Centre County’s high school wrestling teams ready for District 6 Championships
The most important and fun time of the year is here for high school wrestlers.
All five of Centre County’s schools begin their run toward the PIAA Championships in Hershey.
The first stop is the District 6 Class 2A and 3A Championships in Altoona. Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte, Penns Valley and Philipsburg-Osceola get underway at 10 a.m. Friday.
Those four will be joined by State College on Saturday as both divisions will run simultaneously, finishing off with the finals, for both going on at the same time. The top six in Class 2A advances to the PIAA Southwest Regional Championships on March 3-4. The top three in Class 3A will be back in Altoona next week for the PIAA Northwest Regional Championships on Feb. 24-25.
Altoona’s Fieldhouse will be the place to be on Saturday night, when the finals are estimated to begin at 7 p.m.
Here’s a look at each team going into the district championships:
CLASS 2A
Bald Eagle Area
Top seeds: Lucas Fye (121 pounds), Coen Bainey (127), Caleb Close (172)
Other seeds: Liam Purcell (No. 17, 107), Kayson Tice (No. 7, 114), Connor Maney (No. 5, 133), Alex Surovec (No. 14, 139), Mason Reese (No. 5, 145), Jeffre Pifer (No. 4, 152), Shawn Knepp (No. 11, 160), Cameron Dubbs (No. 7, 189), Gage Gardner (No. 6, 215), Eric Clark (No. 13, 285)
Outlook: The Eagles had the most No. 1 seeds of the four Class 2A schools.
Those three wrestler — Fye, Bainey and Close — have been the leaders all season long for BEA. Bainey will look to collect his fourth and final district crown.
Coach Ron Guenot will lean on those three on Friday and Saturday.
“It just goes to show you the season that they had and the kind of wrestlers that they are,” he said. “We kind of expect them to be our leaders for the team, leaders into the weekend, and set an example — do their job one match at a time. We expect to see them in the finals.”
Guenot was rather frustrated with how his team performed during the District 6 Class 2A dual championships two weeks ago.
He said at that time they needed to figure out why their guys come out flat out of the gate, mentioning that in other tournaments the Eagles have had a tough opening round.
He knows his team can’t have that this weekend.
“We’re going to have to make sure that as coaches that we do a better job of having them prepared that first round and not have any letdowns,” Guenot said. “If you’re going to contend for a team title, you have to have strong rounds the whole way through the tournament. We can’t have a let down right off the bat, especially momentum wise.”
Should the seeds hold true, BEA will have seven regional qualifiers. There are two others that are just on the outside looking in.
However, the seeds usually never go as planned.
Guenot knows that, but also knows that if the Eagles want to be the top team, some of those on the fence guys — seed-wise — need to pull off a upset or two.
“If we’re going to win a team title and qualify a slew of guys for regionals, we’re going to have to wrestle higher than some of our seeds,” Guenot said. “We said, ‘If we’re going to win a team title, you need to beat guys that are seeded three, four or five, to move on to the next week.’”
Bellefonte
Top seeds: None
Other seeds: Wyatt Long (No. 10, 107), Cameron Garcia (No. 5, 114), Ezra Swisher (No. 6, 121), Jackson Long (No. 8, 127), Gavin DuFour (No. 16, 133), Noah Weaver (No. 4, 139), Gage Long (No. 4, 145), Max Murray (No. 7, 152), Grady Garrison (No. 7, 160), Nash Irwin (No. 10, 172), Addison Shawley (No. 5, 189), Caleb Frazier (No. 23, 285)
Outlook: The Red Raiders are in the Class 2A championships for the first time.
It’s unfamiliar territory, but coach Mike Maney is just happy to see his guys on the competitive mat again.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been on the mat, so looking forward to get back out and some foreign competition. I think the guys are ready to go,” he said. “We had some nice momentum there at the end of the regular season, so we just want to continue (that). We’re really looking forward to the weekend and getting after it.”
As Maney mentioned, it’s been quite some time since Bellefonte has faced off with a different opponent. It was Jan. 31 to be exact, the first round and quarterfinals of the District 6 dual championships.
The Red Raiders are a young squad, so the dual championships gave them a little taste of what the postseason will be like. However, it’s a different ball game when it comes to the individual postseason.
