HERSHEY, Pa. -- South Fayette wrestling coach Michael Ladick is a big man who carries a big stick.

Ladick, a former heavyweight for Penn-Trafford High School, carries a stick that measures approximately 2 feet.

"We call it the stick of South Fayette," Ladick said. "It's a piece of plywood that's covered with white tape I stole from our trainer. It's a symbol of everything you can't hold on to in wrestling. It's a symbol of all the hard work that nobody knows about."

South Fayette junior Nick Carr found something he could hold onto at the PIAA tournament, which took place last week at Hershey's Giant Center. Carr won a gold medal for his 6-3 victory against Sharon's Jordan Moss in the Class AA title match at 145 pounds.

"It's the greatest feeling I've ever had," Carr said. "It's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Carr (32-2), a two-time WPIAL champion, was making his second PIAA appearance. Last year, he placed fifth at 145 pounds. Moss was a four-time PIAA place-winner and two-time finalist.

"It's nice to get a kid like Nick because he's always willing to put in the extra time," Ladick said. "He's so much more of a complete wrestler than he was last year."

Carr opened the tournament with an 8-1 win against Cochranton's Mikel Boughner, then posted a 5-3 win in overtime against Muncy's Aaron Fry in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Carr dominated Pen Argyl's Philip Racciato, 11-4.

"The momentum I picked up with my semifinal win carried over to the finals," Carr said. "It also gave me a lot of confidence. I knew I could do it."

Senior Tyler Wilps became the seventh wrestler in Chartiers Valley history to place two or more times in the PIAA tournament.

Wilps placed fifth in the Class AAA 171-pound weight class after an 11-3 semifinal loss to Cumberland Valley's Tristan Warner, the eventual runner-up.

"I came here to win and I fell short, but I can't go home too disappointed," Wilps said. "I still placed at a tough tournament in a very strong weight class. I'm proud of that."

Wilps, a two-time WPIAL finalist and one-time champion, finished the season with a 40-2 record and capped his career with a 127-36 mark. He also placed eighth in the state last year at 171.

Wilps has also been chosen to compete on the WPIAL All-Star team at Saturday's Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic.

"I've always wanted to wrestle in The Classic," Wilps said. "I'm really looking forward to it."

Fort Cherry had a pair of PIAA Class AA place-winners for the first time since 2002.

Junior Sam Guidi (30-4) made his third PIAA appearance for the Rangers and earned place-winner status for the first time after finishing fourth at 160. He was joined on the medalists platform by teammate Gary Kiefer (31-5), who placed seventh at 189.

• Hopewell's Matt Hundenski became a two-time PIAA Class AAA place-winner by taking fifth at 152. Hundenski placed sixth at the same weight last year.

• Carlynton had a place-winner for the second consecutive year as junior Montana Trombetta (39-6) finished seventh at 152.

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