Dick Rutt decision Doug Cassel, Hershey: 11-1

Alton Bowyer decision Jerry Williams, Manheim Central: 3-0

Alton Bowyer broke Easton’s 13 year championship drought with a dominant performance in the 1962 postseason. He did not give up a point in Districts or Regionals, then gave up his only three escapes of the postseason in an 8-3 semifinal win. In the state final, Bowyer converted a leg attack for a takedown in seven seconds, then brutalized Jerry Williams from top for the rest of the period. When Williams took bottom in the second period, Bowyer made him pay by riding for another two full minutes. In the third, Bowyer was content to escape and play keep-away in a dominant 3-0 decision.

Dick DeWalt decision Ron Hamilton, Bedford: 5-1

Dick DeWalt was stunning upset in state semifinals as a junior by a wrestler he had handled earlier in the season. So when he made his return trip to the state tournament, he let nothing stand in his path. His semifinal was the de facto final, a class with Bill Blacksmith (Cedar Cliff), who would later win the 1966 NCAA title for Lock Haven. Blacksmith took DeWalt down in the first minute of the match, and the two wrestlers traded takedowns for a 3-2 score deep into the third period. With 35 seconds remaning, DeWalt converted on a double leg, then rode Blacksmith the rest of the way to hang on for a 4-3 victory. In the final, DeWalt scored takedowns in the first and third period, plus rode out the entire second period to handle sophomore Ron Hamilton. Hamilton would come back and win a 1964 state title. DeWalt was the second Easton champion of the tournament, the first of seven times the Rovers have crowned multiple champions.

Chuck Amato decision Harold Short, Clearfield: 6-5

Chuck Amato capped his brilliant two-sport Easton career with a nailbiting run through the postseason, winning two overtime bouts, and three different one takedown matches to win the 1964 state championship.  After surviving a referee’s decision with Randy Kahler (Lower Dauphin) in semis, Amato met up with Harold Short in finals.  Amato looked like he would control the match, scoring early in the first period, then using his physicality and mat skills to ride Short out for the rest of the first period.  Short took bottom in the second, and Amato seeme to go right back to work.  But Short reversed Amato his back, nearly pinning the Easton star, to take a 4-2 lead.  Amato was able to escape before the buzzer to trail by one going into the third.  Amato reversed Short quickly in the third period, then rode for nearly the rest of the match – letting Short escape late rather than give him a chance for a match tying reversal, knowing that Amato had a riding advantage point coming.  The 6-5 win is one of two Easton state championships that did not come with a takedown.  

Craig Fox decision Ed Wright, Oil City: 8-4

Craig Fox was Easotn’s first truly off the radar state champ after missing most of his junior season with injury. His state finals match was over early, as Fox took down Oil City’s Ed Wright early in their bout, then immediately put Wright on his back in the cradle that had propelled him to an undefeated season. Wright took bottom in the second period and Fox locked up a second cradle for another full set of backpoints to go up 8-0. Wright reversed Fox at the end of the second period, which clearly aggravated Fox’s shoulder injury. He was content to block off on the bottom for the entire third period, and despite two stalling points, cruised to an 8-4 win for the state championship.

Chico Lutes fall Allen Andrews, Greater Johnstown: 1:20

Chico Lutes posted a massive win at the Northeast Regional semifinals where he upset defending state champion Ken Hess (West Snyder) who two second period takedowns to win 5-4. In the state finals, Lutes was an underdog against All State halfback and the state’s leading touchdown scorer Allen Andrews. But Lutes snapped Andrews in a cradle during a first period exchange, and crunched the star lightweight over to his back for a resounding first period fall. Lutes became the first Easton underclassman to win a state title.

