Review and Preview - Dec. 21

 

Photo by Ryan Spring

   Bedford's Jonathan Gabriel and Chestnut Ridge's Jared McGill

 are tied up in the middle of the mat on Friday night.

   This week's review obviously begins with Friday night's Bedford at Chestnut Ridge match, of course highlighted by Jared McGill's 10-8 win over Jonathan Gabriel.
   McGill stole the show by beating a returning state champion with a late reversal, and it kept the Lions' crowd into it all night as they picked up a 50-17 victory.
   It was one of the best bouts I'll probably see all season as the pair of studs went back and forth, back and forth with a lot of non-stop action, especially in the third period. Each of them took to social media after the bout, and each showed the respect that kind of matchup deserves.
   McGill - "He will definitely bounce back. That's why he's a state champ."
   Gabriel - "(McGill) wrestled a tough match."
   My opinion is the result is good for both wrestlers. Remember that Gabriel lost two of his three bouts as a junior last December, then rode a long winning streak until the regional finals. He lost to Forest Hills' Triston Law that night, but showed up in Hershey as a man on a mission. He needed overtime in that first bout there, and then hit his now-memorable five point Peterson roll to win it all.
    For McGill, it just enhances what the freshman had already accomplished on the wrestling mat. Having been a two-time PJW champion and five-time finalist on that level, McGill was going to be a name to know.
   And it definitely adds to the table as to what may happen by the time things are in the books for 2015-16.
   When you have a state champion (Gabriel), state runner-up (Aaron Burkett), state third place (Conner Buttry), and a state sixth place (Justin McCoy) all returning, it was already expected to be a cant-miss season. With McGill firmly in the conversation also, and could the county top last year's performances? Could we produce two, or even more state champions in a single year?
   Stay tuned.

———

   Looking ahead to the next few days, it's a short week with the holiday, and all of the local wrestling takes place tomorrow night. I plan to be at Northern Bedford as Central comes to town. It will be another tough opponent for the Black Panthers in their early-season schedule. The Dragons are solid through the middle of their lineup, including Brock Biddle who won the 132-pound title at the Sheetz Holiday Classic on Saturday.

Tuesday
   Everett at Chestnut Ridge
   Tussey Mountain at Claysburg-Kimmel
   Central at Northern Bedford