3 wrestlers secure gold at regionals

by BY BOB LIPSKY

Posted on March 4, 2007

WEST LAWN — North Schuylkill’s Kevin Bolinsky and Hamburg’s Brad Kummerer and Nick Sanko didn’t jump around or celebrate wildly.




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A slight smile, a nod of the head and a hand slap with a coach or teammate were among the few signs that the three seniors had won Southeast Regional Class AA Wrestling Tournament championships Saturday night at Wilson West Lawn High School.

“We all have our minds set on one goal, but we’re just taking it step by step,’’ Bolinsky said.

That ultimate goal comes next weekend at the PIAA Championships.

Pine Grove middleweights Ryan Reichert (145) and Chas Aungst (152) also punched their tickets to Hershey with three straight victories en route to second-place finishes.

Joining the area’s five finalists at states will be Hamburg freshman 103-pounder Derek Goodwin. Scoring a takedown with a shrug 25 seconds into overtime, Goodwin (37-15) edged Pen Argyl’s Derek Beckage 4-2 in their fifth-place bout.

“Once I got through (Friday), I knew I could make it,’’ Goodwin said. “If it wasn’t for wrestling with Brad and Nick all year, I doubt I’d be where I am now. They really helped me out.’’

Mahanoy Area senior 171-pounder Matt Sullivan (32-6) earned a medal but fell one place short of a trip to Hershey, dropping a 13-5 major decision to Milton Hershey’s Alex Gilchrist in the consolation finals.

The top five placewinners in each weight class advance to the PIAA Championships, Thursday to Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey.

What made Kummerer’s, Sanko’s and Bolinsky’s reactions a bit more curious was that all three traded silver for gold this season at regionals.

Bolinsky, defeated 7-5 last year by Boiling Springs’ Jeremy Cannon in the regional finals, stepped to the top of the awards platform with a 4-1 victory at 189 pounds over Saucon Valley’s Brandon Palik (31-4).

By pushing the action throughout, Bolinsky (36-1) opened the scoring with a stall point in the second period. He added an escape and a takedown at the edge in the third period to secure the victory.

“This was a goal of mine from last year’s finals to win it this year,’’ Bolinsky said. “I knew I should have won it last year and I had the potential to win it, but I just wanted to follow through this year and actually do it.’’

Sanko (44-3) also just did it, using a pair of takedowns and two near-fall points in a 7-1 victory over Saucon Valley’s Reuben Herrera (31-11) in the 140-pound final. Like Bolinsky, Sanko didn’t allow his opponent to generate any offense.

“I felt pretty good out there. I feel more comfortable in front of the big crowds,’’ Sanko said. “I was more confident this year.’’

Meanwhile at 130, Kummerer (45-1) and Steve Hluschak (35-3) have built quite a history in the past two years. Hluschak took last season’s regional final, 4-3, while Kummerer prevailed 5-0 in the Bullet Invitational in December and again 3-1 for the regional crown.

The match resembled a college bout — a lot of action but not much scoring. While Kummerer’s fireman’s dump in the first period for the only takedown made the difference, he continued to press the action and take most of the shots, all while keeping positive body position.

“My finals match, I felt really good,’’ Kummerer said. “I knew I had to attack; I couldn’t hold back. After I got that first takedown, I knew I could just keep shooting.’’

Like most matches at this level, takedowns played a major role for Reichert and Aungst as well.

Reichert (32-5) scored a fireman’s dump for the first takedown, but Bethlehem Catholic’s Kyle John (37-3) used two takedowns and a strong ride to stop the Cardinals’ senior, 6-3.

“I was on a roll this week,’’ said Reichert, who pinned previously unbeaten Mike Delaurentis of Springfield in the semifinals. “I couldn’t ask for anything more. Things didn’t go my way in the finals; I kind of let it slip away.’’

Likewise, Aungst (32-5) couldn’t generate much offense in a rematch of the District 11 final against Northern Lehigh’s Adam Fenstermaker (32-6). They went deep into the third period tied at 1 before Fenstermaker got a penalty point and a takedown in the final seconds for a 4-1 decision.

He edged Aungst 3-1 in triple overtime for the district title.

“I feel good about (going to states). I think I’ll do good,’’ Aungst said. “My goal is to place, so if I do that, I’ll be happy.”



©The REPUBLICAN & Herald 2007

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