NTL WRESTLING: NPL'S LEHMAN EARNS BERTH TO SUPER REGIONALS (2021-02-27)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — NP-Liberty’s Kohen Lehman won back to back decisions in the consolations to take third, and advance to the East Super Regional during the Northeast Regional Championships Saturday.

“It feels great,” Lehman said about advancing. “All the hard work and practice I’ve put in. It definitely paid off today.”

Lehman (172) defeated Bloomsburg’s Stephen Roeder 8-4 in the consolation final to advance.

The Mountie opened the day with a 4:00 fall over Lackawanna Trail’s Kody Creswell in the quarterfinals.

Then in the semifinals he lost to Muncy’s Ethan Gush 8-1.

In the consolation semifinals he defeated Blue Ridge’s Jordan Williams 11-4, building a 5-0 lead in the second period off two double leg takedowns. Williams cut it to 5-2 with a reversal late in the second period.

Lehman made it 7-2 to open the third with a single leg takedown, then scored two more takedowns the rest of the way for the win.

In the third place match Reoder took the lead with a first period takedown.

Lehman was able to nab an escape to start the second, then scored a takedown of his own to go up 3-2.

“I wanted to stay low, get to my angles, and get two, and wrestle from there,” he explained about his strategy for the takedown.

In the third Lehman started on top, and rode hard as Roeder worked to escape.

Near the edge of the mat Roeder rolled, and looked to put Lehman on his back, but the Mountie rolled through, and put Roeder on his back for a set of near fall points, taking a 6-2 lead.

“I just kept rolling through with whatever was going on,” said Lehman. “I kept my mind in a positive manner, just so I know I could score my points and move on. Once I got those back points I felt more motivated, and more positive energy in me knowing that I had done it and wrestled the whole match.”

Roeder cut it to 6-3 with an escape, but one last takedown by Lehman sealed the trip to the Super Regionals for him.

“I just got up, scored my points, and do what I had to do to win the match,” Lehman said about going down early. 

Normally Lehman would be going to states, but due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the PIAA inserted the Super Regional Tournaments. The Super Regionals will be held at Pottsville next Saturday.

“The first thing I’m going to focus on is keeping my angles, and doing what I’ve got to do to score points,” said Lehman.

As good a day as it was for Lehman, it was just as difficult for Williamson’s Kade Sottolano.

The heavyweight began the day with a fall over Berwick’s Bruce Hartman in 2:28 to reach the semifinals.

In the semis, though, he injured his shoulder and was forced to injury default to Mifflinburg’s Emmanuel Ulrich. He later forfeited to Scranton Prep’s Max Shnipes in the consolation semifinals.

CUTLINE: NP-Liberty’s Kohen Lehman works for a takedown against Bloomsburg’s Stephen Roeder in the 172 pound third place match…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.