There will be fans from 24 other schools cheering on their wrestlers. Also, a bulk of Bellefonte’s wrestlers are underclassmen.
“The guys that are seniors, a lot of them haven’t been in the postseason before,” Maney said. “Max Murray is a senior. Gage Long has been around, but we’ll rely on those guys. We’ve built the schedule and put them in situations where they saw good competition. I think they’re anxious to get back on the mat and see what happens.”
With the move to Class 2A, it gives the Red Raiders more opportunities to advance guys, but again, there are a lot more teams to compete against. They are used to going up against only a handful of other schools.
However, Bellefonte isn’t the only new kid on the block. Juniata also has come down from Class 3A.
“They definitely add depth to the tournament. Two tough and good teams that have good kids that is going to make the tournament all that much tougher,” Guenot said. “I think you’ll see that this weekend from adding those two teams.”
Penns Valley
Top seeds: Colten Shunk (133), Ty Watson (152)
Other seeds: Conner Myers (No. 8, 107), Jack Darlington (No. 3, 114), Brayden Lisowski (No. 7, 121), Zach Rummel (No. 15, 127), Max King (No. 9, 139), Chase Fleshman (No. 15, 145), David Martin (No. 8, 160), Ethan Fetterolf (No. 11, 172), Brandon Corl (No. 11, 189), Kollin Brungard (No. 3, 215), Landon Hess (No. 8, 285)
Outlook: The Rams were the team to beat in the dual meet portion of the season.
When they got to the semifinals of the district duals, the No. 1 seed was upset by No. 4 United for their first dual loss of the year. Penns Valley then suffered another loss to Bald Eagle Area.
Outside of that performance, coach Joel Brinker feels his team has been rather consistent.
“We had a little snafu I felt, but I think they got back on the horse. They just need to be consistent, one match at a time,” he said. “The goal is to advance to regionals, so you give yourself an opportunity to try to get to the state tournament.”
Watson and Shunk have the easiest path to take that next step as No. 1 seeds.
Watson is in a familiar situation. Last year, he was the No. 1 seed and had a 29-0 record with a bulk of those wins as pins. He walked away with his first district crown. The biggest difference now? His record is 28-4.
Shunk gets the view from the top for the first time with a 25-5 record. Last year, he was 22-9 entering the district championships and was the No. 3 seed. He ended up finishing fourth, but got injured in the process.
“I think this year (Watson’s) quality of opponents was better than last year. It’s not taking away anything of his accolades last year,” Brinker said, “but he’s been in some barn burners this year and had some very good competition. I think it’s hopefully prepared him for the postseason and go hopefully deeper than he did last year.”
Brinker added on Shunk: “He does things right. He trains right. He eats right. I know he’s chomping at the bit because this is what he wants. This is the special time of the year for these guys. They’ve had goals as little kids and stuff, so just being along for the ride and watching them chase it is awesome.”
Philipsburg-Osceola
Top seeds: None
Other seeds: Caleb Hummel (No. 4, 107), Sam McDonald (No. 13, 114), Ben Gustkey (No. 4, 127), Nate Fleck (No. 4, 133), Haydn Kephart (No. 20, 139), Ian Phillips (No. 11, 145), Marcus Gable (No. 2, 152), Matthew Rowles (No. 13, 160), Trevor Cort (No. 17, 189), Dom Davis (No. 20, 285)
Outlook: This year’s version of the Mounties is unique to some that previously entered the postseason.
In the past, they’ve had only a couple of wrestlers that were considered automatic regional qualifiers. This year, a handful of guys would be considered locks for the regional championships.
“We have a lot of guys that work hard, have come a long way and continue to get better each day,” P-O assistant coach Aaron Levonick said. “I believe that we have a lot of potential as far as regional qualifiers. We’re hoping to get as many as possible. They all believe they can make it, so that’s a good thing, that’s where we start. At this time of the year, it’s one match at a time. It doesn’t matter if you pin your guy or you win by one point, you move on to the next round.”
One of those wrestlers considered to be a lock is Gable, though he has probably the toughest bracket to get through.
The good news is that he’s the No. 2 seed.
