Sports Writing

[tystates]

A benefit soccer game.

By TY R. STATES
Sports Writer
Wednesday night at Detwiler Field was about more than just high school soccer. The community came out for the "Play for Clay" game and the Bearcats responded by beating Philipsburg-Osceola 4-1.
The benefit was staged to raise funds toward the purchase of an underwater camera by the Marklesburg Volunteer Fire Company. The device was needed to find the body of Huntingdon student-athlete Clay Bishop who drowned at Raystown Lake this summer.
All proceeds from tickets sales and the food booth will be donated. There were also t-shirts for sale, a Chinese auction and a 50/50 drawing to take part in and help with the cause.
"I've always been the kind of coach that says there is more to it than just soccer," Huntingdon head coach Anita Valerio said. "There are life lessons to be learned everywhere and I think tonight was full of lessons other than osoccer. I'm so proud of them and thankful we have such a great community, parents and players that made all this happened."
Clay's parents Scott and Ellie Bishop were on hand to see all the support for their family. The Bishops were presented with a framed Bearcats soccer T-shirt that was signed by all the players.
"We're very fortunate and because of all that and the energy they had we played really well, especially in the first half," Valerio remarked. "It was a little sloppier in the second half but we still kept the pressure up and had scoring opportunities."
Huntingdon topped the Mounties 4-0 on Sept. 18. The 'Cats came out of the gates fast and immediately started taking shots on goal. It took two minutes to take a 1-0 lead on a corner kick by Sam Mansberger and a goal by Natanya Shingler.
The score moved to 2-0 only four minutes later. Shingler had the assist on Shannon Henney's first goal of the season.
The Bearcats scored two more goals in the last 10 minutes of the half. Rachel Fleming raced upfield after a pass by Katelyn Shoemaker and beat goalkeeper Carley Hahn with a shot to the far right post. Kyra Shea made the cross to freshman Kate Thurston-Griswold who also picked up her first goal of the year.
A lot of substitutes played in the second half. The Mounties avoided a shutout with a goal by Jordyn Powell. Huntingdon still found shots but didn't score the rest of the way.
Shingler had two goals in the junior varsity match that the Bearcats (5-2-2) won 5-0.
Huntingdon is home Saturday for a match with Bald Eagle Area. The varsity will play first at 5:30 p.m.

[tystates]

Distric Six soccer playoffs.

By TY R. STATES
Sports Writer
Huntingdon looked at Tyrone being its opponent as a gift for them to face in a District Six Class AA play-in game at Hollidaysburg Tuesday. The Bearcats got the payback they wanted as a late second-half goal by Sam Mansberger lifted them to a 2-1 victory over the Eagles.
This was the third meeting of the year between the squads. All three were decided by one goal. The 'Cats (10-7) took a 4-3 decision in double overtime at Tyrone (12-6) but the Eagles ruined Senior Night by scoring with 42.9 seconds remaining in regulation to win 1-0 at Detwiler Field.
"We've always had a lot of heart. That's the kind of team we are," Huntingdon head coach Anita Valerio said. "Even though we were down, what we needed to get through this game was heart and that's what it came down to."
The win puts the Bearcats into the first round of the eight-team tournament. Huntingdon now plays at top-seed Forest Hills (16-0-1) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The winner of that match would face either Westmont-Hilltop (12-3-2) or Bedford (13-4-1) in the semifinals.
As part of preparation for this match, Valerio assigned the girls some homework. They had to post something in each other's locker at school to help get them focused for the Eagles. One player wrote, 'They took away our game in 42.9 seconds. Let's take their season away.'
"I think mentally we were ready for this game," Valerio added.
Mansberger said of the 1-0 loss to Tyrone on Senior Night, "It devastated our team. We've wanted this ever since to play them in districts and come out on top."
Right from the start you could see this would be another close match between the teams. Defenses played hard and both squads fought for every offensive chance they could get.
Rachel Fleming and Natanya Shingler were the two players generating the most scoring chances for the Bearcats, with Ellen Crook and Carrie Vance carrying the offense for the Eagles. There was a scramble in the box after a Huntingdon corner kick but Mikayla Fisher made the save.
Tyrone scored with 23 minutes left in the first half on a play that the Bearcats' defense didn't react on in time. Vance put the ball into the box and Crook hit a shot to the left post past Ashley Laird.
The Bearcats were able to tie the game with 15:54 still to go before intermission. A tripping foul against the Eagles set the 'Cats up with a direct kick. Mansberger hit the cross bar and Kyra Shea sent home the rebound for her seventh goal of the season.
Huntingdon made it to halftime with the score still tied 1-1. Defenses turned it up a notch in the second half and both teams worked hard for those precious shots on goal.
Fleming and Shingler continued to pressure the Eagles, but Erika Voyzey played tough and thwarted a lot of runs by Huntingdon. The regulation clock was winding down when the Bearcats found an opening and took advantage. Mansberger pushed up with the ball and beat Fisher with a shot to the left corner to take a 2-1 lead with 4:32 still to play. It was her 10th goal of the year.
"I wanted to assist Natanya but I saw the goalie coming out and I said I want this goal for my team. I want to help my team move on and keep playing," Mansberger explained.
Tyrone did all it could to find a way to tie the game but the Bearcats held on for the 2-1 victory.
"We don't know much about Forest Hills but hope to play our best soccer on Thursday. That's all I can ask for from the girls," Valerio said.

