Montrose Youth Wrestler Dylan Geertgens on the podium placed sixth in the 70 lbs. class at the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State Championships. Mountain View Wrestler Deegan Ross took seventh at 65 lbs. PHOTO COURTESY OF WADE ROBINSON
Susquehanna County produced two state medalists at the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State Championships held this past weekend at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
Dylan Geertgens, of the Montrose Youth Wrestling Club, notched his 100th career win and earned a sixth place medal at 70 lbs. in the *U division.
Deegan Ross, from Mountain View, placed seventh at 65 lbs. in the 8U division.
Geertgens finished second in
Joey Hester and Dylan Geertgens PHOTO COURTESY OF WADE ROBINSON
the Area XII Regionals to qualify for the state tournament. Only 26 wrestlers in each age and weight division qualify for the state tournament. Age groups are 8 and under; 10 and under; and 12 and under.
Area XII consist of the following counties: Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming.
For the first time, a separate Junior High Division tournament was held near Pittsburgh.
Geertgens kicked off his Friday bouts winning with a pin for his 100th career win. Coach Wade Robinson said the Choconut Valley third grader is the first Meteors Youth Wrestler to achieve that milestone.
“Dylan was the veteran this season as a third grader and this was his third year,” Robinson said.
Geertgens went on to win two more matches by decision at the championships.
“Dylan is a naturally gifted athlete and excels in wrestling, football and baseball. His calm, silent confidence sets him apart from most 8-year-olds,” Robinson said. “When he steps on the mat he is all business and is looking for opportunities to score points and pin his opponent.”
The Meteors Youth Wrestling Club is a recreational club team, practicing two nights each week.
Robinson said, “This year we had the most inexperienced team since the first season five years ago. Many kids wrestled at local open and novice tournaments. The kids brought home numerous medals and trophies from these events. The improvement from November to March with the newcomers is very noticeable and as a team we will be strong next season.”
The club also produced two other state qualifiers:
Joey Hester, Area XII Champion at 90 lbs. in 12U. Hester took home one win at states. He is a five-year wrestler and is a seventh grader at Montrose Area.
Hester was a third grader, and the youngest member of the team, when he joined the club in its first season.
He started this season with a broken ankle and was not able to wrestle until after the first of the year.
Robinson said, “Joey epitomizes the clubs ‘Success With Honor’ mantra. He is not only a self motivated outstanding wrestler he is also a polite and respectful young man that the younger kids look up to as a role model.”
Mikyle Fabrizio was the runner-up in Area XII in the Junior High division at 124 lbs. He has also been wrestling for five years and is in the eighth grade at Montrose Area.
Todd Geertgens, Shawn Aukema, Joe Vanderfeltz and Matt Hawley are assistant coaches.
The goals of the club are to teach sportsmanship, the fundamentals of wresting and produce Junior High and varsity wrestlers. The club had its first varsity wrestler this season in Jacob O’Brien who was District 2 runner up as a freshman.
Chucky Rohan and Mikyle Fabrizio won Junior High Lackawanna League Championships. Tyler Dovin placed third in the event.
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