Two of those wrestlers are seniors — Ian Mancuso and Logan McDonald — who lost in the finals on Saturday at Meadville Area Senior High School.

McDonald (24-10) pinned Harbor Creek sophomore Nick Fisher in Saturday’s 139-pound semifinals. Titusville junior Nate Stearns earned a 10-7 decision over McDonald in the championship match.

“Well, all season my goal was to be a section champ,” said McDonald. “I fell short. Late in the third period, I was losing 8-7, so with only a couple of seconds left, I threw a Hail Mary headlock, but failed. I am grateful for what I achieved, but not satisfied with the outcome. The goal for districts this weekend is to place and advance to regions.”

Mancuso (21-11) was second at 127 pounds, pinning Warren’s Trentin Anthony in the quarterfinals and earning an 8-5 decision over Corry’s Isaiah Bayle — who came into the tournament with 26 wins on the season — in the semifinals. North East sophomore Cyrus Hurd — with just two losses on the season — pinned Mancuso in the final.

Photo by Bob Vanatta Above are the Eisenhower wrestlers who will be moving on to the districts. From the left are Mike Vanatta, Ryan Chambers, Griffin Williams, Brok English, Tucker Lindell, Derek Childs, Coach Jared Lindell and Benji Bauer.

Ian’s little brother, junior Aidan Mancuso, won his seventh-place match at 145 to advance to districts. The top seven wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the District 10 2A Championships this weekend at Sharon High School.

Aidan Mancuso pinned Harbor Creek’s Hunter Gonda in the first round of the elimination match.

“Looking into the tournament the week before, I was planning on ‘just making it,'” said Ian Mancuso, “but as the week progressed, and the day came, I wanted more. I wanted a high spot on that podium and it worked out.

“Going into districts, I don’t want to just make it to regions, I want to prove to the other wrestlers and coaches that I belong there, and I belong on that podium,” he said. “Having my little brother go to districts with me and Logan is definitely cooler, simply because it shows the work he’s put in and how we’ve helped him become the wrestler he is today.”

Myers said the goal at districts is the same as sections — “survive and advance.

Photo by Bob Vanatta Eisenhower’s Tucker Lindell stands atop the podium as the 160-pound champion.

“I told the boys, ‘the music is playing,'” added Myers. “Ian and Logan have been down this road before. They’re doing what they’re supposed to do.”

He said, despite tough draws, they will be there battling to advance.

EISENHOWER

LINDELL IS CHAMPION

MEADVILLE — Eisenhower crowned one champion, Tucker Lindell at 160 pounds, in the sectional finals.

Lindell earned a pin at the 1:52 mark of the first period in his finals match, continuing a fine season.

“Tucker worked really hard in the off season and it is paying off for him now,” said Jared Lindell, the Knights’ head coach and Tucker’s father. “I’m, of course, proud of him as my son and I’m really happy that he earned the number one seed next weekend at Sharon for districts.”

Eisenhower has wrestled well as a team all season and will have seven wrestlers moving on to districts.

Griffin Williams took third at 114 pounds; Brok English at 215 and Mike Vanatta at 285 claimed fifth place; Ryan Chambers took sixth place at 121 pounds; Derek Childs at 139 pounds and Benji Bauer at 189 each took seventh place.

“I’m really proud of all of the guys,” Coach Lindell said. “We took the guys that really wanted to be there and they showed up big time. Derek Childs has been working really hard, so it was nice to see him move on. We will get back at it this week and get ready for next weekend at Sharon.”

6 Dragons advance to this weekend’s D10 2A wrestling tourney

WARREN

FISCUS PLACES SECOND

MEADVILLE — No champions were crowned for Warren’s wrestling team at this weekend’s District 10 2A Section 1 tournament, but that’s not what this time of year is about.

“Right now, it’s about advancing each week and focusing on individuals and what they need to be ready for next weekend,” said Warren coach Glenn Baldensperger of six Dragons that advanced to the D10 2A Championships this weekend in Sharon. The top seven wrestlers in each weight class moved on from sections to districts. Next weekend, the top eight will advance.

Sophomore Adika Fiscus was Warren’s highest finisher at sections with a runner-up finish. He lost a 10-6 decision to Northwestern’s Sierra Chiesa in the championship match at 107 pounds.

Along with Fiscus, junior Ryan Fitzsimmons advanced to the semifinals on Friday at 114 pounds before settling on a fourth-place finish. He pinned Corry freshman Wyatt Swan to move on to the third-place match before being decisioned by Eisenhower’s Griffin Williams. Williams decisioned Fitzsimmons by the same 5-0 score he lost to Fitzsimmons by on Friday in the quarterfinals.

Senior Josh Letko advanced at 133 pounds, finishing fourth with a 4-2 record. His only two losses were at the hands of Corry’s Will Allen, including in the third-place match.

Senior Grant Heeter was sixth at 152 pounds, going 2-3 and battling back after falling in his first match on Friday. He lost by injury default in the fifth-place match.

Senior Evan Swanson won his fifth-place match at 172 pounds, pinning Corry’s Nolan Carey in 56 seconds. He advances to districts in just his second year of wrestling.

Warren freshman Joe Krall finished seventh at 215 to advance to districts.

“We had a pretty good weekend,” said Baldensperger. “I’m hoping we are getting close to peaking in a few weeks when it means a trip to Hershey.”