“Ladies and gentlemen, with that pin, Ethan Finch has recorded 100 wins, and the Wolverines win, 39-36.”

The announcer couldn’t have put it any better… Senior Night…at home at Sheffield High School…and for the win over Cranberry.

An even bigger story might be the fact Finch was 1-4 in his first five matches his freshman year, and finished 16-14.

Eighty-four wins later, he’s committed to Division I Pitt in the fall, and has aspirations for a gold medal at states.

Times Observer Photo by Cody Elms Ethan Finch earns his 100th win with a pin over Cranberry's Walker Willey on Thursday night.

“It’s a good milestone for me, especially when I needed to play a lot of catch-up after my freshman year,” said Finch.

On Thursday night, Sheffield trailed Cranberry, 36-33, with Finch’s match at 215 the last of the night. He took down Cranberry’s Walker Willey in five seconds and pinned him in 26 seconds.

Finch is the first wrestler at Sheffield High School to record 100 wins; he surpassed Terry Schrader’s school-record 95 that had stood since 1992.

He was 16-14 as a freshman, 31-11 as a sophomore and 34-12 last season. He was also the first Sheffield wrestler to win a state medal since Schrader in 1992, and named the first and only District 9 Most Outstanding Wrestler.

As a senior, he’s 19-0.

“I’d say that’s something special,” said Sheffield head coach Jack Rice.

Finch’s six-point pin played into the drama of the night.

Tied 6-6, Collin Brown and AJ Barnes had big pins at 113 and 120, respectively, considering there would be three Cranberry forfeit wins in the next five matches.

Trenton Mead’s pin at 138 pounds put Sheffield up 24-18, and Cooper Traister made it 30-24 with a 33-second pin at 152.

Tied 30-30, Landon Mead worked for a 5-2 decision at 172, leading the whole way.

“Landon Mead had the match of the night,” said Rice. “I thought we won on the mat.”

And off.

After a Cranberry forfeit win at 189 put the Wolverines down three points, Finch closed it out.

Schrader, whose school record Finch broke, sent him a congratulatory letter and trophy fishing lure with “100” wins on it.

Sheffield 39, Cranberry 33

HWT: Yeager (C) p. Campbell, 3:40

106: Kyler (S) wbf.

113: Brown (S) p. Rembold, 3:52

120: Barnes (S) p. Stanley, 3:05

126: Maiure (C) wbf.

132: Hepler (C) wbf.

138: T.Mead (S) p. Tafoya, 3:01

145: Oliver (C) wbf.

152: Traister (S) p. Smally, :33

160: Vanwormer (C) wbf.

172: L.Mead (S) dec. Pearsall, 5-2

189: McFetridge (C) p. Jake, 1:33

215: Finch (S) p. Willey, :26

Jayvee match: Willcock (C) p. Wallace, :52