[tystates]

Distric Six Class AA team wrestling duals:

By TY R. STATES
Sports Writer
For one of the few times this season, Mount Union found itself behind in its District Six Class AA team quarterfinal dual meet against visiting Blairsville Wednesday. Trailing 26-15, the Trojans won five straight matches to win 43-29 and take one more step toward repeating as team champions.
The Bobcats (13-4) got off to a good start, but the Trojans whethered the storm and fought back for the win.
"Now there's nobody that's going to be easy," Mount Union head coach Corey Wertz stated. "When you get to this level the bonus points are big. We talked about controlling them. We have to get the bonus points and they can't. That's how you're going to win from here on out."
Third-seeded Mount Union (21-3) moves to the semifinals Saturday at Tyrone against No. 2 Huntingdon. Top-seeded West Branch beat Cambria Heights 48-22 to reach the semis. The Warriors will face Penns Valley, who defeated Juniata 33-26. The semifinals begin at 10 a.m. with the championships scheduled for noon.
Blairsville first had to take care of Ligonier Valley in the opening round at Mount Union Wednesday. The Bobcats won four falls and received four forfeits from the Rams. Blairsville controlled the meet and advanced with a 55-21 win over Ligonier.
The quarterfinals began at 152 and Blairsville's Noah Tarr (29-2) won his second bout of the night by quickly pinning Brian Nemyo in 1:31.
Andrew Doak followed for the Bobcats and he showed why he's one of the top wrestlers on his team. After winning his match against Ligonier in 20 seconds, he took on Mount Union's Dylan Smith at 160. Doak (29-1) never relinquinshed control, building an 8-1 lead after the second period and defeating Smith (24-4) by major decision 13-3.
The Trojans got on the scoreboard at 170 when Cory Kylor (27-1) used Channing Cavender's (18-8) head to bring him down to the mat and score the fall in 1:12. At 182, Blairsville's Bobby Thompson matched the height of Darrian Stapleton. The Trojan carried a 5-0 lead into the second period but it was Thompson (25-7) coming back to pin Stapleton (15-12) at the 3:11 mark.
Scott Thompson was in command all the way against Mount Union's Devon Kylor (20-8) and won by a 16-4 major decision at 195.
Philip Kyle came away with a close 3-2 decision over Blairsville's Alex Tripodis (22-10). The two spent almost the whole bout on their feet but Kyle led 3-0 late in the final period. Tripodis scored a takedown with five seconds left and very nearly had Kyle (18-9) in position for back points but the buzzer sounded for a 3-2 final score.
The heavyweight bout saw Mount Union's Nikolas Smith and Luke White push each other around through a scoreless first period. Smith (21-4) began the second period on top and got hold of the head and arm to put White (23-8) down for the fall at 3:19.
Mount Union sent Brock Knable out at 106 for his first match of the season. He was up 2-0 on Hunter Cunningham after three minutes but lost by fall in 3:43.
"We've been trying to get him to come out for the team and he finally decided to try it, so now we have a 106-pounder," Wertz explained.
That left the Bobcats with a 26-15 lead. Sage Moist (23-3) at 113 started the run for the Trojans by using a cradle to down Judah Napolitano in 52 seconds. Tyler Foor (15-12) then followed at 120 and put Ayrton LaMantia away with a pin in 35 seconds. Jake Boozel (21-6) kept the streak going with another pin in 59 seconds against Dillan Palmer at 126.
Mount Union now held a 33-26 lead with three bouts still remaining. Wertz waited for Blairsville to send out its wrestler at 132 before deciding on Robbie Steel.
"The meet started at 152 and it didn't really matter what they were going to do with Doak and Tarr," Wertz said. "They were going to be locked in at 145 and 152 or 152 and 160. When we won the toss we decided we wanted them to send first at 132."
The Bobcats went with Jacob Winell, who hadn't wrestled this season. Steel (10-15) was on top throughout the match and collected a 10-1 major decision.
Now Blairsville had to win by fall in the last two matches to win the meet. Kord Aurand (23-5) made sure that wouldn't happen when he pinned Nick Pecze in 2:22 at 138.
"We looked at that kid (Pecze) and saw some similar opponents. Kord felt pretty confident going in that he could win. He was patient and waited for a mistake," Wertz said.
"When we got down, our lightweights really picked it up. We thought we could get bonus points through just about all of our lightweights and we did. That was part of our game plan and that's what we did."
The last bout of the evening at 145 went to overtime. Mount Union's Tyler Long (19-7) was up 3-0 in the third period but Lucas Palmer (25-7) tied the score 4-4. In overtime Palmer came up with the takedown for a 6-4 win.
Mount Union defeated Huntingdon 39-16 Jan. 15.
"They're going to be ready so we're going to have to be ready with them," Wertz remarked.

