ALTOONA — Any team hoping to knock off one of the top squads in the country better bring its A-plus game to the mat.
Burrell, the WPIAL Class 2A champion, wrestled well Friday against Faith Christian Academy but was unable to keep pace with the talented Lions from Quakertown and fell 65-4 in the PIAA Class 2A team championship at Altoona Area High School Field House.
The Bucs dropped into the consolation round and will face Erie Cathedral Prep at 8 a.m. Saturday.
“We have to come back Saturday and climb the ladder one wrung at a time,” Burrell coach Steve Ansani said. “I felt we competed, but we made a couple mistakes that cost us, and you cannot do that against a team like that.”
One Burrell wrestler, junior Julian Bertucci, was able to celebrate.
He was the lone Bucs wrestler to win a match, and he made it a memorable one.
Bertucci defeated Lincoln Botero, 9-0, for his 100th career win.
“Julian was not going to be denied,” Ansani said. “He determined to get that win. He went out and got it done.”
Bertucci said he was proud to reach the milestone but felt the team could have wrestled better.
“I can put this milestone behind me,” Bertucci said. “I want the team to come back strong Saturday and finish third. We are better than we wrestled.
“I knew I faced a big challenge coming into the match. That’s a great team. Now I’m focused on individuals.”
Faith Christian Academy showed why it is a great team. The Lions had seven pins and four technical falls.
Burrell junior Jacob Stewart gave up a headlock that resulted in seven points but fought back and only lost 8-1.
After allowing the big move, he dominated against Henry Racich but just could not turn him for points.
“That was one of the mental mistakes we made during the match,” Ansani said. “Those are things we need to correct.”
The other quarterfinal winners were Bishop McDevitt, Berks Catholic and Bishop McCort.
McDevitt defeated Erie Cathedral Prep, 39-23, Berks Catholic whipped Chestnut Ridge, 51-11, and McCort downed Montoursville, 58-8.