Rocky Creazzo decision Mickey Kenney, Greensburg-Salem: 9-4

Rocky Creazzo was the first Easton sophomore to win a state championship and did so in grand fashion, knocking off returning state champion Mickey Kenney and snapping Kenney’s 42 match win streak.  After the match, Kenney noted that Creazzo’s “lightning speed” was too much for him, and that was evident when Creazzo took Kenney down almost instantaneously.  Still, the defending champ was able to reverse Creazzo and knot things up going into the second.  That’s where Creazzo blew things open.  He got out off the whistle, then took Kenney down to his back, blowing things open with a five point move to take an 8-2 lead.  Kenney added two escapes and Creazzo got a riding advantage point to account for the final margin, which stunned the capacity crowd at Rec Hall.  Creazzo is one of five Easton 10th graders to win a title, and was part of a stretch where seven Easton 98 pounders (Brad Weaver, Rocky Creazzo, Greg Shoemaker, Henry Callie, Bobby Weaver, John Cuvo, Jack Cuvo) made a total of eleven state finals in their careers between 1970 and 1985.

Curt Stanley decision Tim Mousetis (Washington): 7-5

Curt Stanley was the surprise champion in a dominant Easton state tournament in 1974. Stanley met future Kentucky All American Tim Mousetis in the final. In a wild first period, Stanley gave up a pair of takedown and looked to be quickly falling out of the match when he hit a double and dragged his toes on teh edge for a massive, match tying takedown with six sseconds left in the first period. That score completely shifted momentum in the bout, as Mousetis took bottom in the second period and Stanley rewarded the choice by ridinghim for the entire two minutes. Mousetis let Stanley up to make it a 5-4 lead for the Rover in the third period. With 1:09 left in the match, Stanley converted on a high crotch to ice the match, yielding an escape in the final seconds before celebrating a state championship.

Darwin Brodt fall Jim Lohman, Mount Lebanon: 1:55

Darwin Brodt was the favorite to win the 1973 crown at 167 pounds when he blew a 7-3 lead in his opening match, getting penalized for two stalling points and giving up riding time in a stunning 8-7 loss. As a senior, Brodt was unstoppable, capped by a first period pin of Jim Lohman in the finals. Brodt scored in the opening seconds of the bout, then got sloppy and gave up a reversal to tie the bout at two. A quick escape and takedown put Brodt back in front and he locked up his patented cross face cradle to turn and pin Lohman just before the first period buzzer.

Bobby Weaver decision Barry Blefko, Manheim Township 3-1

Bobby Weaver bounced back from a Northeast Regional semifinal upset to win his first state championship.  Weaver hammered Jim Zenz (Saucon Valley), 7-2 in the D11 finals, but in the Northeast Regional semifinals, Zenz shocked Weaver, 4-3.  Fortunately, it was the first year of the 16 man bracket at the state tournament, meaning Weaver could recover with a third place finish and make the dance.  In State College, Weaver throttled Northeast Regional champ Kurt Nagle (Jersey Shore) in the semis while Zenz was taken down with four seconds left to lose 3-1 to Barry Blefko (Manheim Township).  In the finals, Weaver put on a mat wrestling clinic.  He took Blefko down with 56 seconds left in the first period, then rode out the period.  Weaver quickly escaped in the second, then rode Blefko for the entire third period, giving up just a late stalling point to account for the final margin.  Weaver joined his brother Brad as the first set of Easton brothers to make state finals and joined Rocky Creazzo as sophomore champions for the Rovers.

Bobby Weaver decision John Brennan, Wyoming Valley West: 9-6

Bobby Weaver became the first Easton wrestler to repeat as state champion when he capped a 28-0 season with a state championship.  In the finals, Weaver had a rematch with Northeast Regional runner-up John Brennan, who had pushed Weaver to the limit in a 4-3 bout the week before.  Weaver was not to be denied in the state final, however, and he took Brennan down three times in the first three minutes to open up a 7-1 lead.  He clearly took his foot off the gas pedal in the third, but rolled into a 9-6 win for his second title.  Brennan, just a freshman in the loss to Weaver, finished his career with three state finals trips and a state title in 1977.  Weaver was the third Rover underclassman to win a state title, but the first to even make a return trip to finals. 

