ALTOONA — Franklin Regional saw its dream of winning a PIAA Class 3A wrestling championship slip away Friday.
District 11 runner-up Nazareth rallied from an early deficit, won a couple of 50/50 matches and defeated the WPIAL champions 32-29 at Altoona Area High School Field House.
The Panthers (18-1) drop into the consolation round, where they will face District 6 champion Central Mountain. Nazareth will face District 1 winner Boyertown at 9:30 a.m.
The PIAA moved Saturday’s schedule up because of an impending winter storm.
“We left a couple matches out there,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said. “There was no one in particular. It was a team effort; we just fell short.
“I’m proud of our guys. I could have done a better job during the match. They are a great team and are ranked No. 2 for a reason.”
Things started well for the Panthers. Beau Fennick picked up a pin at 107, and Titus Colangelo won a major at 114.
But Nazareth rolled off four consecutive wins to take a 15-10 lead.
Freshman Max Firestine picked up a pin for the Panthers at 145, and senior Luke Ankney won a decision at 152 to put the Panthers up 19-15.
But Nazareth clinched the match by winning the next three bouts (two pins and a technical fall) to make it 32-18. Franklin Regional was penalized a team point at 160 pounds.
“If one of those close matches go our way, it’s a different result,” Lebe said. “We just need to bounce back and try to finish third.”
Henry Patts (215) won by technical fall, and Elishua Daugherty picked up a pin at heavyweight for the Panthers.
Whereas Franklin Regional struggled, Connellsville looked sharp.
The WPIAL runner-up had no problem defeating District 1 third-place team Council Rock South, 38-26.
The Falcons (13-2) won eight of the first nine matches to build leads of 27-0 and 38-6. Connellsville coach Bill Swink let his reserves wrestle the final four bouts.
Connellsville will face District 11 champion Bethlehem Catholic, which defeated Council Rock North, 43-14.
“Last week’s loss to Franklin Regional was a wakeup call,” Swink said. “But the team came to practice on Monday ready to go. We looked good. Starting at 107 was a perfect starting spot.”
Connellsville sophomore Tommy Gretz started things with a 23-second pin at 107.
After Zachary Franks picked up a win at 114, Nolan Rice (121), Daniel Smith (127) and Jake Lilley (133) collected first-period pins to make it 27-0.
After Council Rock South got a pin by Anthony Mutarelli at 139, Swink bumped up his lineup to get key matchups.
Kai Vielma majored Patrick Woloshyn at 145, Jullian Ruggieri majored Kris Ortman at 152 and Evan Petrovich edged Ben Brilhart, 2-1, at 160 to clinch the match.
“We came out with some fire,” Swink said. “We got after it. Maybe we were a little overconfident last week. We came in and refocused. The attitude was great, and the work ethic was great all week.”