Traxler one away from state final

County vying for four medals today in Hershey

HERSHEY — The youth displayed by Bellefonte’s Tom

AP photo/Bradley C. Bower

McDowell’s Steve Spearman, top, is controlled during his 10-6 loss to Central Dauphin’s Tyler Buckman in the PIAA Class AAA 125-pound quarterfinals on Friday.

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Traxler can’t be missed.

His mouth opens, and you see braces. You stare at his shoes, and see traces of neon on the center and sides.

And then you watch Traxler wrestler.

That’s when you realize Traxler doesn’t resemble other athletes his age.

Traxler, who still vividly recalls junior high results, moved into rare territory Friday by defeating Central Dauphin’s Kevin Gooding 7-3 in the PIAA Class AAA 112-pound quarterfinals at Giant Center.

Traxler’s spot in this morning’s semifinals, where he will face Nazareth sophomore Zach Horan, includes a promising attachment.

He’s entering the bout as a freshman.

The only other freshmen remaining in Class AAA championship brackets are 103-pounders, so Traxler earns the title as the heaviest newcomer in contention for a state title. The semifinal appearance also means Traxler is ensured of finishing no worse than sixth at his weight.

“That’s the biggest thing I have done this year,” Traxler

said. “It’s probably the biggest thing I have done in my career.”

Traxler almost received company in the semifinals. But junior teammate Mitchell Port, who reached the semifinals as a freshman

in 2007, dropped a 2-1 decision to Blue Mountain junior Tyler Rauenzahn at 119. Port rebounded to win a second- round consolation bout, ensuring a spot on the podium.

Bellefonte senior 145-pounder Shane Alterio and Bald Eagle Area junior 215-pounder Jon Gingrich also won consolation bouts to guarantee themselves medals.

This marks the third time in school history Bellefonte has produced three placewinners.

So who’s this Tom Traxler representing the program in the semifinals?

He’s somebody who seems immune to big-tournament pressure.

Traxler (39-5) dictated the action against Gooding, converting a high-single for two points 57 seconds into the bout. He gave himself a cushion, earning two points when he flipped Gooding with an arm bar.

“That’s definitely big,” Traxler said. “I knew after that I had to keep the offense on. If I did, I had him.”

Traxler displayed shrewd tactics from the bottom position during the final two periods. Because Gooding wrestles for Central Dauphin, which perfects the tilt, he selected top to begin the second period. Traxler escaped 48 seconds into the period.

The wrestlers traded take-downs in the third. Gooding never received more than a one count when trying to tilt Traxler.

“Traxler just went out and didn’t show any nerves for a ninth-grader,” Bellefonte coach Mike Maney said. “He dominated the match from first whistle to last whistle. That’s good for him.”

Traxler now must face Horan (33-3), a finalist at 103 last season. The wrestlers have never met.

But Traxler, who started wrestling at age 5, has faced unfamiliar opponents in the past. His junior high career included runs in large tournaments such as the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling and Middle Atlantic Wrestling Association Championships.

“He does not get nervous at all,” Alterio said. “He has a good sense of humor.”

As Traxler introduced himself to the masses on Mat 1, Port wrestled in one of the most anticipated quarterfinals. It also developed into of the closes.

Neither wrestler scored in the first. Port rode Rauenzahn in the second.

All the scoring occurred in the third. Port escaped early in the period. Rauenzahn took Port down with 14 seconds remaining. The wrestlers went out of bounds with 10 second lift.

Port frantically tried to escape during the final seconds. He flipped most of his body on top of Rauenzahn, but couldn’t gain control before the buzzer sounded.

Port (38-3), who set high goals after failing to place last year, slowly trudged toward the arena’s bowels after the loss. He recovered to defeat Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Tyler Zymroz 3-2 to secure his second PIAA medal.

“What it came down is that Mitchell is just putting too much pressure on himself,” Maney said. “He couldn’t get things going in his match Mitchell is the type of kid that will refocus and come back.”

If Port defeats Unionville’s Joe Bonaduce in this morning’s third-round consolations, he’s guaranteed of finishing no worse than sixth. Port finished fifth at 103 in 2007.

Alterio and Gingrich will compete in the same round this morning.

Alterio continued his run at a difficult weight with a 3-1 overtime decision over Northampton’s Shane Fenningham. Alterio (31-8) also defeated Bethel Park’s Mike Ganley after an overtime loss in the opening round. Alterio faces Springfield Delco’s Brandon Loro.

Gingrich, who lost to Great Valley’s Carl Bucholz 1-0 in the opening round, recorded his second straight victory, decking Albert Gallatin’s Jeremiah Karpency in 3:35. Gingrich also pinned Wyoming Valley West’s Dave Ryncavage on Thursday.

Gingrich (30-7), who will face St. Marys junior Sean Sadosky this morning, is BEA’s third 215-pound placewinner in the past four years.

“It’s a huge accomplishment, a goal that I set at the beginning of the year,” he said. “I can’t describe it right now. It’s amazing. I’m on cloud nine.”

Gingrich represents the first state placewinner in first-year coach Steve Millward’s tenure.

“I’m extremely happy,” Mill-ward said. “It’s difficult to put into words when you think about it, whether it’s my goal or the individual wrestler’s goal. It’s nice to end the season with a medal in Hershey.”

Semifinals and third-round consolations begin at 8 a.m. The finals are scheduled for 8 p.m.