State Champion Wrestlers Honored by PA House
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Line Mountain freshman Zain Retherford (front) and Selinsgrove senior Spencer Myers were honored by members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday for capturing individual state wrestling championships. They are pictured with Reps. Russ Fairchild and Merle Phillips.
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Selinsgrove senior Spencer Myers and Line Mountain freshman Zain Retherford, both state champion wrestlers, were honored today by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for capturing state titles this season, Reps. Merle Phillips (R-Northumberland/Snyder) and Russ Fairchild (R-Snyder/Union) said.
“We are very proud to honor these fine young athletes on their remarkable achievements,” Fairchild said. “Not only does it take great deal of athleticism to compete at the state level, but being a champion takes tremendous hard work and determination. Both of these young gentlemen exemplify what it takes to be a champion athlete.”
Myers captured the Class AAA Individual Wrestling Championship at the 215-pound weight class. He finished his stellar season with an undefeated record of 44 wins. During the individual championship match, he defeated Zachary Nye of East Pennsboro High School with a score of 5-3.
A 2009-10 Northeast Region Class AAA champion and a PIAA District IV Class AAA champion, Myers was also one of four Pennsylvania wrestlers to win at the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, claiming a 3-1 decision over Idaho state champ Trevor Rupp. With a scholastic career with a 149-18 record, he plans to continue his wrestling career at the University of Maryland this fall.
Myers is also an accomplished member of the Selinsgrove football team, having also earned a state title in that sport last fall, and has the potential to earn a state medal in track and field this spring.
To receive the House honor, Myers was joined today by his father and coach, Todd Myers, and his mother, Julia.
“Representative Fairchild and I are very pleased to commend their accomplishments,” Phillips said on the House floor today. “They have both made their fellow wrestlers, their coaches, their schools, their communities and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania very proud, and we wish them the best of luck in their future wrestling careers.”
Zain Retherford, a freshman at Line Mountain High School, was crowned state champion in the 2009-10 PIAA State Class AA Individual Wrestling Tournament. He won the title in the 103-pound weight class.
In his first year wrestling at the varsity level, Retherford already compiled an impressive record of 40 wins and one loss. He captured the state title by defeating Brad Farley of Bermudian Springs High School with a score of 6-2. During the tournament, he beat defending state champion in semifinals and gave Line Mountain its second state champion in two years.
To his credit, Retherford is also a 2009-10 North East Region Class AA champion, a PIAA District IV Class AA champion, and a Southern Sectional champion.
He is the son of Allen and Sarah Retherford. His mother and sister Mylee, along with coach Joshua Phillips, accompanied him for the House recognition.
Rep. Merle Phillips
108th District
(570) 286-5885
Rep. Russ Fairchild
85th District
(570) 524-2788
Contact: Jennifer Algoe Keaton
Jkeaton@pahousegop.com
(717) 705-2094
Caucus site: PAHouseGOP.com