BLOOMSBURG — Luke Gardner’s sophomore season ended in one of the worst kinds of disappointment: What might have been.
After falling in the District 11 Class AAA finals, the Pottsville standout injured his knee in practice, forcing him to withdraw from the Northeast Regional before it began. A 32-2 season and a dream of qualifying for states and earning a medal — over.
He said it took several months to fully recover. “By Fargo” in July he started to feel like himself again.
Now, nine months after the injury, Gardner looks like a better version of his old self — quick, technical, tenacious — all virtues on the wrestling mat. Gardner displayed those traits chaining moves together Saturday in the 132-pound final at Bloomsburg’s Darren Klingerman Invitational.
Taking on Warrior Run state qualifier Eric Hunt (92-20 career), Gardner racked up five takedowns in an 11-6 victory to capture his second DKI gold.
Gardner’s triumph was just one in a weekend full of them for the Pottsville program. Ryan Green (106) and Richie Bentz (120) also won championships as Pottsville captured the team title with 198.5 points. Warrior Run (178.5) placed
second, followed by Bloomsburg (146), Mount Carmel (134) and Troy (129.5) in the 16-team field.
According to available records, the DKI victory marked the Crimson Tide’s first tournament team title in 18 years.
“It means a lot for the school, the district, the county — everything — all the people around us really starting to support what Mr. Keener (Coach Gary Keener) and our team’s doing,’’ Gardner said. “A lot of good things are going to come our way if we just stay focused and be humble.’’
Pottsville placed 11 wrestlers: three champions, two seconds, one third, one fourth, two fifths and two sixths. A full offseason of training Freestyle and Greco-Roman and lifting weights paid its first dividends.
Green started the finals with a 10-1 major decision over Bloomsburg’s Colby Bronzburg. Three takedowns and two sets of back points produced a comfortable win.
Bentz also controlled his bout, scoring an early takedown and a second-period reversal in a 4-0 win over Hanover Area’s Kyle Holmgren.
Tyler Deiter (152) and Kolby Kleckner (182) reached the finals for the Tide but had to settle for silver.
After receiving its trophy, Pottsville ended its huddle with ‘’1-2-3 … Now!’’
Said Keener: “Togetherness. We’re a family. These guys have been working hard since I got the job a year and a half ago. Together.
“People say next year, next year, next year,’’ he added. “We believe in now. Let’s get it done now. There’s no sense in waiting because you never know if an injury comes. There are a lot of different things that can come into play.’’
Like Gardner, Williams Valley’s Willy Girard (113) became a two-time DKI champion by defeating Bloomsburg’s Matt Milbrand 4-2. Girard used an early takedown and a second-period reversal to take control.
“It feels good,’’ Girard said. “I owe a lot to the coaches who are pushing everybody at practice. It’s everybody. It’s a team effort. I’m just one of the players.’’
Mount Carmel’s Blake Panko (160) also became a two-time DKI champion by shutting down Montgomery’s Thomas Goetz 5-0. A takedown in each of the first two periods put Panko on the road to victory.
At 220, Wes Shurock gave the Red Tornadoes a second champ when he fought off his back, reversed Canton’s Brady Bryington to his back and stuck him in 2:22.
“It feels great, especially with a new coach, Coach (Steve) Sinkovich coming in,’’ Panko said. “He’s really pushing us hard, and we’re doing different things every day. That’s what keeps us in better shape. I’m just looking forward to the rest of the year.’’
Tamaqua had a pair of runners-up in 126-pounder Tanner McHugh and 145-pounder Dylan Rynkiewicz.
DKI Wrestling Tournament
At Bloomsburg H.S.
