The top six wrestlers in each division qualified for the Keystone State Championships which will be held at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex in Indiana.

With such a high concentration of some of the best youth programs in the state, the tournament proved to be a challenge for all the wrestlers that were competing for a spot on the podium.

Connor Ash, wrestling in a meat grinder of a 7 & 8 50-pound Division, placed fourth to qualify for the championship tournament. Ash dropped his first bout of the 18-man bracket, but through sheer grit and determination battled back through the entire consolation bracket, recording four consecutive wins to reach the consolation finals. Wrestling well on his feet, Ash recorded pins over Jaxon McElroy and Derrick Crawford, both from Oil City, and Cooper Habel of Seneca Valley. Ash also posted a 2-0 decision over No. 1 seed Gabe Cox of Corry, who Ash lost to by technical fall earlier in the year. Ash dropped his consolation finals bout by fall to Brayton Niece of Port Allegany to end his day.

It was another strong showing of Autumn Waite’s wrestling skills in the Girls 53-58-pound Division, bringing home the silver medal to advance to the championship tournament. Waite bulldozed her way to a 3-1 record on the day. She started her day with a first-period pin over Selena Ellsworth of Corry, using a butcher pinning combination. Waite then engineered a 9-0 major decision over Area 8, 63-pound champion Aleyah Grazier of Wattsburg, before posting a 15-0 technical fall over Alana Hibbler of Wattsburg, with a dominant performance from the top position. Waite dropped her final bout of the day with Scarlett McElhinny of Sharpsville, the Area 6, 63-pound champion, by a 9-0 major decision.

Autumn Waite is pictured in control of her opponent, Aleyah Grazier of Wattsburg.

Thayne Gourley, 11 & 12, 100-pounds, lost 3-2 in the quarterfinals before posting two falls and a 4-2 decision to enter the consolation finals. Dropping a 1-0 decision, Gourley ended the day in fourth place and qualified for the state championships.

Also wrestling for the Eisenhower youth wrestling team were Case Neall, 7 & 8, 60-pounds, 0-2; Owen Ash, 9 & 10, 95-pounds, 0-2; Brice Ludwick, 11 & 12, 90 pounds, 1-2; and Wyatt Neall, 11 & 12, 95 pounds, 0-2.