WRESTLING: Kingsway star Quinn Kinner wins prestigious Beast of the East title

A loss in sudden victory in last year’s Beast of the East final helped motivate Kingsway star Quinn Kinner all of his junior season, which ended with a state title.

It pushed him in the offseason, too. On Sunday, it all came to fruition for Kinner, who got his revenge with the 138-pound title in the prestigious tournament held in Delaware.

Kinner entered the weekend bracket as the No. 2 seed. He won by tech fall after a bye, then decked in 4 minutes, 48 seconds to reach the quarterfinals.

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His Sunday began with a 10-4 decision of Pope John’s Joseph Aragona in the round of eight. A 1-0 triumph over Bethlehem Catholic (Pa.) senior and No. 3 seed Jarred Papcsy came in the semifinals.

Fourth-seeded Marshall Keller from Christiansburg (Va.) awaited in the final after an upset of Blair Academy’s Malcolm Robinson in an ultimate tiebreak-decided semi.

Kinner, an Ohio State commit, left no room for doubt in the big bout. He grabbed an 11-3 major decision to down Keller.

“I’ve been ready for that one for a while,” Kinner said last week of the Beast. “I want to get down there.

“There are going to be tough guys down there. It’s always a tough tournament, I’m ready to get down there and compete. It would be special to win it. Last year I got to the finals and lost in overtime … I moved on from it and pushed myself harder for it. I want that title, I’m going for it. I’m excited. That’s a great tournament and I want to win it.”

He made good on the goal.

Two other South Jersey grabblers capped excellent performances. Tim Fitzpatrick, a 160-pounder from Holy Spirit, finish fourth. Camden Catholic junior Lucas Revano took seventh in the 132 class.

Mark Trible: @Mtrible; (856) 486-2424; mtrible@gannettnj.com