John Cuvo decision Kyle Nellis, Shaler: 11-7

John Cuvo capped off a dominant senior season with an outstanding state tournament. He bulldozed his way to finals with two pins and a 20-8 major decision. There, he met future state champ and Pitt All American Kyle Nellis. Cuvo opened the match with a pair of takedowns in the first period and a third early in the second as he played catch and release with the Shaler sophomore. In the third period, Cuvo took Nellis down a fourth time and put him on his back with a near side cradle to blow the match wide open.

Randy Ascani decision Vince Stravino, Bethlehem Catholic: 6-4

Randy Ascani capped off the magical 1981 Easton wrestling season by catapulting Easton to their first official PIAA Tournament championship with a win in his epic postseason series with Vince Stravino.  Stravino was a two-time state runner-up at Northwestern Lehigh in 2A before transferring to Bethlehem Catholic and had met Ascani in the D11 and Northeast Regional fina lthe prior two weeks.  Ascani took round one, 3-1, and appeared to take round 2 in a 6-6 criteria win in overtime.  But Bethlehem Catholic filed an appeal that criteria was applied wrong, which the PIAA granted on Tuesday, forcing a redraw of the state brackets as Stravino was awarded the Regional championship.  Round three was a classic.  The wrestlers traded takedowns in the first two periods and Ascani escaped early in the third to tie the match at 4.  With 53 seconds left, Ascani hit a high crotch and converted for a takedown to take a 6-4 lead.  He rode out Stravino for the remainder of the match to come away with a 6-4 win.  His state championship also gave Easton a six point lead that would give Easton enough cushion to stave off Chartiers Houston for the team title.

Jack Cuvo decision Dan Buzza, Moon: 9-3

After suffering an 0-1 disappointment in his first state tournament, Jack Cuvo rolled to his first title, first by beating fellow NCAA champion Sean O’Day (Meadville) by taking him down five times in semis, then putting together a masterful win in state finals.  Cuvo took down Southwest Regional champ Dan Buzza four times, twice in the first to establish a big lead and once the remaining two periods for a comfortable 9-3 lead.  Ted Meixell noted that Cuvo’s biggest challenge of the weekend was climbing the first place podium that was taller than Cuvo.  His 21 team points also propelled Easton to their second team state championship in three years, outpacing Erie Tech  50 to 42.5.

Jack Cuvo decision Dave Orris, Cedar Cliff: 9-2

Jack Cuvo repeated as state champion with a dominant run through the bracket.  In the finals, Dave Orris was able to tie up and frustrate Cuvo in the first period, and nearly score a takedown of his own in the final ten seconds, forcing Cuvo to sprawl out and defend until the first period ended.  But in the second, Cuvo escaped off the whistle and nailed a barrel roll for his first takedown of the match and a 3-0 lead.  After an Orris escape, hit hit a carbon copy of his barrel roll for a 5-1 lead, then cut Orris loose.  Cuvo went back to the well, hitting the same barrel roll takedown but catching Orris on his back for five points to take a commanding 9-2 lead.  He rode out the entire third period, to cruise to a state championship and hand Orris his first loss of the season.  Cuvo became the second Easton wrestler to repeat as a state champion in four tries.

Jack Cuvo major Scott Beaver, Berwick: 26-12

Jack Cuvo’s 99 match winning streak concluded with his third state title in typical Jack Cuvo fashion.  The first period was – wrap arm single, takedown; single to a double with a high lift finish, takedown; barrel roll, takedown; double leg, takedown; and an 8-3 lead after one period.  The second period was a different takedown clinic – sprawl, go-behind; snap down, go behind; shrug; low double, and an 18-7 lead after two.  He played the hits in the third period, going double, wrap arm single, double, double for his 845th through 848th career takedowns in the final period of his high school career for his fourth 20+ point match of the tournament.  That completed Cuvo’s matching of his hero and mentor Bobby Weaver’s three state titles.  

