Centre County crowns 5 champs and advances 18 at District 6 Class 3A wrestling championships
Bellefonte and State College combined to push 18 wrestlers into the next phase of the tournament trail with top four finishes at the District 6 Class 3A championships Saturday at the Altoona Field House.
The Red Raiders and Little Lions advanced nine each to the Northwest Regional championships beginning Friday back at Altoona.
Bellefonte crowned four champions in sophomore Jude Swisher (126) and juniors Lane Aikey (120), Ethan Richner (160) and Ethan Rossman (182). Also moving on for the Red Raiders were Aidan O’Shea (second at 113), Max Barrier (third at 220), Alex Coppolo (third at 132), Stephen Ivicic (fourth at 170) and Tyler Benner (fourth at 195).
“Overall, we had a pretty solid tournament. We left some points out there with some tough losses in the semifinals otherwise we may have seen a closer team race,” Bellefonte coach Mike Maney said. “Those are the types of wins you need if you are going to win a team title here. For our champions, they went out and did what they were expected to do.”
State College picked up a district champion in senior Tyler Price at 195. Five Little Lions made the finals only to come up short — freshman Hayden Cunningham (106), seniors Owen Woolcot (132) and Clayton Leidy (138), along with juniors Lance Urbas (170) and Harrison Schoen (285).
Freshmen Eric Weaver (120) and Carter Weaverling (126) placed third and junior Kyle Martin (145) took fourth.
“It was a good day. I’m proud of the kids. They did a nice job. Of course, you want to win, but this isn’t the end of the road. We’ll be back again next weekend,” State College coach Ryan Cummins said. “Hopefully, we’ll use this as fuel to come back stronger next weekend. As a team, everybody is moving in the right direction and to take nine into next weekend, I’m very happy with that.”
Aikey captured his first district title with a tough 3-0 win over Mifflin County’s Derek Burk. Aikey scored a takedown in the first and an escape in the second for the win. The Red Raider junior rode Burk out in the third.
“Lane Aikey had a tough match in the finals. They are both solid wrestlers, they’re both gamers with lots of experience and have had success at a really high level. We were able to come out on top and good for Aikey to gut it out,” Maney said.
Jude Swisher followed at 126 with his first district championship with a 15-5 major decision over Taylor Weaver of Central Mountain. The Red Raider sophomore lost in the finals a year ago to Weaver. Swisher had four takedowns, two escapes, a reversal and three back points off a cradle.
“The match at 126 went the other way last year but Swisher came out and controlled the match. He’s been getting better and better,” Maney said. “He’s peaking and wrestling pretty well and I just hope it continues.”
At 160, Ethan Richner rolled over Campbell Walls of Hollidaysburg to the tune of a 16-1 technical fall in 4:50. The Bellefonte junior captured his second district title with three takedowns, eight nearfall points and a reversal.
“Ethan banged up his knee a couple of weeks ago, so this really is his first match back. He went out and took care of business,” Maney said. “He needs to go out and start his matches a little sharper, but it’s a learning experience. He dominated the rest of the way.”
Rossman controlled Altoona’s Collin Almond right from the start in a 19-4 technical fall in 4:58. Three takedowns, two reversals, seven back points and a penalty point accounted for all the scoring the Red Raider junior needed.
“Rossman dominated his match. He’s on a mission after finishing as district runner up and regional third last year. He made it to states but didn’t have his best performance there,” Maney said. “This tournament, he wrestled really well when it mattered most. Hopefully, he continues to wrestle like this the rest of the postseason.”
Price, who looked out of gas in the third period, scored a nifty takedown four seconds into overtime for a 3-1 win over Nikolas Miller of Central Mountain, giving the Little Lions their lone champion. Both wrestlers traded escapes in regulation.
“He’s tough. Sometimes he lets his nerves get the better of him and that’s what you were seeing there,” Cummins said. “He’s ready to go all the time. He had a nice tournament. It was good for him coming up to 195. He’s giving up some weight, but we have another week to put some more weight on him and come back again next week.”
The rest of the State College finalists weren’t so fortunate.
At 106, Cunningham suffered his third loss of the year to Mifflin County’s Nic Allison. The State College freshman, up 3-1 in the third, got caught in an Allison headlock for a takedown and two back points with 20 seconds left in a 5-3 loss
“It’s fun to watch. Those two go at it and they make each other better every time they wrestle. I’m sure they’ll wrestle again next week,” Cummins said. “Hayden goes as hard as he can. Things will take care of themselves in the end.”
Altoona’s Matt Sarbo won his third district championship with an impressive 21-6 technical fall in 5:52 over Woolcott at 132. Sarbo received the Outstanding Wrestler Award for his efforts.
At 138, Mifflin County’s Anthony Everly made a reversal in the second period stand up in a 2-0 win over Leidy. At 170, Trey Kibe of Mifflin County captured his third district crown with a decisive 11-3 win over Urbas. Kibe, a recent Penn State commit, owns four wins over Urbas this season.
Mifflin County’s Blaine Davis made a third-period escape off a Granby hold up in the 1-0 victory over Schoen at heavyweight.
“We are definitely young and I’ll take that. Absolutely, it’s a great experience. We have years to go with them. They’re only going to get better,” Cummins said.
O’Shea dropped his finals contest to Derek Keen of Central Mountain by fall in 3:02 at 113.
“We have to fine tune some things. Regionals elevates it to a new level. You have to stay even keel and wrestle well. If you do that, you’ll come out on top,” Maney said. “Just fine tune some things with situational wrestling. If you have the lead , you have to keep the pressure on. You can’t relax. You have to keep scoring points. You can’t take anything for granted. You have to come out and execute.”
