SPRING GROVE — Four Franklin County wrestlers have extended their season by qualifying for the PIAA State Championships.

Deakon Snavely

On the final day of the District 3 Class 3A tournament at Spring Grove on Saturday afternoon, Waynesboro senior Steven Howard placed third at 133 pounds, Chambersburg freshman Deakon Snavely was fourth at 215, Shippensburg freshman Braden Boardman placed fourth at 114 and Chambersburg senior Jaccob Stoner placed fifth at 189.

The top five at each weight advance to the PIAA event, which is March 5-7 at Giant Center in Hershey.

Trojan senior 285-pounder Frank Barrientos, who reached the state tournament a year ago, was injured in his semifinal bout when he hyperextended his knee, causing a default, and he medically forfeited his next two bouts, putting him in sixth place.

Snavely dropped a 10-4 decision to Cole Staker of Eastern York in the semifinals, giving up a takedown in each period. In the consolation semifinals, Snavely trailed against Tyler Kreider of Solanco after two periods, 2-0, but escaped and took Krieder down to his back for a pin in 3:26.

In the bout for third place, Wilson’s Ethan Brownback scored a fall over Snavely in 0:56.

Chambersburg coach Craig Hight said, “Deakon had a great tournament. We liked his line coming in and he wrestled well to beat two older kids. His growth this year has been tremendous.”

Stoner began his day with a wild bout in the semifinals against Noah Templin of Manheim Central. Templin scored the first 9 points, but Stoner began a comeback with an escape and takedown in the second, and a takedown to open the third making it 9-7.

He then turned Templin to his back for two points to tie the match. But Templin was able to reverse Stoner to his back and end the bout with a pin in 4:44.

“He got the other kid to his back, but kept his head down and the other kid rolled through,” Hight said. “If Jaccob had sunk his hips, he could have kept him right there on his back. But he responded well to get fifth and qualify.”

Stoner was pinned in the consolation semifinals by Caden Shearer of Gettysburg, then defeated Cole Ramberger of Central Dauphin 3-0 to take fifth, with a late nearfall sealing it.

Ship’s Boardman gave heavily-favored Thunder Beard of CD a true battle in the semifinals, falling 5-3. It was 4-2 after one, with Boardman’s points coming on a penalty point and reversal. But Beard rode the whole second period and got an escape in the third.

Boardman came back to beat Mason Messner of Cocalico 4-0 in the consy semis, breaking a 0-0 tie by scoring a 4-point nearfall with 1:44 left. In the third-place bout, Boardman dropped a 5-3 loss to Ezra Henning of Spring Grove after taking a 3-1 lead.

After getting pinned by Ashton Kriss of Elco in the semifinals, Howard pulled out a pair of close wins to take third place.

He defeated Charlie Griffin of Wilson 3-2, completing a reversal with just 0:04 left to steal the victory. In the bout for third place, he led 1-0 over Patrick Steuer of Governor Mifflin and sealed it with a takedown, again with 0:04 remaining.

Barrientos had a tough ending to a fine career. He was 82-30 over three years, which included an impressive 67 pins.

“I think if he doesn’t get hurt, he’s going to place third,” Hight said. “That was a tough break.”

District 3 Class 3A Wrestling Championships
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals
114 — Thunder Beard (Central Dauphin) d Braden Boardman (Shippensburg), 5-3
133 — Ashton Kriss (Elco) p Steven Howard (Waynesboro), 4:25
189 — Noah Templin (Manheim Central) p Jaccob Stoner (Chambersburg), 4:44
215 — Cole Staker (Eastern York) d Deakon Snavely (Chambersburg), 10-4
285 — Nolan Reinert (Gettysburg) default over Frank Barrientos (Chambersburg), 0:16
Third-Round Consolations
133 — Charlie Griffin (Wilson) d Silas Robertson (Greencastle-Antrim), 8-1
Consolation Semifinals
114 — Boardman (Ship) d Mason Messner (Cocalico), 4-0
133 — Howard (Way) d Charlie Griffin (Wilson), 3-2
189 — Caden Shearer (Gettysburg) p Stoner (Chbg), 2:44
215 — Snavely (Chbg) p Tyler Kreider (Solanco), 3:26
285 — Owen Winters (Donegal) medical forfeit over Barrientos (Chbg)
For Third Place
114 — Ezra Henning (Spring Grove) d Boardman (Ship), 5-3
133 — Howard (Way) d Patrick Steuer (Gov. Mifflin), 4-0
215 — Ethan Brownback (Wilson) p Snavely (Chbg), 0:54
For Fifth Place
189 — Stoner (Chbg) d Cole Ramberger (Central Dauphin), 3-0
285 — Kolton Kemp (Manheim Township) medical forfeit over Barrientos (Chbg)