up being a 5-3 Rizzo victory. Craig pushed him as much as any local wrestler has in a couple of years. Craig didn't get to enjoy that performance for long, however. That's because he was beaten by Somerset's Jake Hayman a short time later. Hayman was unbeaten on the year, at least until a few hours later, when he was pinned by Shade's Austin Buttry at heavyweight. Buttry, by the way, is the ultimate underdog. Not the biggest, the fastest or the strongest, he could be the poster boy for the Richland Duals. He's got a huge heart and, as Chestnut Ridge coach Greg Lazor pointed out, he just loves wrestling. Sounds like a quality kid to me.

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Upset-minded: Three of the individuals mentioned above could have qualified here, but I'll go with Rizzo's team instead. (That's about the only way he's going to get this award). Richland's coaches took plenty of criticism for the way the pools were drawn up, including some from me. The Rams got some manor of revenge however, as they beat West Branch, which was the top seed in what arguably the toughest pool. After seeing the Warriors and Somerset on Friday night, I wouldn't have given Richland a chance, but coach Tom Smith's team somehow pulled off a 37-35 stunner.

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Second Period

On deck: There's something for just about everyone here. Want to see a rematch of one of the best duals of the season? Chestnut Ridge is at Somerset just three days after they met in the finals of the Richland Coaches Duals. Looking for something with serious postseason implications? Check at North Star at Meyersdale, where the Cougars can all but lock up a spot in the District 5 Duals with a victory. Hoping for a matchup of some of the state's best individuals? There's the possibility of John Rizzo wrestling Josh Duplin when Westmont Hilltop visits Richland.
And that's just Tuesday night.
Even with a smaller slate, Wednesday is almost as good. On just about any other night of the year, Conemaugh Township at Chestnut Ridge or Blairsville at Westmont Hilltop could be the marquee event. But Wednesday is all about Bedford at Somerset. The Bisons will be favored by almost anyone not wearing black and orange, but we keep waiting for some team to challenge the Bisons, and this is as good of a chance as any.
Thursday doesn't have the great matchups of the previous two nights, but there could be the chance for some history. If Shade's Wolf Otten wins on Tuesday night, he could become the school's first 100-match winner when the Panthers visit United.
Friday and Saturday should provide a little bit of everything, as one of the highlights of the season arrives with the Thomas tournament in Bedford.

Tuesday
Greater Johnstown at Bedford, 7 p.m.
Central Cambria at Forest Hills, 7 p.m.
Marion Center at Ligonier Valley, 7 p.m.
North Star at Meyersdale, 7 p.m.
United at Northern Cambria, 7 p.m.
Cambria Heights at Penn Cambria, 7 p.m.
Berlin Brothersvalley at Portage, 7 p.m.
Tussey Mountain at Shade, 7 p.m.
Chestnut Ridge at Somerset, 7 p.m.
Westmont Hilltop at Richland, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Conemaugh Township at Chestnut Ridge, 7 p.m.
Bedford at Somerset, 7 p.m.
Blairsville at Westmont Hilltop, 7 p.m.

Thursday
Greater Johnstown at Central Cambria, 7 p.m.
Penn Cambria at Forest Hills, 7 p.m.
Northern Cambria at Portage, 7 p.m.
Shade at United, 7 p.m.

Friday

Berlin Brothersvalley, Cambria Heights, Chestnut Ridge, Conemaugh Township, North Star, Richland, Shade, Somerset at Bedford Tournament

Saturday

Berlin Brothersvalley, Cambria Heights, Chestnut Ridge, Conemaugh Township, North Star, Richland, Shade, Somerset at Bedford Tournament
United at Sharon Tournament

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Third Period

Chestnut Ridge's Trent Crouse (right) pinned Somerset's
Damian Jano, setting off chat-room celebrations from
New York to Indiana. (Photo copyright Tami Knopsnyder)

Going live: I held my first live chat of the season last weekend at the Richland Coaches Duals, and it was very popular (especially with the Trent Crouse Fan Club). I'm excited to announce that The Tribune-Democrat will be broadcasting live streaming video and doing a live chat from this weekend's Thomas tournament. I'll provide more info on it as it becomes available. I've done it before for Bfly's website.

Ryan Spring has a complete list of competing teams on the District 5 wrestling website. Ryan also is planning a live chat from Bedford, so you should be able to get your fill of wrestling talk this weekend even if you can't make it in person.