Wolves’ wrestlers started strong at the Juniata Duals on Saturday, Jan. 12, taking victories in the first three rounds before dropping the final two.
St. Joe’s took the first round, 36-30, over the hosts from Juniata. 120-pound Amonn Ohl pinned Cameron Swigart in 144, Caleb Dowling (145) pinned Albert Heister in 23 seconds and Zack Witmer (132) pinned Jacob Gilson in 32 seconds.
Ohl and Dowling picked up pins in round two as well, in 2:38 and 18 seconds, respectively, as St. Joe’s defeated Susquehanna Township, 35-34. At 195 pounds, Kolby Franklin earned a 17-8 major decision victory over Troy Ambush.
The Wolves defeated Harrisburg in style, 38-30 in round three. Ohl, Witmer, Keegan Rothrock (152), Tyler Stoltzfus (160) and Zachary Rosenberger (170) all pinned their opponents from Harrisburg. Ohl’s pin came in 54 seconds, Witmer’s in 1:06, Rothrock’s in 1:32, Stoltzfus’ in 2:35 and Rosenberger’s in one minute. Dowling earned a technical fall over Marcellous Thorton, 16-1, and Franklin won a 5-2 decision over Nehemiah Diggs to round out St Joe’s’ scoring.
Forfeits were the downfall of the Wolves in round four’s 42-35 loss to Tamaqua. Dowling (29 seconds), Rothrock (55 seconds), Stoltzfus (1:46), Franklin (2:12) and Ohl (17 seconds) all earned pins again in this round. Witmer defeated Aaron Coccio by a 17-2 technical fall in 3:22.
The story was similar in round five as Selinsgrove rode forfeits and one pin to a one-point victory, 42-41. Witmer (1:36), Rothrock (31 seconds), Stoltzfus (1:38), Rosenberger (4:47), Franklin (2:44) and Ohl (26 seconds) earned pinfall victories in round five. Dowling defeated Scott Kissinger by a 17-0 technical fall in 3:27.
St. Joe’s is back in action on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18-19, at Huntingdon in West Virginia for the WSAZ Channel 3 Invitational. Start times for meets have not yet been announced.
PENNS VALLEY
On Tuesday, Jan. 15, Penns Valley defeated Clearfield in Spring Mills, 44-26.
Malachi Duvall started the Rams off with an 8-2 decision victory over Caleb Freeland at 152 pounds to put his team up 3-0. At 160 pounds, Dristen Wolfe added a 7-2 decision victory over Cole Smay to double the lead.
Following a Zach Royer forfeit victory in the 170-pound weight class, 182-pound Abraham Allebach added a forfeit victory of his own.
Hayden Yearick won by forfeit at 106 pounds, as well.
Carter Felker picked up a pinfall victory over Matt Bush in 1:04 in the 220-pound weight class, while Dillon Covalt defeated Avry Gisewhite at 285 pounds by a 7-6 decision.
Baylor Shunk, at 120 pounds, defeated Karson Kline by way of technical fall in 3:53, with a score of 21-6. Clayton Royer (132) rounded out the meet for Penns Valley by pinning Peyton Smay in 1:57.
The Rams wrestlers are back in action on Thursday, Jan. 17, as Mifflinburg arrives in Spring Mills. A dual-meet with Huntingdon follows on Jan. 22.
PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA
The Mountaineers paid a visit to Altoona on Thursday, Jan. 10. P-O started off strong, but Altoona came from behind to win the meet, 34-30.
Philipsburg-Osceola’s first five wrestlers won their matches, including three pins on the way to a quick 24-0 lead. Tristan Beauseigneur, at 152 pounds, kicked the meet off with a pinfall victory over Jacob Schmidhamer in 1:49.
Hunter Weitoish pinned Gavin Wagner in the 160-pound weight class next, in 3:20, followed by an 8-2 decision victory by Ronald Pinto over Adam Zerbee at 170 pounds. Parker Moore pinned 182-pound Jonah Brandt in 3:54 next, followed by 195-pound Dylan Yastro’s 5-3 decision victory over Joshua Keirn.
Altoona took two pinfall victories in a row to half P-O’s lead before 106-pound Nicholas Bryan pinned Jordan Carlucci in 1:12 for the Mounties’ 30th points. The scoring would stop there for Philipsburg-Osceola and, six straight Altoona victories later, the Lions took the mark in the win column.
STATE COLLEGE
The Little Lions traveled to Chambersburg on Thursday, Jan. 10 for a non-league dual meet. The meet ended with a 42-24 victory for Chambersburg.
Tate McLaughlin earned a 9-5 decision victory over Guy Lozius at 195 pounds to put the Little Lions on the board after a 0-18 start to the meet. At 220 pounds, Cole Urbas followed up with a pinfall victory over Joey Fuller in 1:48 to make the score 18-9.
Bailey Weaverling, at 106 pounds, pinned April Rump in 2:45, followed by a forfeit victory by 113-pound Benjamin Krick. The second pair of back-to-back victories tied the two squads at 21 apiece.
At 132 pounds, Owen Woolcott defeated Kelby Mixell by a 3-0 decision. Unfortunately for the Little Lions, Chambersburg managed to keep the upper hand and hold on for the W.
Central Mountain visited State High on Tuesday, Jan. 15, but scores were not announced until after the Gazette went to press.
The Little Lions don’t have time to rest as Cumberland Valley arrives on Thursday, Jan. 17 for a meet at 7 p.m. On Saturday, State High will participate in a Tri Meet at Cedar Cliff between itself, Cedar Cliff and Philipsburg-Osceola. Start times are to be announced.
