Cranberry qualifies six for Northwest Regional

Aiden Thompson and Dalton Wenner take titles

And Aiden Thompson makes it three. For the third year in a row, Cranberry has the top wrestler in the 107 weight bracket of the District 9 championships. Thompson followed in the footsteps of teammates Dalton Wenner and Elijah Brosius, who were the District champs in the lightest weight division in 2023 and 2022 respectively.
Thompson earned his medal by defeating Michael Copello of Ridgway 8-6 with a takedown in sudden victory overtime. He advanced to the finals after pinning Austin Gilliland of Curwensville in 5:50. The freshman is now 27-8 on the season after going 4-0 in the tournament. 

Thompson was the first of six Berries to qualify for next week's Northwest Regional tournament in Sharon.

Wenner walked away with his second District 9 championship in as many years, this year in the 114 bracket. He recorded a 10-4 decision over Nathan Stager of Ridgway in the finals after pinning Dalton Dakota Shugarts of Clearfield in 5:06 during the semis round. Wenner is 33-4 on the season after going 3-0 in the tournament. ​

Brosius was Cranberry's other wrestler to make it to the parade of champions. He faced a tough opponent in three-time District 9 winner Weston Pisarchick of Brockway. Brosius dropped a heartbreaker 4-3 to Pisarchick and had to settle for second place at 127. Brosius beat Aiden Beimel of St. Mary's 5-1 in the semifinals. He moves to 33-9 on the season and will be on the hunt for his 100th career victory in Sharon. ​

Three other Berries will also move on to next weekend's competition. Alex McLaughlin took the last podium spot at 133 after earning a 16-1 technical fall over Chase Kyler of Sheffield in the consolation semifinals and dropping a 5-1 decision to Colton Ross of Brockway in the third-place match. He is now 18-13 on the season. 

Dane Wenner, bounced back from an upset pin by Rocco Allegretto of Johnsonburg in the championship semifinals to end the tournament winning two straight and capturing a third-place medal in the 139 bracket. The Cranberry junior pinned Anthony Ceriani of Brookville in 2:26 in the consolation semifinals and recorded an 11-3 major decision over Colton Bumbarger of Clearfield in the third-place match. He moves to 31-10 on the season. 

Senior Devyn Fleeger was Cranberry's final medalist on the day. Fleeger had a last-second 7-6 loss to Avery Bittler, Johnsonburg in the championship semifinals, but also closed the day with a pair of wins. Fleeger earned a 6-1 decision over Burke Fleming of Brookville in the consolation semis and pinned Dylan Bash, Brockway in 1:25 in the medal round. He is now 33-9. 

Danny Delong also made it into Saturday's action, finishing fifth in the 145 bracket. He closed his 19-11 season by pinning Tucker Nystrom of Kane in 3:36. 

PennWest - Clarion hosted the two-day championships. The regional championships will kick off next Friday afternoon at Sharon High School with a trip Hershey on the line.

See more photographs of Cranberry wrestlers at the District 9 Championships below.