Falcons knock off Jaguars to win section championship

By JONATHAN GUTH

MVI Sports

Connellsville denied Thomas Jefferson a section championship three-peat, as the Falcons earned a 43-27 victory over the Jaguars in the Section 2-AAA Team Championships Monday at Thomas Jefferson High School.

Both teams have qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA Team Championship Tournament that begins Wednesday at a site and time to be determined. The pairings will be announced today. Connellsville has qualified for the team tournament every year since its inception. TJ was vying for its fourth section championship in team history. The Jaguars won in 1986, 2019 and ’20.

“There is no doubt that team has stoppers,” Thomas Jefferson coach Mike Ladick said. “If you look at them, they are absolutely solid. They have guys in key places, and they are experienced. They deserve a lot of credit and I have a lot of respect for that team. I am glad we have turned this into a rivalry.”

The Falcons (6-3, 1-0) took the lead for good at 120 pounds, as Chad Ozias pinned Aidan Stella in 1:11 for a 26-23 lead. Naythan Krutules scored the opening takedown for Thomas Jefferson (8-3, 4-0) against Mason Prinkey at 126, but the Connellsville senior recovered for a 20-5 technical fall in 5:12. Jace Ross’s forfeit at 132 clinched the match for the Falcons.

“The expectations at Connellsville are to win championships, and that hasn’t changed,” said first-year Connellsville coach Mike Yancosky. “I would like to thank the committee for allowing us to compete. There were some teams that wrestled more matches than us, but they didn’t get to compete tonight. We are grateful for the opportunity to wrestle, and the guys preserved.”

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