HERSHEY, Pa. -- With an assortment of bumps and bruises and cuts on his face, Joe Makara looked banged up yesterday after completing the PIAA Class AA wrestling tournament at the Giant Center. But the Burrell senior also had the look of a champion in the 125-pound weight class.
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Freedom's Kurt Brenner, left, wins his second consecutive PIAA Class AA 171-pound title with a 12-8 decision against Nate Shirk of Middleburg in Hershey yesterday. (John Heller, Post-Gazette) |
Makara claimed his second consecutive PIAA title with a 3-0 decision in the afternoon final against Zac Sheldon of Wyalusing.
Makara scored a takedown 30 seconds into the match. He also overcame a series of rough moves by Sheldon, who momentarily stunned Makara with 51 seconds left in the second period by slamming his head into the mat.
"I went numb for a second, but I knew what he was trying to do," said Makara who finished his four-year career with a 140-19 record.
"Joe may be the smartest wrestler I've ever coached," Burrell Coach Chris Como said. "He knew exactly what to do. The emphasis was to stay out of any dangerous positions ... I don't know anybody who's better on their feet than Joe."
Sheldon choose to ride Makara in the second period, hoping to put his opponent in a cradle. Sheldon had scored quite a few points in the first three rounds by using this maneuver, which often results in a fall.
But Makara withstood several attempts to tilt him on his back.
"He wouldn't let me in to tie him up," Sheldon said. "He worked hard to stop me and he knew he could. That was his plan I guess."
Although he lost four times this season in 42 matches, Makara was dominant throughout the section, regional and PIAA tournaments. He also earned wins against Jared Casciole of Notre Dame Green Pond, who finished third, andJeff Becker of Slippery Rock, who was fifth.
"I knew everybody was gunning for me. Winning this the second time feels just as good," said Makara, who will wrestle next season at Pitt.
"I knew [Sheldon] was going to be tough, but, after almost losing [in the first round Thursday before winning in overtime], I went back to the hotel and thought about it for the whole day, and it really got me going for my next three matches.
"I knew Sheldon would try to hook up the cradle the whole time, but I knew I could control his arms and get out."
The other WPIAL wrestler to win a Class AA title, 171-pounder Kurt Brenner of Freedom, also became a two-time champion when he defeated Nate Shirk of Middleburg in the final, 12-8.
For the second consecutive match, Brenner gave up the first takedown, but he led, 8-3, after two periods and was in control of the match.
"When [Shirk] took me down, it made me mad," Brenner said. "I'm not too aggressive when I'm top [riding an opponent]. I feel I'm at my best when I'm neutral. When I'm on top, I let the kid [escape] because I feel I have a better chance to take him down and turning him."
Brenner had four takedowns against Shirk, and he credited North Allegheny's Jake Herbert, a Class AAA finalist last night at 171, for preparing him for the PIAA tournament.
"We practice together just about every day, and that gets me ready for anything."
Other WPIAL wrestlers earning medals in Class AA were Zach Holt (sixth) of Mount Pleasant at 103, Larry Hall (seventh) of Jeannette at 119, Jared Shields (third) of Burrell at 140, Todd Cessna (eighth) of Elderton at 145, A.J. Graves (fifth) of Jeannette at 152, Victor McCoy (sixth) of Mount Pleasant at 152, Mike Morgan (seventh) of Beth-Center at 152, Damian Johnson (fifth) of Shady Side Academy at 160 and John Meraldo (fifth) of Charleroi at 275.
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