HERSHEY –- Bishop McDevitt’s Greyson Music didn’t have the luck of the draw in this year’s 145-pound bracket at the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships.
A pair of the best Pennsylvania wrestlers to grace the mat– the career-undefeated Bo Bassett of Bishop McCort and Montgomery’s Brandt Harer, the state’s all-time winningest grappler – were the top two bracket seeds.
Together, they entered the tournament with 94 combined win and no losses on the season.
Music, with two state medals already on his resume, advanced to Friday’s semifinal and was rewarded with the daunting task of facing Bassett, who posted a third period technical fall.
The junior Stanford University pledge. bounced back to pin Rudy Gentile of Greenville in the fourth consolation round and earned his second consecutive bronze medal with a 8-5 decision over Caden Judice of Bald Eagle Area.
The technical fall posted by the Virginia Tech-bound Bassett, who owns more than 100 such wins, was not indicative of Music’s game effort throughout the semifinal bout.
Music had Bassett scrambling to avoid a takedown on two separate occasions and lasted into third period. The majority of Bassett’s technical falls finished within the first two minutes.
“Going into the that match, I knew it was going to have a good pace,” Music said. “So, I was trying to get mentally prepared for it. He’s pretty good. He got me moving, got me tired, so he ended up getting the victory.
“I wish it were a closer match. I should’ve gotten a takedown,” Music said. “He’s a good opponent and a good person and he’s really tough to wrestle.”
Music ends his junior season with a record of 45-5, including District 3 regional and sectional championships and a third state medal.
Music takes 129 varsity wins into his senior season.
“It was really important (to win another medal),” Music said. “Last year, it was losing in the quarters and coming back to get third. This year, I got into semis and knew I was likely to drop down (into the consolations). I feel it was really ready this year.”
Music hopes to return to the Giant Center next season without any titanic wrestlers in his bracket.
“One more shot at a title,” he said. “Hopefully, there won’t be anyone here who is the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the country. Whoever is here, I’m going to wrestler them as hard as I can. I’m looking forward to next year.”
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Bishop McDevitt wrestlers earned four additional state medals in Saturday’s placement rounds.
Blake Klipp finished sixth at 107 pounds after dropping the fifth-place consolation bout to Brandon Eisenhour of Montoursville by a 10-1 major decision.
Zane Crouse, wresting at 127 pounds, earned a seventh-place podium finish with a 5-1 decision over Jax Fuhrman of Delone Catholic.
Liam Lawler took down a seventh-place medal, winning the 133-pound placement bout via forfeit.
Nicky Negron finished in eighth place at 160 pounds after falling to Shane Wagner of Faith Christian Academy by a 6-3 decision.