Wentzel (172) pinned Johnsonburg’s Rocco Allegretto in 2:34 as he controlled the match throughout.

“It’s just another match to get you closer to where you want to be,” Wentzel said about the win. “We want to go into every single match with offense.”

Branden Eisenhour (107) and Hayden Harvey (189) came through the blood round to ensure themselves a medal, while Kaden Kleinman (139) fell in the second round of consolations.

Wentzel got a takedown in the first to go up 3-0 on Allegretto. In the second Wentzel took down, rolled out of Allegretto’s grip, then took him to his back for the fall.

Hayden Harvey of Montoursville wins his match with Emery Johnson of Reynolds during the PIAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It falls back on training,” remarked Wentzel. “We go so hard in the mat room to do things like that. Coaches have instilled in us every single match we should be scoring bonus. It’s just one of those things we’ve been told from day one, and we’ve worked towards it since day one.”

Wentzel was feeling the love from the Montoursville faithful during, and after the match, even getting some high fives from some of the younger on-lookers there to support him.

“It’s great to be somebody fun to look up to,” he remarked. “I want to lead by example. And the fans, they’re amazing. They’re the first ones to tell you good job, or you’ve got more in you. They’re always truthful with you, and that’s what keeps you sharp.”

After a first day set back Harvey was glad to get back to form in day two.

“It feels amazing,” he said about ensuing himself a medal. “It’s what I’ve been working for all year. I’m just so thankful God put me in this position.”

Hayden Harvey of Montoursville ties up with Emery Johnson of Reynolds during the PIAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Harvey felt his loss on Thursday was on him.

“It didn’t go my way because I wasn’t on my offense,” he said. “Once I was on my offense I was scoring points.”

Harvey made good use of top in his 5-1 win over Reynolds’ Emery Johnson in the second round of consolations.

Late in the first Harvey got an ankle pick but ran out of time before he could finish the takedown.

He was on top much of the second, and tried a little bit of everything, when late in the period he got the bar and ran it for four back points.

Branden Eisenhour of Montoursville takes down Kooper Deputy of Chestnut Ridge during the PIAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Johnson nearly got out, but Harvey was able to hold on until time ran out to keep him scoreless.

Harvey made it 5-0 in the third with an escape, then held Johnson at bay. Johnson did get a stall point late but the 4-point difference. Harvey then rolled past a familiar opponent in Honesdale’s Duke Martin with a 17-1 tech fall.

“Duke’s my buddy, we’ve been wrestling all over since we were little,” explained Harvey. “He’s been giving me amazing matches. He’s an amazing wrestler, but it just so happens that we met in the blood round at states, and I just put myself in better positions.”

He opened with a single leg that he worked into a double to go up 3-0 with one second left in the opening period.

Harvey then got two more takedowns in the second, then add another takedown, and two sets of back points to get the win, and ensure himself a state medal.

“I want to focus on my aggression, and keeping the pace,” he said about going forward.

Eisenhour lost 5-0 to Chestnut Ridge’s Kooper Deputy in the quarters.

After a scoreless first Eisenhour rode Deputy hard through much of the second. Deputy, though, got a reversal with 10 seconds left, and a quick set of back points to go up 5-0.

In the third he held Eisenhour at bay for the win.

Eisenhour bounced back with an 18-1 tech fall over St. Mary’s Max Jovenetti. Eisenhour got a takedown and a pair of back points right off the bat for a 5-0 lead. He then got two more takedowns in the second, then a set of back points for a 15-1 lead.

In the third Eisenhour threw Jovenetti for the bout ending takedown.

Kleinman lost 3-0 to Hickory’s Brody Bishop in the second round of consolations. Bishop got a first period takedown off a fireman’s carry and made it stick. Kleinman came close to tying things up in the second when he got Bishop’s let in the air, but couldn’t finish the shot.