[tystates]

District Six wrestling story on the brackets.

By TY R. STATES
Sports Writer
During the course of the wrestling season competitors worked for the team and themselves. Now it's time for the postseason and the focus shifts to each individual wrestler as the postseason begins with the District Six Class AA Tournament this weekend in the Altoona High School Fieldhouse, and Huntingdon County will be well represented.
Last night, coaches from the district's 25 Class AA teams poured over results, win/loss records, and total points to come up with the bracket for each weight class. Seeds were determined by a prescribed point procedure with tie-breakers used when necessary.
The four area schools will send 48 wrestlers to the two-day tournament, three more than last year. The locals have 21 grapplers in the top eight seeds and 15 are among the top five. There are 27 competitors returning to districts from last year and it takes a top four finish to move on to the Southwest Regionals at the War Memorial Arena in Johnstown March 1-2.
Huntingdon and Southern Huntingdon each have a wrestler in all 14 weight classes. The Bearcats have six that are seeded in the top five while the Rockets have just two, but those are ranked one and two respectively. Mount Union has seven of its 13 men within the top five seeds. Juniata Valley has two wrestlers seeded 10th.
Southern Huntindon senior Dison Myers (23-4) is the top seed in the 126-pound bracket. He is 17-2 in that weight class and will face either Josh Wilson (12-14) of Bellwood-Antis or Jacob Confer (12-17) from Penns Valley in the first round. Myers defeated Wilson by fall in 1:08 this season.
The No. 2 seed for the Rockets is senior Brennon Shields (22-0) at 132. He's 15-0 at that weight and will meet either Cole Hypes (10-13) from Claysburg-Kimmel or Glendale's Osbourne Cheripka (1-4) in the first round. Shields was the district runner-up a year ago.
Huntingdon freshman Collin Glorioso (27-3) is ranked second at 106 pounds. His first-round opponent will be Tylynn Miller (9-14) from Juniata or Michael Dautlick (11-14) from Cambria Heights. Glorioso pinned Miller in 34 seconds during the season.
Trojan senior Cory Kylor (28-2) is the second seed in the 170-pound weight class. Kylor will wrestle either Alex Croft (4-7) from Central Cambria or Matthew Smith (4-15) in his first-round bout.
The Bearcats have two of the three locals that are seeded third. Junior Eric Lynn (19-9) is the three seed at 145. His first-round opponent will be either Dakotah Feathers (8-13) from Claysburg-Kimmel or Trae Shirey III (12-12) of Central. Teammate Logan Fisher (18-9) is seeded third at 152. Fisher will meet either Southern Huntingdon's Derrik Talbot (9-7) or Nickolas Stahl (Ligonier Valley) in the first round.
The remaining three seed is Mount Union freshman Jake Boozel (23-6) at 126. Boozel will wait to take on either Stephen Rouser (7-17) from Richland or Josh Gould (15-14) of Forest Hills in the first round.
Mount Union has three wrestlers seeded fourth. At 113 Sage Moist (25-3), 160 Dylan Smith (26-4) and 285 Nikolas Smith (22-5). Moist and N. Smith each placed third last year. Huntingdon's Matt Wilson (21-11) is also the four-seed at 120. Wilson finished fifth in 2012.
The Bearcats and Trojans each have two athletes as a No. 5 seed. For Huntingdon they are Devon Green (22-11) and Matt Norris (17-12) at 126 and 160 respectively. Mount Union's five-seeds are Devon Kylor (22-8) at 182 and Phil Kyle (19-10) at 195. Kyle finished fourth last season at districts.
Huntingdon's Nathan Russell (26-6) and Mitchell Laurer (21-11) are the sixth seed at 132 and 195 respectively. Russell placed fifth last year. Quentin Whitsel (23-4) represents the Rockets as the No. 7 seed at 120. He defeated his first-round opponent Jacob Brown (13-11) of West Branch 8-2 this season.
There are three locals seeded eighth - Mount Union's Kord Aurand (23-7) at 132, Huntingdon's Jon Wagner (18-10) at 138, and Chad Waite (13-9) from Southern Huntingdon at 160.
Also entered in the tournament from Huntingdon are Jacob Dubbs (113), Hunter Rupert (170), Logan Gallagher (182), Tyler Wholaver (220) and Lucas Clites (285). Rounding out Mount Union's entries are Tyler Foor (120), Robbie Steel (138), Tyler Long (145), Brian Nemyo (152), and Darrian Stapleton (220).
The remaining Southern Huntingdon wrestlers are Dalton Erb (106), Brandon Erb (113), Nevin Love (138), Warren Benson (145), Scott Carbaugh (170), Codi Harkleroad (182), Casey Carowick (195), Cole Herrington (220) and Cody Herrington (285). The Juniata Valley competitors include Brent Troutman (132), Caleb Wagner (138), Dustin Houck (152), Cole Fisher (160), Noah Hess (182), Damion Dunkle (195), and Alex Culp (285).
All wrestlers are locked into the weight they have been entered but seedings could change if someone is unable to participate because of illness, injury, failure to make weight or any other reasons. Action begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

