Every step is important in the wrestling postseason regardless of your ultimate goal.
That’s something Central Bucks West senior Chris Dennis is well aware of.
A three PIAA Class 3A place-winner, and a two-time PIAA District One Southeast Regional champion after his 8-5 win over Oxford’s Blake Hostetter in the finals on Saturday night at 172 pounds at Oxford High School, Dennis now has his sights set on the biggest goal.
“My goal is to win states,” Dennis said. “That is my mindset and that’s what I’m going to try to do.
“I don’t have any doubts, or any fear, and it’s something that I’m going to go after.”
His efforts, two technical falls and a pin on the way to the finals, also earned Dennis the Outstanding Wrestler Award.
And, if he does capture a PIAA gold medal on Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey, he’ll become the first Central Bucks West wrestler to do so. Dave Armstrong, a 1998 West grad, came the closest as he finished second at states as a senior heavyweight.
“We’ve never had a state champion and I really want to go out there and do it,” said Dennis, who has finished sixth twice in Hershey and was fourth last year.
His sixth-place finish as a freshman came at 114 pounds.
“He’s grown so much as a person and a wrestler,” West head coach Dylan Schwartz said.
“His goal, clearly, is to win a state title, and we think he can do it. He’ll be ready to go.”
Dennis was joined by his brother, sophomore Daniel Dennis (145), Central Bucks East sophomore Chase Williams (127), Hatboro-Horsham junior Dom Morrison (121) and Upper Dublin junior Dom Powell (114) as area wrestlers that brought home regional gold medals.
The top five finishers in each weight class advanced to the PIAA championships, which begin Thursday.
Williams won a PIAA state title a year ago in Hershey while Morrison won state gold two seasons ago as a freshman.
As for Powell, he became Upper Dublin’s first regional champion since Bill Marino won in 1978.
Powell dominated in his final as he dispatched Haverford High sophomore Lucas McFarland 11-4.
As for Morrison, he notched a 16-0 technical fall in just over two minutes against Alex Su from Central Bucks South.
Su entered the tournament as the sixth seed but fought his way through the bracket impressively to earn a spot in Hershey.
Williams was also impressive as he pinned two-time PIAA medal winner Max Tancini of Perkiomen Valley in 3:41.
The sophomore takes a 34-5 record and 75 career wins to Hershey to try and defend his PIAA crown.
At 145, like in last week’s PIAA District One-North final, Daniel Dennis topped Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by a 1-0 score to capture his first regional title and second trip to the state tournament.
As for his older brother, Chris Dennis built a big lead against Hostetter on the way to his win and second regional crown.
“I feel good. This is my senior year and I’m looking forward to getting back to states,” Dennis said.
Council Rock South, which is sending five wrestlers to Hershey, won the team title with 122.5 points while Boyertown was next with 101.5. Central Bucks West, which was the only school to have two champions, placed third with 77.5 points.
PIAA District One Class 3A Southeast Regionals
(at Oxford)
(top five finishers in each weight class advance to PIAA championships)
Team scores: 1.
Championship finals
107: Jacob Carr, Sun Valley, def. Shaefer Hoffman, Downingtown West, 4-3
114: Dom Powell, Upper Dublin, def. Lucas McFarland, Haverford High, 11-4
121: Dom Morrison, Hatboro-Horsham, tech. fall Alex Su, Central Bucks South, 16-0 (2:12)
127: Chase Williams, Central Bucks East, pinned Max Tancini, Perkiomen Valley, 3:41
133: Brayden Sigle, Downingtown West, dec. Sean Murray, Upper Perkiomen, 5-2
139: Blake Boyer, Kennett, def. Patrick Woloshyn, Council Rock South, 2-1 (TB)
145: Daniel Dennis, Central Bucks West, dec. Quinn McBride, Pennridge, 1-0
152: Luke Knox, Perkiomen Valley, tech. fall Kevin Mallon, Central Bucks West, 18-1 (5:48)
160: Jon Smith, Oxford, def. Johnny O’Brien, North Penn, 4-2
172: Chris Dennis, Central Bucks West, dec. Blake Hostetter, Oxford, 8-5
189: Franco Latorre, Interboro, dec. Michael Spielman, Strath Haven, 5-3
215: Paxton Hunt, Garnet Valley, dec. Decker Bechtold, Owen J. Roberts, 1-0
285: Dean Bechtold, Owen J. Roberts, pinned Matthew Scott, Council Rock South, :48
Consolation finals
107: Quinn Bagnell, Council Rock South, dec. Walker Martin, Conestoga, 5-4
114: John Segata, Council Rock South, dec. A.J. Kane, Council Rock North, 2-1 (UTB)
121: Logan Worth, Council Rock South, dec. Brayden Laird, Ridley, 4-1
127: Matt Coffin, Pennridge, maj. dec. Boden Waite, Boyertown, 10-0
133: Shane Young, North Penn, dec. Carter Soto, Owen J. Roberts, 10-7 (SV)
139: Nathan Messano, Haverford High, maj. dec. Owen Burns, Garnet Valley, 13-2
145: Daniel Kornev, Council Rock South, dec. Dom Ramos, Souderton, 4-3
152: Zack Jaffe, Kennett, maj. dec. Malik Kelly, Harry S. Truman, 10-1
160: Cade McDowell, Downingtown East, dec. J.D. Heiser, Boyertown, 6-4
172: A.J. Corp, West Chester Rustin, pinned Ryan Solomon, Abington, 1:54
189: David Clayton, Quakertown, dec. Mason Richards, Spring-Ford, 4-0
215: Sawyer Ermigiotti, Pennridge, dec. Nick Farabaugh, Strath Haven, 8-2
285: Robert Rose, Hatboro-Horsham, dec. Justin Williams, West Chester East, 11-4
Fifth-place matches
107: Johnny Hunter, Central Bucks East, dec. Charlie Dunbar, Downingtown East, 7-5
114: Cole Borzio, Quakertown, dec. Liam Vance, Boyertown, 5-4
121: Ezra Swartley, Souderton, maj. dec. Noah Smith, Avon Grove, 13-3
127: Darren Miniconzi, Sun Valley, dec. Peyton Duffy, Garnet Valley, 6-1
133: Pierce Kane, Council Rock North, dec. Noah Parsons, Avon Grove, 7-0
139: Liam Diamond, Boyertown, dec. Brock Rudy, William Tennent, 4-1
145: Andrew McCoach, Haverford High, pinned, Niko Pittakas, Upper Dublin, 4:30
152: Coltan Jones, Central Bucks East, dec. Carter Stouch, Boyertown, 8-2
160: Logan Pfistner, Quakertown, dec. Michael Stead, Spring-Ford, 3-0
172: Jowell Jones, Upper Merion, dec. Jack Hayes, Methacton, 4-3
189: Tamir Griffin, Lower Merion, dec. Dom Salvaterra, Avon Grove, 6-2
215: Kaleb Dumin, Boyertown, maj. dec. Wyatt Holdren, Avon Grove, 11-3
285: Jace McKinney, Oxford, dec. Nathan Staub, Abington, 6-3
Outstanding wrestler:
Drew Markol covers local sports for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA High School Boys Wrestling Bucks County Southeast Regionals PIAA
