CENTRE COUNTY — The Penns Valley wrestling team, ranked ninth statewide by PA Power Wrestling in Class 2A, continued one of its best seasons in program history with wins over Philipsburg-Osceola and Bellefonte.
The 11-1 Rams beat the Mounties, 45-13, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at P-O and the Red Raiders, 36-33, on Thursday, Jan. 16, at home.
The Red Raiders (6-4) actually charged out a 33-6 lead on Penns Valley, but the Rams picked up four forfeit wins from 107 to 127 and Tripp Watson won by fall in 1:50 at 133 to close the dual meet and complete the comeback.
Bellefonte’s Ezra Swisher (152), Luke Hockenberry (215) and Logan Rarrick (285) had pins. Wyatt Long (139), Noah Weaver (172) and Jackson Long (189) won by major decisions for the Red Raiders. Cameron Garcia beat Penns Valley’s Sawyer Fetterolf, 12-5, at 145.
Brayden Lisowski’s pin in 49 seconds at 160 was Penns Valley’s only win in the first seven bouts.
There was no drama as the Rams spoiled senior night at P-O. They had four pins, but the highlight of the night was freshman Max Dinges moving up to 121 and earning a 10-1 major decision over P-O’s two-time state qualifier Caleb Hummel.
Evan Lisowski (107), Sawyer Fetterolf (145), Seth Fetterolf (152) and Brayden Lisowski (160) had pins. Erik Carlile (127) won by technical fall. Ty Steiger (285) picked up a forfeit win.
Connor Guenot (139) had P-O’s only pin, while Ace Foster (133) won by major decision.
The Rams are scheduled to wrestle in the Fred Bell Tournament on Friday, Jan. 24, and Saturday, Jan. 25, at Grove City High School.
The Red Raiders were to wrestle on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Clearfield. Results from those matches were unavailable at the time of The Gazette’s publishing deadline. Next, Bellefonte will be wrestling in the Sharon Duals on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Sharon High School.
The Mounties (10-6) were set to host Mount Union on Tuesday, Jan. 21, results from those matches were unavailable at the time of The Gazette’s publishing deadline. Next, they will head to nearby West Branch High School for the Ultimate Warrior Tournament from Friday, Jan. 24, through Saturday, Jan. 25.
EAGLES FALL TO CLEARFIELD
Bald Eagle Area suffered its third loss of the season in a 44-25 setback to Clearfield on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at home.
BEA had a 7-6 lead after the first three weights, but the Eagles fell behind and couldn’t rally against the 10-2 Bison. Caleb Close (189), Gage Gardner (285) and Tanner Guenot (127) had pins for BEA.
Next for the Eagles are to to join P-O at the Ultimate Warrior on Friday, Jan. 24, and Saturday, Jan. 25.
STATE COLLEGE’S CUNNINGHAM PLACES SECOND
State College’s Asher Cunningham finished second at 172 pounds in the 57-team Escape the Rock Tournament on Sunday, Jan. 19, at Council Rock South High School.
Cunningham, a returning state champion who went 3-1 with a pin and two major decisions of 11-0 and 9-0, dropped a 6-1 decision to New Jersey state champion Ryan Burton of St. Joseph Regional in the finals.
Cunningham (23-3) was the only State College wrestler to make the quarterfinals. Teammate Michael Troupe (285) made the fourth round of consolations.
The Little Lions finished 30th in the team standings with 33 points. Faith Christian Academy won the team title by 22 points, 221-199, over Florida’s Lake Highland Prep.
State College (4-3) was scheduled to wrestle on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Gettysburg. Results from the match were unavailable at the time of The Gazette’s publishing deadline.
THREE LADY MOUNTIES WIN TITLES
Three Philipsburg-Osceola girls wrestlers captured titles in the 17-team Lady Mountie Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 18, at P-O.
P-O’s Veda Kephart (106), Kendyl Meersand (130) and Charli Hunt (136) all dominated in the finals to capture titles. Teammate Bella Hunt (142) finished second.
Kephart finished with three pins, including a fall in 2:48 over Sugar Valley Rural Charter’s Kohana Yamashita in the finals. Meersand also had three pins, with the third coming in 28 seconds in the finals over Shaler’s Paige Mehlhoff.
Charli Hunt had two technical falls and a major decision. She rolled to a 15-0 technical fall over Warren’s Kaelon Connolly in 1:59 in the finals. Bella Hunt had a technical fall and pin before getting pinned by Curwensville’s Tessa Queen in the finals.
P-O finished third in the team standings with 97 points. Clearfield won the team title by 29 points, 128-99, over Shaler.
State College’s Kaitlyn McShea (106) and Anna Lackey (112) reached the consolation semifinals but came up short of placing.
The Lady Mounties are set to wrestle in the Bald Eagle Area Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 25.
LADY EAGLES LOSE TO CLEARFIELD
The Bald Eagle Area girls team was beaten by Clearfield, 48-24, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, before the boys match at home.
BEA’s Addison Tice (112) and Grace Crestani had pins. The Lady Eagles are to host the Bald Eagle Area Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 25.