This is the full tournament bracket for each weight class that I had to type in.

Following are the advance pairings for the District 6-AA Tournament this Friday and Saturday at the Altoona High School Fieldhouse. Listings are in order of brackets. Each listing contains the wrestler's seed, name, school abbreviation in parentheses, class and record (where available). At the end is a key to school abbreviations.

106 Pounds
Preliminary
(17) Kayron Joseph (C) Fr., 7-14 vs. (16) Hunter Cunningham (B) So., 12-11.
First Round
(1) Triston Law (FH) So., 23-3 vs. Joseph/Cunningham winner; (9) Justin Grassmyer (BA) So., 12-11 vs. (8) Jordan Muselman (CK) So., 14-10; (5) Drake Dorian (WH) So., 15-5 vs. (12) Issac Bierly (PV) Fr., 14-16; (13) Nick Krupa (MV) Fr., 12-13 vs. (4) Ian Ostrowski (CC) Fr., 22-6; (3) David Wiles (MC) Fr. 22-7 vs. (14) Dalton Erb (SH) Fr., 8-8; (11) Thomas Kovach (G) Fr., 8-9 vs. (6) Dustin Deliman (WB) Sr., 16-6; (7) Gordon Matson (LV) Fr., 18-9 vs. (10) Michael Dautlick (CH) So., 11-14; (15) Tylynn Miller (J) So., 9-14 vs. (2) Colin Glorioso (H) Fr., 28-3.

113 Pounds
Preliminary
(17) Joey Vanish (MV) Fr., 3-17 vs. (16) Cole Walters (J) So., 7-21.
First Round
(1) Justin Patrick (LV) Jr., 27-2 vs. Vanish/Walters winner; (9) Dan Yost (WH) Fr., 12-8 vs. (8) Jake Keiper (FH) So., 14-9; (5) Curtis Decker (PV) Fr., 26-5 vs. (12) Jacob Dubbs (H) So., 14-15; (13) William Davis (NC) Fr., 5-5 vs. (4) Sage Moist (MU) Jr., 26-3; (3) Kale Burket (C) So., 22-3 vs. (14) Brandon Erb (SH) Sr., 5-7; (11) Zach Stevens (PC) Fr., 17-14 vs. (6) Jett Sacolic (G) So., 22-6; (7) Tyler Bodenschatz (R) So., 17-11 vs. (10) Wyatt Sankey (WB) Jr., 17-15; (15) Judah Napolitano (B) So., 6-14 vs. (2) Josh Brown (CK) Sr., 21-5.

