HERSHEY - Thursday was a great day for Southern Columbia's wrestlers at the PIAA Class AA state championships, but Tigers' head coach Jerry Marks sounded a cautious note.
All three Tigers won their opening round matches easily to advance to today's quarterfinal round, but that was something that happened last year, too, Marks noted.
"I think back to last year when we were 3-0 on the first day, too, and then went 0-3 in the next round," Marks said. "But this is a different year and our guys are more experienced. They don't just want to come here to medal - they want to stand on top of the podium."
Ironically, the Tigers' good day was started very impressively by freshman Todd Lane at 120 pounds. Lane made very short work of Mount Union senior Sage Moist in picking up a 16-0 technical fall in just 2 minutes, 45 seconds.
Kent Lane followed that at 138 with an 8-0 major decision over Chartiers-Houston senior Richie McGinnis and Blake Marks finished with a 7-2 win over South Fayette senior Grant Fetchet at 152.
Todd Lane (35-4) wasted little time in taking care of Moist (35-6). He got a quick takedown and racked up three different backpoint scores for an 11-0 lead after the first period, then kept up the pace in the second.
His big start surprised even himself.
"Yeah, I was a little (surprised at the ease of his win)," the freshman said. "I got into my offense off the top (position) right away and that's where I like to be.
"Last night I felt some nerves but when I woke up this morning I felt really good, like I would any other time."
"Sometimes, freshmen don't know any better down here," Jerry Marks said. "A lot of times, it's the seniors and juniors who feel the pressure and start to press. With Todd, we've instilled in his head just to go out and wrestle and not worry about anything. Now, with a
technical fall, people will look at him being a freshman and maybe go, 'Wow.'"
The first person who needs to be concerned with Lane is Redbank Valley senior Willie Gruver (33-6), who beat Tri-Valley's Caleb Bordner 4-1.
Kent Lane (26-1) started a little slowly in his bout against McGinnis (36-13), who actually almost took Lane down in the first period but after some loud urging from his father, assistant coach Kent Lane, in the corner, the junior who finished sixth at 126 last year got rolling.
He got takedowns in each of the first two periods, then got back points and a penalty point in the third period.
"I started pretty slow," Lane said. "But I eventually got my attack going. He was going at me in the beginning more than I was at him. I usually am pretty calm and collected even when I'm getting scored on, so I didn't worry too much."
Lane's bracket was reseeded before the tournament but he said it didn't affect him, so it didn't concern him.
He'll wrestle Fort Leboeuf sophomore George McGuire (38-5), who pinned Tri-Valley's Chase Schaeffer in 4:31, in the quarterfinals.
Lane also said his left knee, which he injured at midseason causing him to miss several weeks, was almost back to normal.
"It was a big concern," Coach Marks said. "We asked if he could wrestle (without surgery) and the doctors said no. We had 16 days (after surgery) before sectionals but everyone we talked to said he should be ready. He's gotten a little better each week."
Blake Marks (33-5) had one big thing to remember in his bout against Fetchet (40-5) - don't get caught in a cradle, Fetchet's big move.
"When I was down (in the down position), I didn't move too much," the sophomore said. "In the last period, when he chose top, I knew he was looking for it and I felt it coming several times. I knew I had a tough first round match because he only lost to the top-ranked kid in the state 5-4 in overtime."
In the meantime, Marks built a 4-0 lead with a first-period takedown and second-period reversal. He got another reversal and a penalty point in the third period.
Marks will wrestle an impressive freshman, Brookville's Brodie Zacherl (36-3) in the quarterfinals. Zacherl took a 17-2 technical fall over Tri-Valley's Anthony Snyder in 5:35.
"I know he's tough," Marks said. "You can never look ahead. One match at a time."