Sheffield's Ethan Finch

SHARON, Pa. – Eisenhower’s Logan Jaquay and Cael Black and Sheffield’s Ethan Finch rolled into the semifinals at the Northwest Regional Class 2A Wrestling Championships on Friday at Sharon High School.

All three received first-round byes, and they all took care of business in the quarterfinals.

At 120, Jaquay, coming in with a record of 34-1, pinned Corry’s Damion Kinney in just 1:50. He will meet Brookville’s Brayden Kunselman, after the freshman disposed of West Middlesex’s Justin O’Neil via a 10-2 major decision.

A couple of familiar faces loom in the other semifinals, as Cole Bayless (Reynolds), via a 4-2 decision over Cochranton’s Jack Martinec and Jamestown’s Chase McLaughlin, courtesy of a pin in just 27 seconds over Brockway’s Mark Palmer, will meet.

At 182, Finch earned a second-period pin over Jamestown’s Hunter Cowher at the 3:09 mark. He will meet Bryce McCloskey of Reynolds, who pinned Johsnonburg’s Tyler Watts after Watts had picked up his 100th career win in the preliminary round.

The other semifinal at 182 will pit Vito Pilosi of Slippery Rock against Kane’s unbeaten Cameron Whisner.

Black, meanwhile, had to work hard against Anthony Gentile of Greenville. Gentile earned an impressive win over Coudersport’s Cale Ayers in the preliminary round, but Black was able to get him with an 8-5 decision. Black will face off in the semifinals against Brookville’s Nathan Taylor, who was impressive in beating Joe Jacobson of Titusville via tech fall.

Evan Miller of Reynolds earned a hard-fought 3-0 decision over Port Allegany’s Justin Young to earn one spot in the semis, while Maplewood’s Joey King pinned Isaac DeVault of Lakeview in the third period to advance. Both opponents are both very familiar to Black.

Youngsville’s Collin Clough and Eisenhower’s Gannon Jaquay both lost their opening-round matches at 138, as did the Eagles’ Jake DeSimone and the Knights’ Jesse Gourley at 285.

All four will be in action bright and early this morning in the consolation bracket, while Jaquay, Finch and Black aim for Region titles.

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Dragons still alive in Class AAA

ALTOONA, Pa. – Warren’s Josh Letko, Ryan Madigan and Alex Anderson all won their opening-round matches at the Northwest Regional Class 3A Wrestling Championships on Friday night.

Unfortunately, all of them fell in the quarterfinals to drop into the consolation brackets.

Anderson (145) was dominant in his opening-round match, earning a 10-2 major decision over Kyle Martin of State College. In the quarterfinals, he dropped an 11-3 major decision to Ethan Kauffman of Mifflin County.

Madigan, meanwhile, won over Jermaine Williams of Brashear, 8-2 in his first match to set up a meeting with Damion Finnegan of Altoona. Finnegan came away with an 8-4 decision.

The freshman Letko got through to the quarterfinals via a 2-0 decision over Khalil Collins of Obama Academy. He faced a stiff test in the quarterfinals in Derek Keen of Central Mountain. The District 6 champion won via a first-period fall.

Joey Arnold at 160 and Zack Zinger at 170 both lost tough opening round matches – Arnold 5-1 to Nick Crisp of St. Marys and Zinger 7-6 to Central Mountain’s Caleb Porter.

They are still alive, however, along with teammates Kyle Swick, Brandon Daugharthy, Luke Becker and Jake Hayes. They will all be in action Saturday morning with the hopes of advancing through their respective consolation brackets.