120 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Kolton Confer (PV) So., 9-17 vs. (16) Noah Tomallo (NC) So., 4-7; (13) Dylan Fudalski (MV) Jr., 16-11 vs. (20) Ryan Biter (PC) So., 3-18; (19) Ayrton LaMantia (B) Fr., 3-11 vs. (14) Dakota Walter (CK) So., 8-12; (15) Collin Ulery (C) So., 9-13 vs. (18) Brady Ratosky (P) Fr., 6-15.
First Round
(1) Joshua Patrick (LV) Sr., 20-0 vs. Confer/Tomallo winner; (9) Adam George (R) So., 16-10 vs. (8) Richie Gilson (J) So., 21-12; (5) Tom Opdenhoff (CC) Fr., 25-3 vs. (12) Patrick Johnson (G) Fr., 16-10; (4) Matt Wilson (H) Jr., 21-12 vs. Fudalski/Biter winner; (3) Joseph Davis (CH) Jr., 24-5 vs. LaMantia/Walter winner; (11) Tyler Foor (MU) Sr., 17-13 vs. (6) Logan Blackburn (WH) Jr., 16-11; (7) Quentin Whitsel (SH) So., 23-4 vs. (10) Jacob Brown (WB) Jr., 13-11; (2) Jason Schopp (T) Jr., 22-6 vs. Ulery/Ratosky winner.

126 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Josh Wilson (BA) So., 12-14 vs. (16) Jacob Confer (PV) So., 12-17; (21) Dillan Palmer (B) So., 2-10 vs. (12) Max Caldwell (LV) So., 11-5; (13) Warren Lowther (U) So., 11-14 vs. (20) Lane Yoder (CK) So., 2-3; (19) Stephen Rouser (R) So., 7-17 vs. (14) Josh Gould (FH) So., 15-14; (11) Nick Lutz (P) So., 14-10 vs. (22) Nathan Feagley (JV) So., 3-16; (15) Aleic Hunter (T) So., 10-10 vs. (18) Justin Reid (J) Sr., 7-9.
First Round
(1) Dison Myers (SH) Sr., 23-4 vs. Wilson/Confer winner; (9) Jonathan Rojas (G) So., 18-5 vs. (8) Austin Farabaugh (PC) Fr., 16-12; (5) Devon Green (H) Jr., 22-12 vs. Palmer/Caldwell winner; (4) Jordan Quarello (C) Fr., 19-4 vs. Lowther/Yoder winner; (3) Jake Boozel (MU) Fr., 23-7 vs. Rouser/Gould winner; (6) Steven Zipf (WH) Sr., 15-8 vs. Lutz/Feagley winner; (7) Bryce Bloom (MV) Jr., 22-7 vs. (10) Bradley Taylor (CC) Jr., 14-10; (2) Abe Albright (WB) Sr., 23-9 vs. Hunter/Reid winner.

132 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Nick Pecze (B) So., 12-14 vs. (16) Jaret Dicken (BA) So., 8-17; (21) Kyler Confer (PV) Jr., 1-9 vs. (12) Terry Albright (C) Sr., 14-9; (13) Luke McCloskey (T) Sr., 14-12 vs. (20) Tyler Gaston (NC) Jr., 1-8; (19) Devon Walker (U) So., 5-13 vs. (14) Brent Troutman (JV) Fr., 9-11; (11) Ryan Thomas (MV) So., 19-9 vs. (22) Coltin Makin (CC) Jr., 5-17; (15) Cole Hypes (CK) So., 10-13 vs. (18) Osbourne Cheripka (G) Fr., 1-4.
First Round
(1) John Hayles (WB) Sr., 28-5 vs. Pecze/Dicken winner; (9) Brad Thomas (CH) Sr., 13-4 vs. (8) Kord Aurand (MU) Sr., 24-7; (5) Michael Eckenrode (PC) So., 22-10 vs. Confer/Albright winner; (4) Mike Walsh (WH) Sr., 19-7 vs. McCloskey/Gaston winner; (3) Adam Barrick (J) Sr., 28-5 vs. Walker/Troutman winner; (6) Nathan Russell (H) Jr., 26-7 vs. Thomas/Makin winner; (7) Daniel Croyle (LV) Jr., 24-10 vs. (10) Isaac Stewart (MC) So., 21-7; (2) Brennon Shields (SH) Sr., 22-0 vs. Hypes/Cheripka winner.