Moss Grays fall Brian Cipollone, Plum: 3:0x

Moss Grays seemed well on his way to the 1989 state final at 135 pounds, leading 7-3 in the final thirty seconds when he was headlocked to his back for five points and was forced to settle for a second state bronze medal.  So in 1990, Grays was a machine at the state tournament, punctuated by his finals match with future Lehigh captain Brian Cipollone.  Grays was the aggressor early, and while none of his three leg attacks resulted in points, once Cipollone made an offensive attempt, Grays quickly countered it with an ankle pick and quick takedown for a first period 2-0 lead.  Cipollone tried to stand up twice in the final twenty seconds of the period, but Grays was able to trp him back to the mat on both attempts.  When Cipollone went for a third standup to start the second period, Grays was waiting for it and snapped him into a cross face cradle.  Grays had him in the dead center of the mat with nearly the full period to work with, and squeezed for a minute before the official slapped the mat, putting a exclamation point on a fabulous Easton career.  

Jamarr Billman decision Andy Cote, Nazareth: 11-4

Despite Easton’s superlative 1996 season, Jamarr Billman was the only Red Rover to make the state final out of the “Magnificent 7” lightweights.  For the third straight week, he met Nazareth’s Andy Cote in the tournament finals, having hammered Cote 16-4 in the D11 final and cruised to a 10-4 victory in Northeast Regional finals.  This was the ninth time the competitors would meet, with Cote winning their first matchup and the 1995 Northeast Regional final, but Billman taking all three matches so far in 1996.  Cote had the first real scoring opportunity, getting to Billman’s legs but also getting rolled out of bounds near the one minute mark of the first period.  That kicked Billman into attack mode, faking an ankle pick then blowing through Cote on a blast double to take a 2-0 lead.  He immediately cut Cote loose, then hit another double, cut Cote a second time, then hit a midsirection wrap-arm single to take a commanding 6-2 lead into the second period.  Cote slowed down much of the second period and had some scoring opportunities on teh edge, but it was Billman who hit another misdirection shot and put Cote on his back as time expired for a 9-2 lead. Billman hit another blast double to stretch his lead to 11-4 in the final minute, and nearly took Cote down a sixth time as time expired, to emphatically finish his first state championship.

Chris Kelly decision Jared Sullivan, South Western: 6-1

Chris Kelly capped off a dominant state tournament run by suffocating the unbeaten Sullivan. In the first period, Kelly hit a textbook Easton Shrug to take a 2-0 lead. He then put a saddle on Sullivan, riding him for the remainder of the first period. Kelly took bottom and almost immediately hit a switch to go up 4-0 and give himself another 1:40 of punishing Sullivan from top. Sullivan went neutral in the third, and Kelly hit a slick ankle pick to ice the match. He rode Sullivan nearly the entire way, and almost converted an arm bar to back points near the end of the match, but as the referee warned him to “keep it legal”, Kelly noticed the clock in its waning seconds and leapt up off of Sullivan to celebrate as he won the first of three Easton state title titles on the evening, a program record.

Bryan Snyder decision Jeff Rusak, Muhlenberg: 7-4

Snyder suffered real heartbreak in his first two trips to Hershey, losing in rideout as a sophomore and junior. So in his final season, Snyder was determined to win the state title many around the program though was inevitable as he was coming up. Snyder survived two harrowing one point decisions, nearly pinning himself against Marc Hoffer in quarters before a 4-3 and needing to survive a 2-1 match with fellow future All American Corey Ace. Finally on the big stage for state finals, Snyder let it rip. He hit his patented Easton Shrug to open the scoring against Jeff Rusak, then immediately cut him and worked to set up a blast double to take control of the match 4-2. In the second, Snyder escaped and hit a high crotch for his third take down of the match and an insurmountable 7-2 lead. Rusak added a pair of escapes, but never came close to scoring as Snyder rolled to a state title.

