By ALTHEA HELMS
For The Centre County Gazette
Editor’s Note: Althea Helms is a student at Bellefonte Area High School. Helms was selected to receive a Press Forward PA Wilds scholarship to cover high school wrestling events.
HERSHEY — For the past winter months, three Bellefonte wrestlers have been training with one goal — to compete at the PIAA State Championships in Hershey. That dream was made possible for Bellefonte High School wrestlers Ezra Swisher, Jackson Long, and Bailee Scott from March 5 to 7.
For seniors Ezra Swisher at 152 lbs. and Jackson Long at 189 lbs., this was their last chance to represent Bellefonte before they graduate. Swisher and Long managed to advance to the second day of the tournament. Ultimately, Swisher earned ninth place, one win short of a PIAA medal, and making him top 12 in the state two years in a row. He is ending his Bellefonte career with 155 career wins.
Long completed the championship in the top 16, with 126 career wins.
“I ended up getting caught in a match I should’ve won,” Long said. This match would have put him on target for a state medal, leaving him disappointed with his last Bellefonte showing.
Head Coach Mike Maney said he was pleased with the efforts these two seniors put in at states. He described the state championship as the “toughest state tournament in the country.”
Swisher and Long proved they can keep up with the best wrestlers in the country.
“They both represented Bellefonte very well,” Coach Maney said.
Sophomore Bailee Scott at 155lbs. made Bellefonte wrestling history as the first girl to ever qualify for states. Although she did not advance to the second day of the tournament, Scott finished with a strong sophomore season of 21 wins and 32 career wins.
“I was happy to make it there, but once I was actually there the nerves got the best of me,” Scott said. With an unsatisfactory performance for her, she is left wanting more from next year. Scott plans to “focus on the little things” that she’s missing. Looking to the future, Maney is concentrating on the underclassmen’s potential in wrestling. They competed at many tournaments this season where they gained valuable experience.
“I’m hopeful they take this experience, stay motivated in the off-season, and set high
goals for themselves for next year,” Maney said.
