Nazareth senior finally gets state wrestling gold

FROM THE MORNING CALL

HERSHEY –

Zach Horan has three silver medals in his room – he's unsure where, really – that he never tries to find. But the gold medal he won Saturday, Horan couldn't clutch it tight enough.

"This means everything to me," the Nazareth senior said. "There isn't anything in the world I would trade this for."

After three years as a state runner-up, Horan won his first state title Saturday, defeating Tanner Hough of Westmont Hilltop 5-1 in the 130-pound final at the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships. Upon winning, he leaped into the outstretched arms of Nazareth assistant coach Adam Colombo, then into a tearful hug with head coach Dave Crowell.

"When you have so much invested and you're heartbroken, just heartbroken, so many times, it's more than happy," Crowell said. "It's way, way more than that."

Horan led a group of 15 area medalists, including three state champs, at the three-day tournament at the Giant Center. Easton junior Mitch Minotti cruised to the 140-pound title, and Parkland senior Mike Ottinger won at 160 when opponent Jason Luster of Pittsburgh Central Catholic was called for a locked-hands penalty in the ultimate-tiebreaker period.

In addition, Parkland freshman Ethan Lizak (103) placed second, falling in overtime to Mark Rappo of Council Rock South. The Trojans finished with a school-record five medalists and placed fifth in the team standings, best among District 11 teams. Liberty won three medals, including a bronze by Devon Lotito, whose only loss at 125 came to three-time champ (and this year's Outstanding Wrestler) Nico Megaludis of Franklin Regional.

Blue Mountain's Corey Keener won the 119-pound title, giving District 11 four champions. Keener also gave Blue Mountain a champ for the third consecutive year, following former teammate Josh Kindig, a two-time state champ who now wrestles at Oklahoma State.

For Horan, four years of high school have been defined by Saturday nights at Hershey. He won 169 career bouts (tying Tim Darling's school record) and four District 11 titles, something no other Nazareth wrestler has done. But he lost his last match of the season three times, all to undefeated wrestlers.

"We talked a lot about that on a personal level," Colombo said. "The last three years were really hard. There was a lot of heartbreak."

This year, Horan (49-0) cleansed those memories. At states he beat two highly ranked wrestlers, including Canon-McMillan freshman Solomon Chishko in the semifinals. During that bout, Horan sustained an ankle injury that limited his mobility but came nowhere near preventing him from wrestling.

"I would have had to be incapable of getting on the mat not to wrestle," Horan said.

The final was a tight bout, with Horan reversing Hough in the second period for the first points. In the third period, Horan rode Hough for 90 seconds before hitting a move called the "turk" to get three decisive back points.

"It was textbook, just like a college wrestler," Colombo said. "This is a big weight off his shoulders."

Minotti (44-2) rolled through his bracket, finishing with a 12-6 victory over Central Dauphin's Kevin Gooding. In the final, Minotti turned a third-period flurry into a five-point move, which gave him a 10-2 lead.

"That's when I took a deep breath and knew I was going to be a state champ," Minotti said.

Minotti came to states with two medals (7th and 5th) which provided motivation. He lost in the semifinals last year, calling it "the worst feeling of my life."

"I told myself I would never feel that way again," Minotti said.

Added Easton coach Steve Powell, "He's a great example for all the young kids who want to be state champs."

Ottinger was a great example of the dreamer. Last year, a shoulder injury, which required surgery, prevented him from competing at states. The senior arrived in Hershey this year with few expectations beyond winning a medal.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe I won this," he said. "I didn't expect this. My goal was to come out here and place high. But anybody can beat anybody."

HERSHEY –

Luster, Ottinger's opponent, entered the bout ranked third nationally by Intermat and with a win in Saturday's semifinal over Nazareth's Ryan Krecker, who defeated Ottinger three times this year. But when the 1-1 tie went to the ultimate-tiebreaker period, which Ottinger began on the bottom, he expected to win.

"I knew I would get out," he said. "I was going to do whatever it took."

With 18 seconds left in the final period, Ottinger got to his feet and began scrambling. As Ottinger appeared on the verge of an escape, Luster was whistled for locked hands, giving Ottinger a penalty point and the match.

Ottinger called the win a surprising and fitting end to his high school career, since he'll likely play soccer in college.

"It was fun, though," he said.

Both of Parkland's finalists went to overtime, and Lizak nearly preceded Ottinger's gold with one of his own. In fact, when he grasped the leg of Council Rock South's Mark Rappo in overtime, Lizak thought he had won.

Rappo, however, comes from a family of state champs (he's the fourth brother to win, a first in Pennsylvania history) and knew how to handle the situation. The junior fought off Lizak's overtime shot with a whizzer and sent the bout into the tiebreaker periods.

There, he reversed Lizak in the first overtime to take a 3-1 lead. Lizak escaped in the second tiebreaker and tried a shot with 6 seconds left but didn't have enough time.

"I knew that if I got that [takedown], it would have been the match," Lizak said, "so I was kind of disappointed."

Despite the loss, Lizak concluded a promising freshman season with a superb state tournament. In the semifinals, Lizak led West Chester Henderson's Jim Long 10-1 in the third period when Long was forced to take an injury default. Long could not continue after Lizak took him down midway through the period. Lizak scored 28 points in his first three bouts.

"He's probably disappointed and proud at the same time," Parkland coach Ryan Nunamaker said. "This will only motivate him."

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