Derek Smail Finishes This Season Strong With A 6th Place Finish At PA Junior Wrestling Youth State Tournament (03/27/18)

(Article submitted by Clarion Area Wrestling Club)

(Photos courtesy of Clarion Area Wrestling Club) Derek Smail 6th Place at PJW Youth State Tournament

Clarion Area 5th grader, Derek Smail finished off a solid wrestling season with heart and determination as he captured the sixth-place medal in the 10U – 150 lbs division at the 2018 PA Junior Wrestling Youth State Tournament held in Wilkes-Barre, PA at the Mohegan Sun Arena this past weekend, March 23rd and 24th. This was a double elimination tournament.

Derek qualified for the state tournament by competing in the Area V championship and earning the number 1 seed. Our Clarion Area program is one of almost 30 schools located within our Area V, from Redbank to Coudersport, Bradford to West Branch. There are 14 areas within the Commonwealth.

The tournament starts off with the round of 32, Derek faced Area VI 2nd seed, Hunter Confer of Hickory, where he was able to pin him at the 1:17 (1st period) mark.

In the preliminary round of 16, he lost a very tough decision (7-4) in the last few seconds to Dominic Brooks of Ambridge, Area IV top seed. This loss put Derek in the wrestle back consolation brackets.

Derek on the podium 6th Place Finisher

In Round #2 Consy’s, he faced Jeff Durst of Somerset, pinning him at the 1:45 mark. The two wins on the first day enabled him to come back and wrestle on Saturday.

Starting off Saturday morning (Round #3 Consy’s) Derek faced Eric Bennethum, Area XIII 1 seed, from Governor Mifflin, pinning him at the :59 mark.

Consolation Round #4 is one loss away from being sent home or one win away guaranteeing the medal rounds. In this round, he battled with Area IX 2nd seed Kole Kriss of Red Lion, Derek was victorious with a Tech Fall 16-1. This win guaranteed him a top 8 finish.

2018 Top 8 Finishers 10U 150 lbs. – PJW Youth State Tournament

The fifth round consy’s consisted of a match-up with Area III 2nd seed, Ezeliel Doak of Blairsville, where Derek won with a :42 pin.

Going for the double leg

In the sixth round consy’s, Derek went head-to-head with Area VII 2nd seed, Jayden Calhoun of Kiski Area. Derek lost by being pinned at the 2:49 mark. This loss bumped him down to wrestle for the 5th/6th place match.

These rounds concluded the second session and made way for the Parade of Champions, where all of the remaining matches were to determine these young boys’ positions on the podium. Only the top 8 from each age and weight, out of the 32-man brackets, remained.

In his final match of the tournament, Derek faced Area VI number 1 seed, Trevor Milesend of Meadville. It was very physical match, the match was tied-up until the very end but a headlock toss by Milesend with seconds left ended up with Derek getting pinned at the final buzzer, 3:00 mark. Regardless of the time discrepancy, Derek secured 6th Place in the State. Congrats to Derek and all the PJW Youth Wrestlers.

Pin in the Round 2 Consy’s

CONGRATULATIONS TO DEREK SMAIL, WAY TO WORK HARD AND STAY FOC– USED. YOU HAVE SHOWN MUCH GROWTH, NOT JUST PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY AS WELL AND PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT.

(Thanks to Clarion Area Wrestling Club  GREAT SEASON, DEREK!!!!)

Double Leg Takedown

Pin in the Round 3 Consy’s