Lackawanna Trail finished in a four-way tie for ninth in the state in Class 2A after splitting two Friday matches in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Dual Meet Wrestling Championships.
The Lions were eliminated with a 41-21 loss to Brookville in the late-afternoon, second-round consolation match.
Lackawanna Trail began the day by beating Hickory, 38-27, in the first round of consolations. Details on that early-morning match can be found at https://nepasportsnation.com/trail-wins-piaa-consolation-match/.
The Lions made the 20-team tournament field this season after making the pandemic-reduced, 10-team field last season and finishing in a four-way tie for fifth.
Lackawanna Trail led early against Brookville and was tied through nine bouts before losing the last four, two by forfeit.
In a match that started at 138, Michael Bluhm, Deegan Ross and Robbie Schneider produced consecutive wins from 145 to 160 for a 12-3 lead.
Jonah Houser and Brayden Clarke won back-to-back at 285 and 106 to turn a nine-point deficit into a 21-21 tie.
Bluhm won by decision in overtime. Ross posted a 6-0 shutout for his decision. Schneider won by pin in 15 seconds.
Houser won a decision and Clarke tied the match with a pin.
Lackawanna Trail lost to Chestnut Ridge, 35-21, in its first match Thursday.
The Lions, the No. 1 team in the Riverfront Sports Elite Eight Wrestling Power Rankings of District 2 teams, finished the dual meet portion of their season at 11-2. They repeated as both Lackawanna League Division 2 and District 2 Class 2A champions.
Several Lions will be contenders in the individual tournament season, which begins next weekend with the District 2 Championships at Wilkes-Barre Area.
