MERCER COUNTY AREA —
HERSHEY — Lakeview heavyweight Sam Breese certainly knows how to provide a fantastic finish.
The Sailors junior scored a takedown with 2 seconds left in the match to edge Nicholas Budd of Port Allegany, 3-1, and win the state 285-pound title in the PIAA State AA Championships Saturday at Hershey Giant Center.
“It feels amazing,” said Breese. “I’ve worked so hard to get here. I’m not thinking about next year yet. I’m just going to be happy with this for a while. Then I’ll try to come back and repeat.”
Lakeview junior Breese, a son of Sam Breese and Candy Burnett, put his name in the Sailors record books by becoming only the second state champ in school history. Rod Wright won three times from 1985-87. And Breese has shot at two.
His finals match with Budd was a thriller. He escaped in the second period and Budd did the same in the third. Then with the clock ticking down, Budd took a leg shot and Breese countered and spun behind for a takedown and the victory.
“He controlled the pace and controlled the position all match,” said a happy Sailors coach Tom Tingley. “We worked hard on offense and he wrestled a good smart match. Sam had the advantage if the match went to ultimate tiebreaker. The other kid knew what he had to do so you give him credit for that.”
“He’s better than most heavyweights on his feet,” said Breese of Budd. “He took about three good shots that I was able to counter.” Of course the big counter came in the final seconds of the match!
The win lifted Breese’s season record to 37-4 and his career mark to 90-26. He placed first at sections and regions, while taking third at districts.
Breese had a nice rooting section from his school on hand. Mike Dye, a coach who works out with Breese at times, was one of the first to give him a hug after the finals victory.
And football coach Dan York was on hand to watch one of his top linemen. Of course he took a little ribbing in the stands when he was told that Breese was considering just wrestling next year and not going out for football.
Considering the big hug Breese gave York, that’s very doubtful.
And of course there was another big rooter looking on — Boiling Springs coach Rod Wright. “Sam told me he wants to have his picture in the school beside mine,” said Rod. “I’m really happy for him.”
Of course Breese didn’t meet a Boiling Springs heavyweight in the finals, so there was no real conflict for Wright.
There have been only four 3-time state titles in Mercer County history — Wright; George Lewis of Farrell (1944-46); and Reynolds wrestlers Casey Taylor and Justin Nestor (1998, 2000-01).
Breese’s win closed out an outstanding week for Mercer County wrestlers at state as 6 of the 8 entries earned medals.
Reynolds’ Austin Matthews, a runner-up the last two years, finally made it to the top of the medal stand with a 4-2 victory over Kyle Bova of Coudersport in the finals at 152.
Sharon’s Michael Bonner (138) and Jarray Norris (126) finished 3rd and 5th respectively, while Reynolds’ Levi Stoyer (145) and Jamar Henry (182) also both won to finish 7th.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Lakeview's Sam Breese has his hand raised after winning the state heavyweight title. Paul Saternow/Herald
Discussion
Lakeview's Breese wins state mat crown
- Sports
-
-
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track set today at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium today, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Competitive cheerleading tough for even manly men
WHEN I THINK OF MYSELF, I think I’m one of the more manly men you’ll find.
I definitely don’t mind eating all kinds of meat and potatoes. I love watching sports — and participating in them when I can.
I do many other things that ‘real’ men do that aren’t fit for print and proper readers.
What I don’t do is wear skinny jeans or other tight-fitting clothes. I don’t wear jewelry nor do I wear colors that lean more to the femine side than the masculine side. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: Mercer 9 drops thriller to KC
It was a game both teams were trying to win — it just seemed as though neither wanted to — as Kennedy Catholic High baseball team met Mercer Friday afternoon in an inter-region District 10 affair.
The teams traded late leads before, ultimately, Scott Moore’s fielder’s choice RBI-grounder scored pinch-runner Ethan Feldmiller with the game-winner, as KC captured an 11-10 conquest. -
NCAA Football: Rock 6-1 after 17-3 win over Cal U
Slippery Rock University rode a length-of-the-field scoring drive by its offense and a goal-line stand by its No. 1-ranked defense late in the first half of action Saturday to a 17-3 win over 14th-ranked visiting California (Pa.).
-
NFL: Steelers top Jags as Mendenhall makes return
Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to say the Pittsburgh Steelers are back. Not after watching his team sleepwalk through the second half against Jacksonville on Sunday.
-
IndyCar Racing: Crash takes Wheldon’s life
Every race car driver heads onto the track understanding this race could be the last and hoping it won’t be. On Sunday, IndyCar drivers got a harsh reminder when the worst happened to one of their own.
-
NHL: Sabres beat Penguins 3-2
The Buffalo Sabres have had trouble with the Pittsburgh Penguins whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin play or not.
-
NHL Quick glance: Montreal at Pittsburgh
A breakdown of the National Hockey League game Thursday night between the Pittsburgh Penguins and visiting Montreal Canadiens.
-
High School Highlights: Oct. 19, 2011
A look at the last few days in local high school fall sports action.
-
Leading Off: Oct. 19, 2011
News and notes from the local, regional and national sports scene.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
