HAMBURG >> Wrestling runs deep in the Fisher family. Kutztown sophomore Tyler Fisher proves it every time he steps on the mat.
The Cougars’ talented 170-pounder cleared the District 3 Class 2A Section 1 tournament Saturday afternoon at Hamburg with a pair of tidy victories to win the bracket and earn his way in the District 3 meet next week. Fisher pinned Elco’s Adam Firestine in 2:31 in his first match, then took out Wyomissing’s Strat Yost in the final 5-2 – a tougher match, but one in which it felt like Fisher had under control.
The victories pushed Fisher’s overall dual record to 21-5 this winter. Two of those five defeats were injury forfeits.
Fisher grew up around the sport and draws upon those resources fully. His father, Rob, is the longtime head wrestling coach at Kutztown University. The son wrestles like a coach’s kid – technical, proficient, cerebral, with a game plan in place to beat his opponent.
Fisher dominated Firestine, the pin seconds into the second period feeling like a formality.
“Sectionals is just a stepping stone,” Fisher said after his Firestine win. “Districts, regionals, states, that’s the major prize. I’m just trying to get these out of the way. Try to stay focused. Drilling with my dad is really preparing me.
“Last year I got injured before the season. So this year, my main goal at the beginning of the season was just to get through and not to get hurt again. But now, it’s to get to states and make an imprint.”
Fisher credits his background for his mat success.
“All the great wrestlers, the role models I’ve acquired through my dad’s teams,” Fisher said, “guys I look to who showed me how they get it done on that mat. … My dad and my coaches are really good at scouting. So I have a good idea of who I’m going up against, who I’ve got next and how I’m going to beat them, what shots are going to work.”
Fisher was not the only Cougar to win his weight class Saturday. Teammate Jarryd Kase, a senior, took gold at 192 with a late escape over Tulpehocken’s Zach Ruffner in his final. Kase trailed in the dying seconds before picking up two points to win the bout 5-4.
Kase got revenge for a 1-0 loss to Ruffner during the regular season.
“He kind of made a mistake there with the locked hands and gave me a point,” Kase explained. “He’s really tough.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for 31/2 years. I decided it was time to be No. 1 and I found a way out. Last year I came at No. 2 and it was disappointing. So I figured this year it was my time. That kid out there (Ruffner) is a heckuva wrestler. But I figured a little bit of retribution was in order.”
Fisher and Kase were two of five Cougars who qualified for districts: Jake Sharadin reached the final at 113 before falling to Wyomissing’s Anthony Gust; Noah Reasoner beat Payton Gonzalez in their consolation final at 132; Logan Bachman made the 182 title bout before losing to Hamburg’s Reese Mason.
Brandywine Heights also tasted mat success at the Hamburg sectional, placing four in districts, with a pair of champions.
Trevor Gimbor claimed the crown at 138 with his 14-6 takedown of Schuylkill Valley’s Jack Bennett, while heavyweight Michael Hubble pinned Hamburg’s Brandon Kessler at 1:44 of the 285 final.
Zane Deeter claimed 113’s third-place match over Ayden Kauffman of Hamburg and Jake Caskie did the same at 126 to another Hawk, Owen DeTurk, to punch his ticket.