138 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Robbie Steel (MU) Fr., 9-19 vs. (16) Matt Hosterman (PV) So., 11-19; (21) William Sessamen (T) Jr., 3-12 vs. (12) Austin Gill (CH) Fr., 12-11; (13) Tanner Bilonick (CC) Sr., 7-4; (20) Tanner Martz (G) Jr., 7-18; (19) Mark Barbera (WH) So., 5-11 vs. (14) Joseph Neiderhiser (LV) So., 8-10; (11) Dominic Farabaugh (PC) So., 15-12 vs. (22) Grant Ingalis (U) So., 4-19; (23) Bryan Nealen (NC) Jr., 2-10 vs. (10) Caleb Wagner (JV) Jr., 12-8; (15) Kalib Weyandt (CK) Sr., 9-16 vs. (18) Nevin Love (SH) Fr., 8-13.
First Round
(1) Sean Heggs (J) Sr., 30-4 vs. Steel/Hosterman winner; (9) Zack Mock (BA) So., 10-10 vs. (8) Jon Wagner (H) Fr., 19-10; (5) Nick Hoenstine (C) So., 20-5 vs. Sessamen/Gill winner; (4) Brandon Heberling (MC) Jr., 23-7 vs. Bilonick/Martz winner; (3) Parker Bumbarger (WB) Jr., 30-5 vs. Barbera/Neiderhiser winner; (6) Lucas Palmer (B) Sr., 25-7 vs. Farabaugh/Ingalis winner; (7) Chase Fox (P) Jr., 17-7 vs. Nealen/Wagner winner; (2) Nicholas Naglic (R) Jr., 24-5 vs. Weyandt/Love winner.

145 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Seth Ray (WH) Sr., 8-11 vs. (16) Aaron Hogue (PC) Sr., 14-15; (21) Jacob Damon (T) Fr., 4-17 vs. (12) Justin Hommer (G) So., 14-6; (13) Cordale Kline (CC) Jr., 10-9 vs. (20) Warren Benson (SH) Fr., 5-17; (19) Dakotah Feathers (CK) So., 8-13 vs. (14) Trae Shirey III (C) Jr., 12-12; (11) Tyler Long (MU) Jr., 20-12 vs. (22) Chad Repine (MC) Sr., 3-15; (15) Michael Zabinski (CH) Sr., 12-17; (18) Dallas Huff (BA) So., 3-2.
First Round
(1) Noah Tarr (B) Sr., 29-2 vs. Ray/Hogue winner; (9) Gus Yahner (NC) Jr., 9-4 vs. (8) Travis Templeton (FH) So., 17-12; (5) Samuel Ohler (MV) Jr., 14-6 vs. Damon/Hommer winner; (4) Luke Nanna (J) Sr., 21-10 vs. Kline/Benson winner; (3) Eric Lynn (H) Jr., 19-10 vs. Feathers/Shirey winner; (6) Dereck Croyle (LV) Jr., 20-12 vs. Long/Repine winner; (7) Tyler Mack (U) Jr., 17-8 vs. (10) Clayton Green (WB) Fr., 16-16; (2) Seth Decker (PV) Jr., 26-3 vs. Zabinski/Huff winner.

152 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Brad Mikitko (NC) Jr., 5-10 vs. (16) Luke Kozorosky (CC) Sr., 6-8; (21) Trevor Henry (R) Jr., 4-18) vs. (12) Caleb Kephart (P) So., 13-11; (13) Cody Hamilton (MV) So., 9-6 vs. (20) Brian Nemyo (MU) Sr., 1-11; (19) Nickolas Stahl (LV) So., 6-15 vs. (14) Derik Talbot (SH) Sr., 9-7; (11) Jeremy Wilson (BA) So., 17-8 vs. (22) Dustin Houck (JV) Jr., 2-14; (15) Keith Gates (G) Sr., 11-16 vs. (18) Nickolas Custer-Sell (CK) So., 0-4.
First Round
(1) Andrew Doak (B) So., 29-1 vs. Mikitko/Kozorosky winner; (9) Nicholas Getz (T) So., 14-10 vs. (8) Mike Mock (C) So., 18-7; (5) Luke Slippey (WB) So., 25-9 vs. Henry/Kephart winner; (4) Cole Confer (PV) Sr., 25-5 vs. Hamilton/Nemyo winner; (3) Logan Fisher (H) Fr., 19-9 vs. Stahl/Talbot winner; (6) Levi Niebauer (CH) So., 21-7 vs. Wilson/Houck winner; (7) Jared Benner (J) Jr., 19-11 vs. (10) Jacob Driskel (PC) Fr, 20-10; (2) Phil Crook (MC) Jr., 25-5 vs. Gates/Custer-Sell winner.