Bellefonte finished third in the team standings with 176.5 points. State College, the 2020 District 6 Dual Meet champions, placed fourth with 154.5 points. Mifflin County won the team race with 214 points and six champions.
District 6 Class 3A Results
Team Standings
Mifflin County 214
Central Mountain 182
Bellefonte 176.5
State College 14.5
Altoona 108
Hollidaysburg 75.5
Juniata 53.5
Greater Johnstown 23
Finals
106: Nic Allison (Mifflin County Hs) DEC Hayden Cunningham (State College Area Hs), 5-3 SV
113: Derek Keen (Central Mountain Hs) F Aidan O’shea (Bellefonte Area Hs), 3:02
120: Lane Aikey (Bellefonte Area Hs) DEC Derek Burk (Mifflin County Hs), 3-0
126: Jude Swisher (Bellefonte Area Hs) MD Taylor Weaver (Central Mountain Hs), 15-5
132: Matt Sarbo (Altoona Area Hs) TF Owen Woolcott (State College Area Hs), 21-6 5:52
138: Kyler Everly (Mifflin County Hs) DEC Clayton Leidy (State College Area Hs), 2-0
145: Ethan Kauffman (Mifflin County Hs) DEC Lane Porter (Central Mountain Hs), 10-4
152: Anson Wagner (Mifflin County Hs) DEC Aaron Sleeth (Hollidaysburg Area Hs), 5-0
160: Ethan Richner (Bellefonte Area Hs) TF Campbell Walls (Hollidaysburg Area Hs), 16-1 4:50
170: Trey Kibe (Mifflin County Hs) MD Lance Urbas (State College Area Hs), 11-3
182: Ethan Rossman (Bellefonte Area Hs) TF Colin Allmond (Altoona Area Hs), 19-4 5:28
195: Tyler Price (State College Area Hs) DEC Nikolas Miller (Central Mountain Hs), 3-1 SV
220: Gage Sutliff (Central Mountain Hs) F Hayden Crum (Mifflin County Hs), 3:04
285: Blaine Davis (Mifflin County Hs) DEC Harrison Schoen (State College Area Hs), 1-0
Third Place
106: Gino Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) F Casey Smith (Juniata Hs), 0:59
113: Hunter Johnson (Mifflin County Hs) DEC Colin Smilnak (Hollidaysburg Area Hs), 4-3
120: Eric Weaver (State College Area Hs) DEC Cameron Sweigart (Juniata Hs), 7-3
126: Carter Weaverling (State College Area Hs) DEC Damion Finnegan (Altoona Area Hs), 5-3
132: Alex Coppolo (Bellefonte Area Hs) DEC Zack Moore (Greater Johnstown Hs), 10-3
138: Kasir Malcolm (Greater Johnstown Hs) TF Zach Miller (Central Mountain Hs), 18-3 4:01
145: Nicholas Burkey (Hollidaysburg Area Hs) DEC Kyle Martin (State College Area Hs), 7-4
152: Damien Galentine (Central Mountain Hs) DEC Adam Zerbee (Altoona Area Hs), 7-2
160: Trey Shoemaker (Mifflin County Hs) DEC Kaden Falls (Central Mountain Hs), 7-0
170: Caleb Porter (Central Mountain Hs) DEC Stephen Ivicic (Bellefonte Area Hs), 2-0
182: Brycen Hassinger (Mifflin County Hs) F Paul Risley (Central Mountain Hs), 2:16
195: Jacob Krepps (Mifflin County Hs) DEC Tyler Benner (Bellefonte Area Hs), 7-3
220: Max Barrier (Bellefonte Area Hs) F Ray Boose (Altoona Area Hs), 2:22
285: Trevor Manley (Altoona Area Hs) DEC Cyrus Mccarl (Central Mountain Hs), 6-1 SV
Fifth Place
106: Garrett Choates (Bellefonte Area Hs) FOR Mykal Jobes (Greater Johnstown Hs), 0-0
113: Bailey Weaverling (State College Area Hs) DEC Jordan Carlucci (Altoona Area Hs), 5-0
120: Braylen Corter (Central Mountain Hs) F Caleb Fasick (Altoona Area Hs), 4:44
126: Lucas Sheetz (Mifflin County Hs) F Daniel Painter (Juniata Hs), 3:59
132: Garidan Bridenbaugh (Hollidaysburg Area Hs) MD Tristan Probst (Central Mountain Hs), 10-2
138: Brady Martin (Bellefonte Area Hs) F Tyson Aurand (Juniata Hs), 2:59
145: Graham Black (Altoona Area Hs) DEC Alec Bossert (Bellefonte Area Hs), 3-2
152: Andrew Mcchesney (Bellefonte Area Hs) DEC Jason Dry (State College Area Hs), 4-3
160: Harrison Hoopes (State College Area Hs) F Aaron Carothers (Altoona Area Hs), 2:54
170: Chase Willis (Juniata Hs) DEC Anthony Weyant (Hollidaysburg Area Hs), 9-3
182: Phaustyn Houtz (Juniata Hs) DEC Braden Newby (State College Area Hs), 8-5
195: Josh Keirn (Altoona Area Hs) F Jesse Weir (Hollidaysburg Area Hs), 0:50
220: Dominic Rowles (Juniata Hs) F Nick Beebe (State College Area Hs), 3:55
285: Hunter Lucas (Juniata Hs) DEC Tristan Winegardner (Hollidaysburg Area Hs), 8-3
This story was originally published February 23, 2020 at 12:18 AM.