Finch Wins Region Title, Black Takes 2nd As Both Advance to Super Regional

SHARON, Pa. – Sheffield’s Ethan Finch continued to rack up wins, and pins, this season on his way to a region title, while Eisenhower’s Cael Black finished second at the AA Northwest Region Tournament in Sharon Saturday.

(*All records courtesy PA-Wrestling.com)

Both wrestlers will advance to the West Super Regional, a new step this year as part of the PIAA’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, at Indiana University of Pennsylvania next Saturday. The top four in each weight class will advance to the PIAA State Tournament in Hershey March 12.

Finch earned pinfall victories in the quarter- and semi-finals before coming away with a hard-fought 2-0 decision over Greenville’s Cole Karpinski in the 189-pound championship match. He moved to 27-0 on the season in the process.

Photo courtesy Rich Rhoades. Eisenhower’s Cael Black

Black earned an 11-4 decision in the quarterfinals and had a 12-5 win in the semifinals at 215 pounds to set up a championship rematch with Corry’s Hayden Linkerhof in the finals. As was the case the previous two weeks, Linkerhof was able to stymie Black’s attack and came away with a 4-2 win.

Eisenhower’s Easton Hedman saw his stellar career come to an end with a fourth place finish at 138 pounds. He had a 39-second pin in the quarterfinals to open the tournament, before dropping a 9-0 major decision to eventual champion Noah Shaffer (Johnsonburg) in the semifinals.

Photo courtesy Rich Rhoades. Eisenhower’s Easton Hedman grapples with Kane’s Harley Morris.

Hedman earned his way into the third place match with an 8-0 major decision over Kane’s Harley Morris. He lost a hard-fought 4-2 decision to Commodore Perry’s Ashten Aramagost in the third place match. Hedman ends his career with a record of 84-42, with 40 of those victories coming via pinfall.

Youngsville senior Collin Clough’s season and career ended Saturday as well. Clough was pinned late in the third period of his quarterfinal match at 145 pounds. He then dropped a tough 3-0 decision to eventual third place finisher Jaden Reagle (Saegertown) in the consolation quarterfinals. Clough finished with a 70-56 overall record in four years with the Eagles.

Sheffield junior Landon Mead and freshman Chase Kyler had their seasons come to a close at regionals. Mead, wrestling at 160 pounds gave up a takedown in the final seconds of his quarterfinal match to drop an 8-7 decision to Stetson Boozer (Cochranton). He won a 5-0 decision over Mercer’s Mason Hesselgesser in the consolation quarterfinals, before falling 10-3 to Brookville’s Wyatt Griffin in the consolation semifinals. Mead ends his season with a 17-14 record.

Kyler, who received late notice that he would be participating in the regional tournament, found himself in the middle of a tough field at 106 pounds. He was pinned by the eventual second place finisher, Louie Gill (Hickory), in the quarterfinals. Kyler was tech falled by Corry’s Logan Munsee in the consolation quarterfinals to finish his impressive freshman campaign with an 18-10 record.