HERSHEY — Hempfield senior Nico Kapusta left the Giant Center on a stretcher Thursday during the opening day of the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships.
He also got his first ambulance ride after being slammed in his first-round match.
Kapusta was taken to Hershey Medical Center, where he was checked for a neck injury.
But good news for Kapusta: The doctor cleared him to compete in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon as long as he has a good night.
“The doctors gave us paperwork that clears him,” Hempfield coach and Nico’s dad, Brian Kapusta, said. “After weigh-ins, then he must get approval from the PIAA doctor at the arena.
“He feels blessed that he gets another chance to compete. They took him to the hospital as a precautionary measure.”
Kapusta was battling Landisville Hempfield sophomore Joey Gallo at 121 pounds. Gallo lifted Kapusta and did not control his return to the mat, and Kapusta landed awkwardly. The official immediately signalled a slam. When Kapusta could not continue, Gallo was, by rule, disqualified.
Kapusta, if cleared, will face Hatboro-Horsham’s Dominick Morrison (44-2) in the quarterfinals.
Kapusta was one of 23 wrestlers from the WPIAL to advance to the quarterfinals at 2:15 p.m.
Canon-McMillan, which brought seven wrestlers to states, advanced three: freshman Lee Dreshman (107), senior Collier Hartman (139) and sophomore Bryce Collins (189).
Trinity, West Allegheny, Thomas Jefferson, Connellsville, Kiski Area and Norwin had two quarterfinalists each.
“Pennsylvania historically has some of the toughest wrestlers in the country,” Franklin Regional coach Matt Lebe said. “All our wrestlers competed well against some great competition.”
Junior Michael Ruane was the only Franklin Regional wrestler to reach the quarterfinals. He rolled over Jersey Shore sophomore Louden Spotts, 17-0.
“It was nice to score points,” Ruane said. “I was out there having a lot of fun. If I am not having fun, there is something wrong.”
Ruane (45-4) next will face the No. 1 seed, Perkiomen Valley junior Luke Knox (42-2).
“I do not look at the brackets,” Ruane said. “I just want to go out and wrestle.”
Lebe said he is excited to see how his underclassmen perform as they try to reach the podium.
Norwin junior Landon Sidun seemed to brush off his stunning loss in the PIAA West Regional final. He routed Lower Dauphin junior Tommy Oswald, 17-2, and next will face Bethlehem Catholic sophomore Nico Emili (31-6).
“I wrestled well,” Sidun said. “I corrected my mistakes, and I am ready.”
Norwin senior Jack White joins Sidun in the quarterfinals. White defeated Gettysburg junior Reid Grossman, 8-5.
White faces the No. 1 seed at 162, Oxford Area junior Jon Smith.
Kiski Area sophomore Mario Hutcherson rolled up a 20-3 win against Bethlehem Catholic junior Connor Gillihan at 189, and teammate senior Cooper Roscosky posted a 10-0 win against Cedar Cliff junior Will White, 10-0, at 215.
Latrobe junior Hunter Snyder recorded at pin at 189, and Belle Vernon senior Elijah Brown, the returning PIAA 215-pound champion, pinned Boyertown junior Kaleb Dumin in 34 seconds.
There are 24 WPIAL wrestlers in the consolation rounds.