Submitted Photo Sheffield senior Ethan Finch stands on the podium after winning Saturday’s 189-pound division at the 2A West Super Regionals at IUP.

INDIANA — Ethan Finch faced the toughest tournament competition he’s faced in high school, and he came away champion.

The Sheffield High School senior won the 189-pound division of the PIAA 2A West Super Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

No easy task. Six of the top eight 189-pounders in the state were at the West Super Regional on Saturday, according to Sheffield coach Jack Rice.

After a 9-0 major decision win over Burgettstown’s Shane Kemper, Finch was locked in a battle against Quaker Valley’s Patrick Cutchember in the semifinals. Tied 6-6 after regulation, Finch’s takedown in overtime advanced him to the championship match and an automatic trip to states. Cutchember is a returning state medal winner with 97 career wins as a junior.

Finch led 3-1 in the final against Freedom Area’s Trent Schultheis when he got taken down to force another overtime. A late takedown secured Finch the title, 5-3. Schultheis has 147 career wins and three state medals as a senior.

“He wrestled smart,” Rice said of Finch. “I think he made one mistake, in the last match.”

The top four finishers in each weight class advance to next week’s PIAA championships in Hershey. All eight in each weight class from both the West and East Super Regionals are now guaranteed state medals.

“I feel really good after winning super regions, especially after all the depth in my bracket and how the west has 70 percent of top-ranked wrestlers,” said Finch. “But the goal is still the same, and that’s to win a state title, so I just have to reset and get ready for next week.”

Eisenhower junior Cael Black also wrestled at Super Regionals on Saturday, finishing fifth at 215 pounds.

Black earned an 8-4 decision over Knoch’s Eli Reese. He then faced the eventual Super Regional champion, Dayton Pitzer of Mount Pleasant, in the semifinals. Pitzer pinned Black in the first period.

To advance to states again (Black was sixth in Hershey last season), he would need to defeat Corry’s Hayden Linkerhof in the consolation semifinals. Linkerhof has defeated Black in close decisions in the finals of sections, districts, and regions this season, and came away with a 9-7 decision this time.

Black defeated Carlynton’s Collin Milko, 8-4, for his 96th career win to take fifth place. Black finishes his junior season at 25-5.

Finch’s season will continue at 30-0 and with a Sheffield school record 111 wins.

“With all my heart, I believe he will be in the state championship match,” Rice said.