Jamarr Billman fall Dan Wilson, Solanco: 0:23

The shortest and sweetest state final in Easton history. Billman was a huge favorite to win 140 pounds, particularly when fellow returning state champ Chamie Hooks (Kittatanning) was upset in quarterfinals on the other side of the bracket. Billman immediately snapped Wilson down into a front headlock and tried to rip a cement mixer as Wilson winged down hard on the underook side. Wilson was able to roll through Billman’s first attempt, but Billman immediately went into a second roll, and put Wilson on his back and pinned him in the second fastest fall in state finals history. The state title and bonus points put Easton on top of the team race and accounted for the final difference in their 1.5 point win over Nazareth for their second straight team title.

Matt Ciasulli decision Chris Lape, West Allegheny: 5-0

Matt Ciasulli had repeatedly gone to war with Northampton’s Aaron Suranofsky.  After Suranofsky won the season rubber match to end Ciasulli’s season and keep him from the state tournament in 1999, Suranofsky won the first three matches of 2000 – in rideout, 2-1, and 4-3, before Ciasulli finally turned the tables, 3-1 in overtime, to win the Northeast Regional title.  Round number five was expected to take place in the state final.  Ciasulli held up his end of the bargain, but in quarterfinals, Chris Lape had other plans, riding out Suranofsky in double overtime for a 1-1 win.  Ciasulli took care of business against the WPIAL champ, shrugging him in the first for two, then riding him out for the rest of the period.  In the second, Ciasulli was able to easily get away to extend his lead to 3-0.  Not wanting to go underneath Ciasulli again, Lape took neutral in the third, but gave up a second shrug takedown, and Ciasulli rode out the rest of the period for a 5-0 win and his first state title. 

Jake Giamoni tech Troy Milhouse, Hempfield: 20-5 in 4:46

After gaining a measure of revenge in semifinals against Jim Morgan (West Scranton) who denied Giamoni a state tournament trip as a sophomore, Giamoni wrestled free and confident in the finals, and absolutely dominated Troy Milhouse.  Three takedowns and a set of backpoints in the first period completely took the wind out of Milhouse’s sails as the tournament Cinderella.  Two more takedowns in the second and nearly pinning Milhouse had him a takedown away from finishing the match, which happened early in the third period.  It is Easton’s only technical fall in the finals, and helped Easton break their school record for points at the individual tournament with 90.5, which was the highest score for a runner-up in the 16 man bracket era.

Matt Ciasulli decision Dan Pacitti, Moon: 8-0

Matt Ciasulli won his second state title in dominant fashion, not giving up a point during the state tournament and pacing Easton’s school record 112 point tournament.  In the finals, Ciasulli met Dan Pacitti and was in control from the opening whistle.  Ciasulli hit a barrel roll for a takedown, then immediately went to his brutal leg ride for the remainder of the period.  The lone time Pacitti made it to his feet to try and escape, Ciasulli caught a cross-wrist and tried to return him to the mat with a 2-on-1 tilt.  While Pacitti was able to belly out, Ciasulli then rolled back the other way for a four count for backpoints to open up a four point lead.  Ciasulli chose neutral in the second and when Pacitti hit a beautiful head inside single, Ciasulli showcased his awesome scrambling ability, limp legging out of the attack and sitting through for an incredible counter takedown which broke Pacitti’s will.  Ciasulli nearly had Pacitti pinned in a power half when it was stopped as potentially dangerous as he was going over.  The buzzer saved Pacitti from backpoints at the end of the period, but in the third, Ciasulli shrugged him for an 8-0 lead and went right back to work on top, riding him for the rest of the period.  Ciasulli was named Outstanding Wrestler for his efforts.

