Zach Sintobin Concludes Stellar Bobcat Wrestling Career With Fifth Place Finish At States (03/14/16)

Clarion Area senior Zach Sintobin completed his Bobcat Wrestling career in fine fashion, last week, by capturing the fifth place medal, in the Class-AA, 195 pound division, at the 2015-16 P.I.A.A. State Wrestling Championships held Thursday-Saturday, March 10-12, at the Giant Center in Hershey.

(Photo submitted by Clarion Wrestling) Head Coach/Dad Rob Sintobin, Zach Sintobin and Assistant Coach Dylan Reinsel

(Photo submitted by Clarion Wrestling) Head Coach/Dad Rob Sintobin, Zach Sintobin and Assistant Coach Dylan Reinsel

Zach won the last high school match he will ever wrestle, in securing  fifth place, 7-5 in overtime, over Conner Buttry of Chestnut Ridge. Buttry, a West Virginia recruit, finished third last year.

Zach finished the season at 34-5 and moved his career win total to 104, which ties him with Manny Carpin (2006), for the 3rd most wins in school history. Only Kyle Cathcart (2003) with 134 wins and Brad Rapp (2007) with 116 wins had more victories than Zach.

This was also a special parting gift to his dad, Head Coach Rob Sintobin, who is stepping down as the Bobcats’ Coach. Proud dad Rob had this to say, “As a dad and coach, I’m extremely proud of Zach’s perseverance throughout his career.”

Zach’s perseverance was on display throughout the tournament. After recording a fall, in 1:53, over Danville’s Sam Crone in the first round, Zach was pinned by eventual runner-up Bill Bowlen from Jefferson Morgan, forty-four seconds into their quarterfinal match.

He came back and defeated West Branch’s Clayton Green 8-4, in the third round consolations and then beat Deven Simpson from Cambridge Springs 3-1 in overtime in the fourth round consolations. A 7-0 loss to Greenville’s Blake Reynolds in the fifth round consolations, sent him to the match for the fifth place against Buttry, where Zach moved his record to 4-2 with the win.

How big of an accomplishment was Zach’s medalling at states? Coach Sintobin shared this perspective, “Only three percent of the state’s wrestlers earn a medal at the state tournament so this is a special accomplishment.” A very, very special accomplishment, for a special young man. CONGRATULATIONS ZACH!!!!

Zach was part of a big group of area wrestlers to place at states.

In Class-AA:

Redbank Valley’s Brylee Shumaker finished third at 285 and fellow Bulldog, Tanner Altobelli finished sixth at 126. Franklin’s Dakota Geer finished third at 182, after winning the title last year.

Brookville took the team championship, after winning the dual meet State Championship earlier this season. Leading the Raiders was Taylor Ortz, the champion at 132. Cole Aaron was fourth at 138; Keelan Kunselman  was fifth at 106; Gavin Park was seventh at 113 and Caleb Hetrick was eighth at 152. Raider Coach Dave Klepfer was named Class-AA Coach of the Year.

In Class-AAA:

Punxsutawney’s Kaleb Young won the championship at 160.

(CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE AREA WRESTLERS WHO EARNED MEDALS!!!!)