LaPlante Brothers Advance to Day Two of Powerade Wrestling Tournament

Four WNY wrestlers competed in day one of the nationally recognized Powerade Tournament at Canon-McMillan HS southwest of Pittsburgh on Friday. Day two continues on Saturday, Dec. 30th at 9:30am.

Lewiston-Porter brothers Jaron (junior) and Caden (senior) both won matches in the championship bracket before falling into the wrestle back rounds on Friday. Jaron met top seeded Dominic Deputy (ranked #14 in the country by FloWrestling) in the round of sixteen but fell by a slight margin. Barrientos appeared to have secured a late takedown to win the match, but a questionable no call allowed Deputy to hold on for a 3-2 decision.

St. Francis brothers Griffin (sophomore) and Gage (senior) LaPlante both moved past the round of sixteen with close decision wins. Griffin took down #14 nationally ranked but unseeded Zach Ballante from New Jersey while Gage scored all three match points in the third period to defeat Fort Cherry, PA’s Braedon Welsh 3-0 in the round of sixteen.

In the quarterfinal, Griffin met 3-seed and #7 nationally ranked Jaxon Joy from Wadsworth, OH, but fell by decision, 4-0, to move on to the consolation bracket on day two.

Gage met 3-seeded #7 in the country Dominci Federici from national high school powerhouse Wyoming Seminary (PA) in the 172-pound quarters, but fell by decision, 6-1.

Jaron Barrientos – Lewiston-Porter – unseeded – 107-pounds

Championship bracket

1st rd: Barrientos dec. Zach Rehak, (Thomas Jefferson, PA), 5-2

2nd rd: Barrientos dec. Teli Bobtas (Montoursville, PA), 10-9

3rd rd: 1-seed Dominic Deputy (Chestnut Ridge, PA), dec. Barrientos, 3-2

Consolation bracket

1st match: Barrientos dec. Noah Young (State College, PA), 6-2

2nd match: Carter Shin (Chantilly, VA), dec. Barrientos, 5-1

Caden Barrientos – Lewiston-Porter – unseeded – 127-pounds

Championship bracket

1st rd: Barrientos dec. Keegan Oler (Erie Prep, PA), 5-4

2nd rd: Logan Stewart (Reynolds, PA) dec. Barrientos, 6-2

Consolation bracket

1st match: Barrientos p. Nicholas Berrena (State College), 2:49

2nd match: Barrientos md. Bryan Santangelo (Mt. St. Joseph, MD), 9-1

3rd match: 7-seed Chris Vargo (Bentworth, PA) md. Barrientos, 10-0

Griffin LaPlante – St. Francis – 6-seed – 152-pounds

Championship bracket

1st rd: bye

2nd rd: LaPlante p. Gavin Pollock (Thomas Jefferson), 3:50

3rd rd: LaPlante dec. Zach Ballante (St. Jospeh’s Regional, NJ), 4-2

Quarterfinal: 3-seed Jaxon Joy (Wadsworth, OH), dec. LaPlante, 4-0

Consolation bracket

1st match (day two): LaPlante d. Gage Wentzel (Montoursville, PA), 1-0

2nd match (day two): LaPlante vs. 7-seed Ben Weader (Chantilly, VA)

Gage LaPlante – St. Francis – 6-seed – 172-pounds

Championship bracket

1st rd: bye

2nd rd: LaPlante p. Gabe Jordan (Saegertown, PA), 1:15

3rd rd: LaPlante dec. Braedon Welsh (Fort Cherry, PA), 3-0

Quarterfinal: 3-seed Dominic Federici (Wyoming Seminary, PA), dec. LaPlante, 6-1

Consolation bracket

1st match (day two): Omer Barak (Lake Highland Prep, FL) p. LaPlante, 4:10