Gino Fortebuono decision Seth Lisa, Northampton: 1-1 (OTRO)

Gino Fortebuono-Seth Lisa was one of the great three-match series in Distirct 11 history. Lisa took the D11 finals by reversing Fortebuono in rideouts then held on in the Northeast Regional final with a 3-2 win. Both wrestlers romped to finals at states where they’d meet one last time. Fortebuono had a golden scoring chance near the end of the second period, but Lisa was able to wriggle out of bounds and avoid giving up points. At the end of regulation, Lisa his a double off of a restart with seven seconds left and actually had the official call a state-title-winning takedown, but the mat judge (correctly) waived it off saying time expired before the two should have been awarded. The sudden death period went scoreless and Lisa picked bottom for their second rideout in three weeks. But Easton’s coaching staff had revamped Fortebuono’s strategy during practice, and he switched sides and went crab ride to thwart Lisa’s tendencies on bottom. On three different restarts, Fortebuono was able to sit Lisa into a crab, the last with seven seconds left as Lisa kicked back wildly, but Fortebuono held on with a deep half and ran out the thirty seconds to win his elusive state title after three disappointing state finishes. Fortebuono celebrated wildy, jumping into the stands following the victory. He was one of two Easton champs and led them to a school record 112 team points and a team state championship.

Matt Ciasulli decision Brian Sticca, Greensburg-Salem: 4-2 (OT)

The story of the 2002 state tournament was two-time state champions getting upset in their quest for a third title.  Jermaine Jones, Kyle Cathcart, and Jeff Breese all were upset, and Matt Ciasulli needed everything he had to claim his third title.  In one of the best finals in tournament history, Ciasulli put on a scrambling clinic and topped Brian Sticca in overtime to join Bobby Weaver and Jack Cuvo as three-time champs.  Brian Siticca immediately was in on a low single, but Ciasulli , in a theme of the match, was able to scramble and force a staelate to avoid trouble. That was the first of three times Sticca was in deepon Ciasulli’s legs in teh first period, and all three times, Ciasulli was able to either hip out or find an ankle and scramble to avoid points. In the second period, Sticca bravely chose to go underneath Ciasulli, who hadn’t given up a point in the state tournament since the semifinal his sophomore season. Ciasulli rode for most of the period with his patented double boots, but on a restart, Sticca was able to beat Ciasulli off the whistle and stand and score to take a 1-0 lead. In the htird period, Ciasulli went underneath and hit a textbook Peterson roll for a reversal. Somehow Sticca managed to avoid backpoints. Sticca managed to get to his feet, and while he could not get away, Ciasulli dropped to a leg and got hit for a stall warning with 59 seconds left in the match. That would loom large when Ciasulli tried to ride out the match with double boots and a hammer lock and got hit for stalling again, tying the match at two.  Sticca got to his feet three more times in the final thirty seconds, the last ending ina wild scramble where Ciasulli tried to return him with a 2-on-1 tilt and Sticca tried to sit back into him for a last second reversal.  The buzzer saved both of them.  “What a show” they proclaimed on PCN as the match went to overtime.  With 35 seconds left in OT, Sticca hit a low single and Ciasulli draped over his back.  Sticca stood up, with Ciasulli completely upside down in the air on his back.  When Sticca tried to bring him to the mat to complete the takedown, Ciasulli caught an ankle and rolled through, forcing the two out of bounds in a mind boggling display of his leg defense and scrambling.  On the next restart, Sticca took an ill advised shot – no doubt concerned about having to go to rideout with Ciasuli – and Ciasulli was able to pancake him to his back for the state title winning takedown. The arena gave both wrestlers a standing ovation as Sticca and Ciasulli hugged in the middle of the match before Ciasulli put up three fingers to celebrate his third state title. 