Saturday’s results
Team scores: 1. Pottsville (PO) 198.5, 2. Warrior Run (WR) 178.5, 3. Bloomsburg (BL) 146, 4. Mount Carmel (MC) 134, 5. Troy (TR) 129.5, 6. Williams Valley (WV) 105, 7. Meyers (MY) 104.5, 8. Montgomery (MTG) 101.5, 9. Wilkes-Barre GAR (GAR) 88, 10. Canton (CA) 85.5, 11. Tamaqua (TA) 81.5, 12. (tie) Pine Grove (PG) and Schuylkill Haven (SH) 71, 14. Hanover Area (HA) 69, 15. Mahanoy Area (MA) 59, 16. Sullivan County (SU) 45
Championship finals
106 — Green (PO) maj. dec. Bronzburg (BL), 10-1
113 — Girard (WV) dec. Ma. Milbrand (BL), 4-2
120 — Bentz (PO) dec. Holmgren (HA), 4-0
126 — Revels (TR) dec. McHugh (TA), 3-1
132 — Gardner (PO) dec. Hunt (WR), 11-6
138 — LeBarron (WR) dec. Miller (BL), 6-0
145 — Klinger (BL) dec. Rynkiewicz (TA), 9-4
152 — Setta (MY) dec. Deiter (PO), 8-7
160 — Panko (MC) dec. Goetz (MTG), 5-0
170 — Stephani (TR) pinned Ammerman (SU), 1:07
182 — Cistrunk (MY) pinned Kleckner (PO), 5:19
195 — Faust (GAR) dec. Cole (CA), 3-2
220 — Shurock (MC) pinned Bryington (CA), 2:22
285 — Wilkins (GAR) dec. Troup (BL), 1-0
3rd-place bouts
106 — Kurtz (WR) pinned Moeder (TA), 1:20
113 — Route (CA) pinned Heiss (WR), 3:53
120 — Chamberlain (MTG) pinned Cohick (TR), 2:10
126 — Hanford (WR) dec. Farrell (PO), 7-3
132 — Diaz-Walton (PG) pinned Watson (MC), 3:24
138 — Cromyak (PO) maj. dec. Binford (TR), 12-4
145 — Galentine (MTG) maj. dec. McDonald (MC), 9-1
152 — Hornberger (WR) dec. Fessler (SH), 5-0
160 — Hutching (MY) pinned Boush (WR), 1:28
170 — Lewandowski (MA) dec. Dy. Rabuck (WV), 5-3
182 — Fletcher (MC) dec. Phillippy (PG), 3-2
195 — Yancoskie (MC) maj. dec. Shoop (WV), 13-5
220 — Rigby (TR) pinned Bohannon (WR), 2:45
285 — Sheridan (HA) pinned Motko (SH), 1:36
5th-place bouts
106 — Adzema (MC) maj. dec. Nitcznski (SU), 9-1
113 — Drick (MTG) dec,. Bennett (HA), 7-3
120 — Miller (WR) pinned Engle (SH), 4:01
126 — Bennett (MTG) dec. Raho (WV), 8-1
132 — Gomez (MY) forfeit over Gehring (SH)
138 — Shadle (MTG) dec. Kassab (PG), 4-3
145 — Painter (PO) dec. Bergold (MY), 7-4
152 — Butcher (CA) dec. Mi. Milbrand (BL), 6-2
160 — Roper (TA) maj. dec. Porter (PO), 15-5
170 — Kessock (PO) forfeit over Aungst (PG)
182 — De. Rabuck (WV) dec. Murphy (GAR), 8-1
195 — Jenkins (TR) pinned Hinson (PO), 2:17
220 — Toure (GAR) dec. Forte (MA), 6-3
285 — Minnich (WV) pinned Cupp (WR), 2:22
Tri-Valley places 2nd
at Top Hat Tournament
WILLIAMSPORT — Chase Schaeffer (145) and Anthony Snyder (152) won individual championships to lead Tri-Valley to a second-place finish at the Top Hat Tournament at Williamsport Area High School.
Central Mountain won the team title in the 19-team event.
In the finals, Schaeffer pinned Cam Good of Muncy and Snyder won by injury default over Jersey Shore’s Seth Young.
Caleb Bordner (126), Sammy Hepler (132) and Danny Scheib (220) made the finals and placed second for the Dawgs.
Kyle Stephen (120) and Hunter Harner (160) took fourths, and Shykir Bethea (170) finished seventh.
Hawks’ Stanish claims 100th career victory
WEST GROVE — Hamburg’s Sean Stanish captured the 120-pound title, earning his 100th career victory and Most Outstanding Wrestler award along the way, to pace the Hawks’ contingent at the Avon Grove Tournament.
Dylan Miller took the crown at 145, recording a 4-0 day, while Ron Lavigne reached the finals at 160 and Maximus Kline went 4-1 at 220.
3 Eagles win titles
at Mule Classic
QUARRYVILLE — Hunter Blankenhorn (120), Christian Gosch (145) and Erech Noecker (220) each went unbeaten, capturing wrestling titles and leading Blue Mountain to a fifth-place finish out of 19 teams at the Solanco Mule Classic.
Lucas Forbes (152) fell in the final, while Devon Krammes (fourth at 182), Ian Cagle (fifth at 170), Kirk Dougherty (seventh at 285) and Mitch Rice (eighth at 195) also placed for the Eagles.
Panther Valley earns 3rd-place finish
JIM THORPE — Panther Valley earned a third-place finish at the Jim Thorpe Duals, defeating Jim Thorpe (58-24), Dieruff (48-27) and Pottstown (39-37).
The Panthers dropped matches against Conestoga Valley (52-18) and duals champ Cedar Cliff (60-16).
The host Olympians also fell to Pottstown (55-15), Upper Moreland (48-26), Dieruff (54-23).
2 Indians win titles
at Bullet Invitational
TOPTON — Lehighton’s Zach Kemmerer (126) and Connor Frey (182) captured gold medals at Brandywine Heights’ Bullet Invitational.
Tyler Cann (160) placed second for the Indians.
Central Dauphin (242) won the team title, followed by Northern Lehigh (149.5) and Lehighton (148.5) in the nine-team field.