PIAA Wrestling: Bears’ Dixon remains alive in Class AA consolations

Mahanoy Area's Rory Dixon looks to turn Burrell's Ben Catullo for back points at the PIAA Wrestling Championships on Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

HERSHEY — Rory Dixon doesn’t take anything for granted.

Mahanoy Area’s sophomore 160-pounder has been through enough to know every match could be his last. He’s been through multiple knee injuries and surgeries but has persevered and excelled to earn a spot in the Class AA field at the PIAA Wrestling Championships.

In his opener Thursday morning at the Giant Center, Dixon attacked immediately, scoring a takedown just 10 seconds into the bout. He went to work on top, turning Catullo twice with tilts for a pair of four-point near falls. Another takedown gave Dixon a 14-1 lead after one period. Catullo stayed with Dixon on his feet for most of the second period, but Dixon kept working and eventually trapped both of Catullo’s ankles for a takedown that ended the match by technical fall, 17-1 in 3:49.

“This is the first time I’m out here, and with the history of my knee, there’s no guarantee I’ll be back out here again,” Dixon said. “So I wanted to let it all go, let it all fly and see what I can do.

“I’m not letting any opportunity slide out of my hands,” Dixon added. “When I get an opportunity, I’m taking it every time.”

In the round of 16, Dixon (32-10) ran into a buzzsaw named Melvin Miller of Bishop McCort. The lightning-quick Miller (46-1) scored four takedowns before cradling Dixon for the fall in 1:27.

Dixon will continue in the consolations Friday against Central Clarion’s Mason Gourley (40-5).

Meanwhile, Mahanoy Area teammate Kyler Quick got off to a slow start in his 189-pound bout against Derry Area’s Brady Brown in the round of 32. Brown (44-7) got to Quick’s legs right away, scoring three takedowns and adding a four-point near fall in a 17-2 technical fall in 2:15.

In his consolation bout, Quick struggled to get his offense going again, giving up a pair of takedowns before getting pinned by Reynolds’ Emery Johnson in 1:40. Quick ends his junior season at 34-15.

Action resumes at 8 a.m. Friday with the championship quarterfinals and second round of consolations. The third round of consolations will follow at 10:30 a.m. After a break, Class AA wrestlers will return for the championship semifinals at 7 p.m. and the fourth round of consolations at 9 p.m.

PIAA Wrestling Championships

At the Giant Center, Hershey

CLASS AA BOYS

Thursday’s local results

Round of 32

160 — Rory Dixon (Mahanoy Area) tech. fall Ben Catullo (Burrell), 17-1, 3:49

189 — Brady Brown (Derry Area) tech. fall Kyler Quick (Mahanoy Area), 17-2, 2:15

Round of 16

160 — Melvin Miller (Bishop McCort) pinned Rory Dixon (Mahanoy Area), 1:27

First-Round Consolations

189 — Emery Johnson (Reynolds) pinned Kyler Quick (Mahanoy Area), 1:40

Friday’s local match

Second-Round Consolations

160 — SE-4 Rory Dixon, Mahanoy Area, soph., 32-10 vs. NW-2 Mason Gourley, Central Clarion, sr., 40-5