Mike Rogers decision Jarrod King, Connellsville: 8-5

A battered and bandaged Mike Rogers navigated a minefield at the state tournament, beating future All American and state champ Matt Kocher in the semifinal despite broken ribs and a surgically repaired finger to set up a super sophomore match up against future NCAA champion Jarrod King. In the first period, King nearly made quick work of Rogers, pancaking him and nearly catching him on his back before Rogers rolled out to only yield two points. King rode out the clearly in pain Rogers, who had to use his first injury time. In the second period, King started on bottom and got up to his feet, with Rogers clearly trying to catch his cross wrist on the stand-up, but they went out of bounds. On a restart, King got his feet, but Rogers trapped his left wrist and mat returned King into a Hazard tilt. Rogers go no backpoints on the mat return, but rolled under to the opposite side and got a full set to take a 3-2 lead on King . however, with 12 seconds left in the period, King reversed Rogers to take a 4-3 lead into the final frame. Rogers nearly got pinned in a granby as time expired, but was saved by the buzzer. Boldly, Rogers took top in the third period. After running King out of bounds twice, Rogers again caught his cross-wrist, nearly got caught halfway trying to tilt King, then came back with a second effort and turned him with a reinforced arm bar tilt to take a 6-4 lead with 1:15 left. He tried to take him back over after King bellied out, but halfway through the move Rogers screamed out in pain and was forced to take his final ten seconds of injury time. This also gave King choice, and he went neutral to get out from under Rogers. King nearly scored a go-behind to tie it with 40 seconds left, but stepped out of bounds. After a stall warning, Rogers hit a duck to a double and dumped King to his hip for two to take an 8-4 lead. With Rogers clearly bleeding through his cast, he cut King for the final seconds and kept his distance for a thrilling 8-5 win. Both King and Rogers ended their careers as two-time state champions. King went on to win a national title for Edinboro and take third at the NCAA tournament, while Rogers was the Division II runner-up for Carson-Newman

Mike Rogers decision Dan Geib, Pennridge: 5-3

Mike Rogers won a state championship as a sophomore, but was shockingly upset in the semifinals in his junior season, snapping a 40 match winning streak, ending an undefeated season, and denying Rogers a repeat title.  As a senior, Rogers was a man on a mission in Hershey, hammering what was seen as his biggest challenger, Red Lion’s Jason Hollar, 10-2 in semifinals.  Dan Geib was a surprise finals opponent, but gave Rogers all he could handle in the early going.  After a scoreless first period, Rogers escaped in the second, but could not get to any of his offense as Geib crowded and handfought Rogers to neutralize his quickness and fluidity on his feet.  With 17 seconds left in the second, Geib saw a little bit of an opening, and doubled Rogers to the mat, taking a 2-1 lead just before time expired.  Wanting no part of Rogers’s lethal tight waist tilt, Geib chose neutral in the third period.  Geib was able to hold Rogers off for a minute, but he eventually found some space and hit a misdirection single, his only true leg attack of the evening, and converted for a takedown and a 3-2 lead.  Almost immediately, Rogers trapped Geib’s cross-wrist and rolled him to his back for a two-count and a 5-2 lead.  Geib escaped in the last ten seconds for the final margin, as Rogers back-flipped in celebration for his second state championship.

Jordan Oliver decision Nico Cortese, Greensburg Central Catholic: 6-2

Jordan Oliver finished one of the most dominant seasons in Easton history with his first state championship.  After ripping through the bracket with three bonus point victories, Oliver matched up with Nico Cortese in a battle of nationally ranked opponents.  Oliver wasted no time, converting on a low single then riding out Cortese for the rest of the period.  In the second, Oliver took Cortese down twice to really pull away.  A third period rideout finished things off as Oliver won his first of three state titles, and finished the season as the top ranked 103 in America. 

Kegan Handlovic decision Taylor Brown, Emmaus: 7-4

Kegan Handlovic completed his meteoric rise to a state title by in a rematch of his Northeast Regional final win over Taylor Brown. At regionals, Handlovic had one takedown hold up in a 3-2 win.  In the state final, he was quick to his offense, converting a low single in the first period for a score and a 2-1 lead.  He blew things open in the second, when he hit a Jack Cuvo-esque barrel roll for five points, nearly pinning Brown who saved by the second period buzzer.  In the third period, Handlovic kept the pedal on the floor with a 7-2 lead, initiating a bunch of scoring chances he couldn’t quite convert.  Near the end of the match, Brown counter attacked with a single and took Handlovic down to cut the lead to 7-4.  He nearly had a cradle locked, but Handlovic was able to belly out shortly before the buzzer and become the third Handlovic, joining his dad and uncle, with a state title. 