He’s supposed to have the second easiest path to the finals, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. He’s got guys like Murray, Glendale’s George Campbell and Huntingdon’s Devin Grubb on his side of the bracket.
Again the good news, Gable has beaten Campbell and Grubb already this year.
“152 is a very tough weight. Marcus is a very tough kid. He has a great attitude and works very hard every day,” Levonick said. “He does everything and more that we ask of him. He’s 100 percent committed and dedicated to the sport. He has high goals. I think he’s going to do very well. I’m looking forward to seeing him this weekend and in the weeks ahead.”
Those others that can be deemed automatic are Hummel, Gustkey and Fleck.
Now, others could crash the party, but they’ll have to pull off some upsets. It has been common for the Mounties in the past.
Levonick feels those upsets could come, based on what he’s seen in the room leading up to this point.
“I think our guys are ready. They’ve been working hard the last couple of weeks,” he said. “They’re excited for this opportunity. It’s the best time of the year. They have a lot on the line. They’re ready for the challenge and everybody’s looking forward to it.”
CLASS 3A
State College
Top seeds: Hayden Cunningham (127), Pierson Manville (139), Asher Cunningham (145), Carter Weaverling (172), Nick Pavlechko (285)
Other seeds: Mason Sanderson (No. 4, 107), Nick Berrena (No. 5, 114), Johnny Coates (No. 3, 121), Jacob Campbell (No. 3, 133), Rudi Skucek (No. 5, 160), Adam Bell (No. 5, 189), Lucas Anderson (No. 6, 215)
Outlook: The Little Lions enter the individual postseason coming off a disappointing 36-34 loss to Central Mountain in the District 6 Class 3A dual title match.
But, State College has five No. 1 seeds.
Four of them are expected in the Cunninghams, Manville and Pavlechko. Those four have led the Little Lions all season long.
The last No. 1 seed in Weaverling isn’t necessarily a surprise, but he’s not as known as the previous four.
“I’m excited about him wrestling this weekend. I think he’s going to do well,” State College coach Ryan Cummins said. “He doesn’t have a target on his back like some of the other guys do. Hopefully, he can fly under the radar, and do really well. I think it’s awesome for him to be in that spot. I think it’s a good opportunity for him and hopefully he can keep rolling.”
Those five are in good shape for advancing as only the top three move on in Class 3A. State College has a pair of No. 3 seeds in Coates and Campbell that if they wrestle to their seed, they’ll get through too.
However, nothing is given, it is all earned.
“It definitely makes it tougher. You got to win that third match, just getting there isn’t good enough,” Cummins said. “Yes, some weight classes are small, but you got to win to get there. Whether it’s third or fourth, you’ve got to show up and get a win.”
Outside of those seven previously mentioned wrestlers, the remaining guys are all getting to experience the individual postseason for the first time.
For Cummins, he said his message is simple. It’s what he and his coaching staff have been saying all year long.
“Go out there, wrestle your match, be aggressive, score points and have fun,” he said. “I think if you just fall back on what you’ve been doing all year, you’ll be just fine. Hopefully, nerves don’t get to them, and they can keep rolling and improve where they’re at. Most of them are sitting lower than third, so they got to beat their seed. It should be a fun weekend.”
District 6 Championships
When: Friday, 1st session (Class 2A Pigtails, First Round, Consolation First Round, Consolation Second Round), 10 a.m.; 2nd session (Class 2A Quarterfinals, Consolation Third Round), 4 p.m.; Saturday, 1st Session (Class 2A Consolation Fourth Round, Class 3A Quarterfinals, 8:30 a.m.; Class 2A & 3A semifinals, Class 2A & 3A Consolation Quarterfinals, 10:30 a.m.; Class 2A & 3A Consolation Semifinals, Class 2A Seventh Place Matches, Class 2A & 3A Fifth Place Matches, 2 p.m.; 2nd Session (Class 2A & 3A Finals, Class 2A & 3A Consolation Finals), 7 p.m.
Where: The Fieldhouse, Altoona
Tickets: Purchased at door, $10 per session or $18 for all day
Brackets: FloArena
Note: Hall of Fame Induction will begin at 6:30 p.m.
