Hazleton Area's Molinaro places sixth at states

Joe Baress, The Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Mar. 14—HERSHEY — Bryce Molinaro didn't start the PIAA Class 3A wrestling tournament the way he wanted to Saturday.

He didn't end it the way he desired either.

The Hazleton Area junior went 1-3 in the tournament to place sixth at 189 pounds.

Despite the losing record, his second trip to the Giant Center in Hershey did give him extra motivation to climb the podium next season.

"I'll be more prepared for next year," Molinaro said. "I'll be back and I'm going to be so hungry in my senior year. I'm going to let it all loose and I'll be on top of that podium."

The Hazleton Area junior dropped his quarterfinal match against Bellefonte Area's Ethan Rossman, ranked No. 4 in the state according to PA Power Wrestling, by a 7-1 decision.

"I really didn't wrestle my match," Molinaro said. "I didn't bring my best stuff. If I could wrestle that match again then I think it would be a different turnout, but I had to keep moving forward and wrestle my matches."

Molinaro won his first-round consolation match by forfeit over Easton Area's Isaiah Reinert, who did not make weight.

In the consolation semifinals, Molinaro dropped a 15-3 major decision to Nazareth's Drew Clearie, ranked No. 3 in the state.

Molinaro lost his fifth-place match to Penn Manor's Colt Barley, ranked No. 9 in the state, by a 5-0 decision.

He is the Wyoming Valley Conference's only state medal winner in the Class 3A tournament this season. Wyoming Area's Jaden Pepe captured the 113 state title in the Class 2A tournament Friday.

Last season, Molinaro qualified for states, but lost his two matches to leave Hershey without a medal. He didn't leave empty-handed a second time after placing fourth at the East Super Regional.

"It was a great atmosphere this year," Molinaro said. "There were more fans than I expected. I like it. Definitely different from last year. Last year, I had a lot of nerves. I had very little nerves this year. I felt ready to go. I just didn't do my thing."

He also captured a District 2 title and a bronze medal at the Northeast Regional this season.

Just The Facts

Finals

113: Jake Van dee (Cathedral Prep) dec. Zach Jacaruso (Delaware Valley), 3-1.

Fifth-place matches

106: Carson Wagner (Northampton) dec. Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights), 5-1. 120: Gunnar Myers (Wallenpaupack) dec. Keanu Manuel (Downingtown East), 2-1 UTB. 189: Colt Barley (Penn Manor) dec. Bryce Molinaro (Hazleton Area), 5-0.

Seventh-place match

120: Austin Fashouer (West Scranton) dec. Chad Ozias (Connellsville), 4-3. 215: Cole Weightman (Belle Vernon) no contest Jason Henderson (Delaware Valley). 285: Dawson Dietz (Hampton) pinned Cam Butka (West Scranton), 1:39.

Consolation semifinals

106: Dom Flatt (Solanco) dec. Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights), 6-1. 120: Mason Leiphart (Dover) maj. dec. Gunnar Myers (Wallenpaupack), 8-0. 189: Drew Clearie (Nazareth) maj. dec. Bryce Molinaro (Hazleton Area), 15-3.

Semifinals

113: Zach Jacaruso (Delaware Valley) dec. Vincent Kilkeary (Greater Latrobe), 3-2.

First-round consolations

106: Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights) dec. Josh Jasionowicz (Stroudsburg), 9-2. 120: Gunnar Myers (Wallenpaupack) dec. Chad Ozias (Connellsville), 6-2. Keanu Manuel (Downingtown East) dec. Austin Fashouer (West Scranton), 3-1 TB2. 189: Bryce Molinaro (Hazleton Area) forfeit Isaiah Reinert (Easton Area). 215: Carl Digiorgio (Central Bucks West) injury default Jason Henderson (Delaware Valley). 285: Matthew Cruise (Easton) dec. Cam Butka (West Scranton), 5-3.

Quarterfinals

106: Kaedyn Williams (Manheim Twp.) dec. Luke Sirianni (Abington Heights), 5-3. 113: Zach Jacaruso (Delaware Valley) dec. Troy Hohman (Penn-Trafford), 6-3. 120: Karl Shindledecker (Chambersburg) dec. Gunnar Myers (Wallenpaupack), 4-0. Mason Leiphart (Dover) maj. dec. Austin Fashouer (West Scranton), 13-2. 189: Ethan Rossman (Bellefonte Area) dec. Bryce Molinaro (Hazleton Area), 7-1. 215: Logan Harmon (Armstrong) injury default Jason Henderson (Delaware Valley), 3-1 4:58. 285: William Mcchesney (Greensburg Salem) dec. Cam Butka (West Scranton), 7-6.

Contact the writer: jbaress@timesshamrock.com