Jordan Oliver decision Nic Bedelyon, Indian Valley: 4-1

Jordan Oliver repeated as a state champion, going through two state champions just to make the finals, then handling a future NCAA All American to win the title.  After majoring future state champ Joe Waltko (North Allegheny), Oliver had a semifinal rematch with 2005 state champ Chris Sheetz (Upper Perkiomen), who took Oliver to rideout in their state duals match-up.  Oliver was able to open up more and scored a pair of takedowns in a 5-3 win.  In the final, Oliver met up with two-time All American Nic Bedelyon (Indian Valley).  Oliver ankle picked Bedelyon off of the whistle and scored eight seconds into the bout.  He spent nearly the entire first two periods on top, scoring in the second period with an arm bar to stretch his lead to 4-0.  He nearly brought the crowd to its feet by transitioning to a cradle, but Bedeloyon was able to scoot out of bounds.  Oliver went neutral in the third and fended off Bedeloyon for a win and his second state title.  Oliver led Easton to a third place finish at the 2007 state tournament.

Jordan Oliver decision Josh Kindig, Blue Mountain: 4-2

Jordan Oliver’s final state title came against his future Oklahoma State teammate and NCAA finalist Josh Kindig.  To his credit, Kindig stayed at 130 to challenge Oliver rather than chase his first title at a different weight class.  Oliver hammered Kindig in the D11 finals and solidly beat him at Northeast Regionals.  But the precocious sophomore, who wound up winning two state titles after Oliver graduated, had a gameplan to close the gap in the third match of their postseason series.  Oliver took a ton of half shots in the first, but was unable to commit to a real attack as Kindig stayed in great position and was disciplined on fakes.  Kindig escaped to start the second for a 1-0 lead, the only time Oliver trailed in any bout during his senior season.  Oliver had two golden scoring opportunities, but couldn’t stay inbounds on a re-attack single leg and just lost his grip on an ankle pick, where Kindig got hit with his first stall warning.  On the restart, Kindig started his first flurry, but it was Oliver who hit his patented wrap arm single, and scored with eight seconds left in the period to go up 2-1.  Oliver took neutral in the third and iced the match with a low single on the edge with a minute to go to take a commanding 4-1 lead.  He cut Kindig then played defense for the final 40 seconds to win his third title, 4-2.  Oliver became the fourth Red Rover with three titles and the only four-time state finalist in school history. 

Nick Salamone decision Kavin Muyleart, Cedar Cliff: 4-3

Nick Salamone broke the longest state champion drought in Easton history and won head coach Jody Karam’s only state title at Easton in the last match of his coaching career. Muyleart hit a wicked wrist-snap to take Salamone down early in the match, then rode Salamone out the rest of the first period. When Salamone took bottom in the second, Muyleart went optional start and cut him, seemingly confident that he could stretch the lead on his feet. But Salamone was all over Muyleart’s legs in the second, first getting a stalemate, then hitting a beautiful wrap arm single he converted into a takedown with 47 seconds left and a 4-3 lead. Salamone flattened Muyleart out and got a stall call as he rode out the rest of the period. Muyleart clearly did not want to go back under Salamone in the third, and chose neutral despite trailing by a point. At the one minute mark, Muyleart snapped and got Salamone off-balance. Salamone was able to scramble to a split, and desperately fended off the Muyleart cradle attempt before the two were forced out of bounds with 26 seconds left. Muyleart got in on one final deep leg attack, but Salamone was able to barely hold onto a chest wrap as the buzzer sounded and he scrambled his way to a 4-3 state title.