CLARION - Sheffield sophomore Ricky Prosen had an entire year to stew over the fact he missed a trip to regions by one single victory.
The Sheffield standout 113-pounder won't have any such trouble this year.
Prosen finished fourth in the 113-pound weight class during this weekend's District 9 Class AA Wrestling Championships at Clarion University. The top four in each weight class advanced to next weekend's PIAA Class AA Northwest Regional Championships at Sharon Area High School.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Still in the hunt
In this file photo, Sheffield sophomore Ricky Prosen, top, wrestles his Cameron County opponent during a dual match earlier this season. One year after missing a trip to regions by one win, Prosen advanced with a fourth-place finish at the District 9 Class AA Wrestling Championships Saturday at Clarion University.
This time around, that will include Prosen.
"It feels really good to move on," said Prosen. "Going into the match (that clinched the regions berth), I kept thinking about the mistakes I made last year and how I didn't think I wrestled hard enough. I didn't want to repeat those mistakes and I was able to wrestle well and advance."
Prosen started the tournament strong on Friday by advancing to the semifinals with a 6-3 decision over Port Allegany's Lucas Manning. Saturday morning's semifinals weren't as kind as Prosen lost a major decision to Brookville's Trey Constable, 16-5.
Fact Box
District 9 Class AA Wrestling Championships
February 24-25, 2012
At Clarion University
Team results: 1. Brookville (B) 219.5, 2. Ridgway (R) 160, 3. Redbank Valley (RV) 139, 4. Kane (K) 121, 5. Port Allegany (PA) 87, 6. Smethport (Sm) 81.5, 7. Curwensville (Cur) 64.5, 8. Oswayo Valley (OV) 63, 9. Cameron County (CC) 58, 9. Coudersport (Cou) 58, 11. Brockway (Br) 46, 12. Cranberry (Cran) 43, 13. Clarion (C) 30.5, 14. Johnsonburg (J) 20, 14. Keystone (K) 20, 16. Sheffield (Sh) 19
Championship Finals
106: Cody Blankenship (K) d. Trent Neely (Sm), 4-0
113: Willie Gruver (RV) d. Trey Constable (B), 4-3
120: Nate Schwab (Sm) d. Dalton Zimmerman (B), 5-1
126: Corey Bush (R) d. Karl Lightner (Sm), 7-0
132: Jake Keller (Cur) inj. def. Garrett Hildebrand (RV)
138: Brock Zacherl (B) tf. Ty Haines (RV), 21-5, 3:35)
145: Evan Delong (K) d. Slade Horner (R), 3-1, OT
152: Kyle Bova (Cou) d. Tanner Hannold (K), 8-3
160: Brett Smith (B) d. Kyle Caggiano (R), 2-1
170: Alex Gular (PA) d. Jake Himes (R), 2-1
182: Tyler Dombrowski (B) d. Forest Tuttle (Cou), 3-1, OT
195: Logan Stout (B) d. Aaron Burnside (CC), 1-0
220: Zachary Brinkley (Br) d. Nick Budd (PA), 3-1
285: Josh Kibbie (K) d. Lee Russel (Cran), 5-3
Consolation Finals
106: Devin Joyner (B) d. Kolbin Altobelli (RV), 8-2
113: Paul Etchepare (CC) md. Ricky Prosen (Sh), 11-2
120: Tad Pierce (R) d. Jon Gelsick (K), 12-10
126: Cole Clever (B) d. Jacob Troutman (C), 6-2
132: Zac McKnight (R) d. Jimmy Miller (B), 4-2
138: Steve Mitchell (R) p. Logan Warrick (PA), 2:27
145: Brodie Zacherl (B) d. Sam Colebert (OV), 3-2
152: Zach Vroman (B) d. Sam Kysor (PA), 5-0
160: Cole Shirey (RV) d. Mike Swartwood (K), 5-2
170: Zach Bruce (Cran) d. Taylor Cudworth (B), 3-1, OT
182: Aaron Hook (RV) d. Jake Wichert (OV), 4-2
195: Luke Wilson (OV) p. Mark Strothers (RV), 0:29
220: Chad Quail (R) d. Jake Cieleski (B), 6-1
285: Ben Carillo (RV) d. Brad Stubbs (Cur), 14-10
Sheffield results (both days)
113: Prosen (Sh) d. Lucas Manning (PA), 6-3; Constable (B) md. Prosen (Sh), 16-5; Prosen (Sh) md. Cody Stahl (R), 12-4
120: Zimmerman (B) p. Brandon Johnston (Sh), 3:59; Devon Park (Br) d. Johnston (Sh), 9-2
126: Lightner (Sm) p. Adam Barr (Sh), 2:34); Camry Langworthy (Cou) d. Barr (Sh), 10-5
132: Joe Crate (Cran) md. Tyler Brisson (Sh), 10-2; Troy Hidinger (Brock) inj. def. Brisson (Sh)
138: Jacob Abrams (Sm) p. Dakota Schooler (Sh), 1:23; Alex Holt (Cur) p. Schooler (Sh), 1:38
145: Horner (R) p. Collin Maines (Sh), 1:50; Jimmy Harvey (Coud) d. Maines (Sh), 10-7
152: Vroman (B) p. Steve Gregerson (Sh), 1:44; Gregerson (Sh) wbf.; Jaimie Ligenfelter (K) p. Gregerson (Sh), 0:52
170: Bruce (Cran) md. Anthony Jones (Sh), 9-0; Brandon Bailey (RV) p. Jones (Sh), 2:25
182: Wichert (OV) p. Jonah Coleman (Sh), 0:49; Coleman (Sh) d. Dylan Delong (J), 7-6; Nate Moore (K) p. Coleman (Sh), 1:35
195: Burnside (CC) p. Hunter Jones (Sh), 3:07; Hunter Jones (Sh) p. Trent Neal (PA), 1:18; Justus Burk (Cran) p. Hunter Jones (Sh), 3:48
285: Kibbie (K) p. Myers Chea (Sh), 0:40; Jack Karsten (CC) p. Chea (Sh), 1:21
With the loss, Prosen dropped to the consolation semifinals - the very spot his season ended a year ago at 103 pounds. The sophomore quickly showed his maturity and growth as a wrestler, handling Ridgway's Cody Stahl, 12-4, and advancing to the consolation finals.
The win over Stahl ensured Prosen of a trip to regions - no matter how the third-place bout ended up. As it turned out, Prosen was defeated 11-2 by Cameron County's Paul Etchepare, but that did little to dampen the spirits of Prosen who entered the tournament as the sixth seed before finishing fourth.
"You go into any tournament wanting to win it and regions isn't any different," said Prosen. "Looking at it (realistically) I just want to get myself into at least that third and fourth-place chance and give myself a chance to make states."
The rest of the weekend wasn't as kind to the Wolverines as the team compiled only three additional wins. Steve Gregerson had a forfeit win at 152 pounds, Jonah Coleman won a decision in the consolation bracket at 182 pounds and Hunter Jones logged a pin in the consolation bracket at 195 pounds.