Competing in the 12 & under boys 135-pound weight class, Collin Havers advanced all the way to the state championship match before ultimately settling for an impressive second-place showing. Teammate Johnathan Sullivan competing in the 12 & under boys 200-pound weight class came home with an eighth-place finish to complete the season.

Also competing for the Eagles were Brenton Myers (12 & under, 135 pounds), Parker Drake (8 & under boys, 110 pounds), Brian Riel (10 & under boys, 150 pounds), Ronnie Shellhouse (12 & under boys, 65 pounds), Tucker Sanford (12 & under boys, 125 pounds), Brayden Patch (12 & under boys, 115 pounds), Ryker Chase (12 & under boys, 160 pounds) and Maci Hodak (12 & under girls, 72 pounds).

“This weekend was yet another example of how brutal and unforgiving wrestling is in Pennsylvania,” said Youngsville junior high coach Tim Suydan. “Some of our matches were decided by a single mistake and that speaks to the razor thin margin for error these kids are working with. Collin is our first PJW state finalist since 2002 when Jordan Cooke won it all and Mike Sullivan took fourth. He is also our highest state place winner since 2004 when Jordan took fourth.

“We have a lot of young talent in our program. To have our less experienced kids like Brayden, Maci, Tucker and Ryker in the position to be here and be competitive at a tournament like this so early in their careers should bode well for the future. Overall though, they did the only things we’ve ever asked of them — wrestle hard and don’t quit. We’re so proud of them for their efforts and for representing themselves the way they did.”

Photo submitted to the Times Observer Youngsville’s Collin Havers finished second in the 12 & under boys, 135-pound weight class during this past weekend’s Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State Championships held at the Peterson Events Center in Pittsburgh.

Havers began his march to the finals with a bye before pinning Hopewell’s Kaleb Gonzales in 47 seconds. Havers followed that up with a 29-second pin of Westmont Hilltop’s Jarrett LeMasters and a 16-0 technical fall over Seneca Valley’s Michael D’Appolonia in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Havers trailed 5-0 to Dallastown’s T.J. Krebs before a reversal and near fall cut the lead to 5-4. Havers put on another tough ride in the second and scored two additional nearfall points to go up 6-5. Havers gave up two nearfall points on another cradle by Krebs with just 18 seconds left in the match, but was able to break Krebs’ hold and pick up the fall with just eight seconds left to make the state finals.

In the finals, Havers squared off with familiar foe Shawn Verdecchio. Verdecchio scored a takedown when he countered Havers’ shot, but Havers quickly escaped to make it 2-1. Havers gave up a locking hands point on a mat return in the second period and was unable to score in the third period to finish as the state runner up at 135 pounds.

Sullivan began his tournament with a forfeit win over Port Allegany’s Cooper Bliss and then picked up a second period pin over Garnet Valley’s Will Sitler. Facing Corry’s Gavin Nickerson, Sullivan dropped a pinfall decision with just two seconds left in the match sending Sullivan to a do-or-die match against Ligonier Valley’s Dante Macioce where he earned a 6-1 decision to ensure a place winning position.

After a pair of losses in the consolation rounds, Sullivan finished with an impressive eighth-place finish for the 2023-24 season.

Photo submitted to the Times Observer Youngsville’s Johnathan Sullivan finished eighth in the 12 & under boys, 200-pound weight class during this past weekend’s Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State Championships held at the Peterson Events Center in Pittsburgh.

Sanford finished the weekend with a record of 3-2. After dropping a fall to former state champion Vincenzo Lerubino of Central Bucks West in the opening bout, Sanford opened consolation action by pinning Mason Felton of Jefferson Morgan in 2:32. Next, Sanford upended Area VI champion Ty Dudash by a 3-0 decision and followed that up by pinning Area XII champion Antonio Cintron of North Pocono in 1:41 to reach the blood round before a second loss ended his tournament.

Drake had a pair of victories for the weekend as well, including a pin over Chartiers Houston’s Richard Lindley in 1:57 and a second pin in 1:57 over Saegertown’s Brantley Dille.

Hodak started her tournament with a forfeit win before back-to-back losses ended her season.

“I’m glad to see the hard work these kids are putting in is paying off,” said Little Eagles head coach Dan Sullivan. “They’ve been pushing each other in practice to get better and it’s great to see that effort be rewarded.”