160 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Cole Fisher (JV) Sr., 5-14 vs. (16) Justin Bellas (LV) Jr., 2-9; (13) Matt Wyland (PC) Jr., 11-15 vs. (20) Devyn Bowser (CC) Jr., 3-19; (19) Hunter Cober (R) So., 4-4 vs. (14) Kyle McCullough (MC) So., 4-4; (15) Justin Hammel (CK) Jr., 5-11 vs. (18) Canyon Burda (C) Sr., 3-13.
First Round
(1) Cody Law (FH) Sr., 23-0 vs. Fisher/Bellas winner; (9) Kyle Stewart (G) Jr., 14-10 vs. (8) Chad Waite (SH) Sr., 13-9; (5) Matt Norris (H) So., 18-12 vs. (12) Riley Schropp (WH) Sr., 9-11; (4) Dylan Smith (MU) Jr., 26-5 vs. Wyland/Bowser winner; (3) Derek Beitz (J) Jr., 22-10 vs. Cober/McCullough winner; (11) Conor Myers (WB) So., 13-18 vs. (6) Nick Torsell (BA) Jr., 15-5; (7) Dalton Waksmunski (CH) SO., 19-10 vs. (10) Anthony Michaels (U) So., 13-11; (2) Corey Hazel (PV) So., 28-1 vs. Hammel/Burda winner.

170 Pounds
Preliminaries
(18) Bruce Knisely (BA) Jr., 5-14; vs. (17) Hunter Rupert (H) Sr., 6-21; (14) James Holley (MC) Jr., 13-14 vs. (21) Cody Kephart (P) Sr., 21-3; (20) Oliver Hall (LV) Jr. 1-10 vs. (15) Matt Walter (CK) So., 10-14; (16) Alex Croft (CC) So., 4-7 vs. (19) Matthew Smith (PC) Jr., 4-15.
First Round
(1) Lucas Kristofits (WB) Sr., 26-8 vs. Knisely/Rupert winner; (10) Miles Stahl (U) Sr., 17-7 vs. (9) Scott Carbaugh (SH) So., 19-9; (5) Nico Pecora (R) Jr., 24-7 vs. (13) Travis Yahner (CH) Sr., 12-13; (4) Bobby Thompson (B) Sr., 25-7 vs. Holley/Kephart winner; (3) Zack Pinkas (FH) Sr. 22-5 vs. Hall/Walter winner; 912) Blake Burket (C) Jr., 13-12 vs. (7) Tyler Hershey (J) Sr., 25-7; (8) Andrew Hurd (PV) So., 24-7 vs. (11) Colin Barron (WH) Jr., 14-11; (2) Cory Kylor (MU) Sr., 28-3 vs. Croft/Smith winner.

182 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Codi Harkleroad (SH) Sr., 5-14 vs. (16) Calvin Crow (CC) Sr., 6-16; (15) Charlie Brewer (MC) So., 11-15 vs. (18) Logan Gallagher (H) Jr., 1-10.
First Round
(1) Scott Thompson (B) So., 8-0 vs. Harkleroad/Crow winner; (9) Jared Ponder (C) Jr., 10-7 vs. (8) Cameron Strayer (CK) Sr., 17-9; (5) Devon Kylor (MU) Jr. 22-9 vs. (12) Paul Husar (P) Sr., 8-4; (13) Joey Frontino (NC) Jr., 11-6 vs. (4) Tyler Crawford (CH) Sr., 21-4; (3) Dominick Shawley (LV) Sr., 22-9 vs. (14) Taylor Foster (J) So., 12-17; (11) Noah Hess (JV) Fr., 13-8 vs. (6) Charles Hropovich (U) Sr., 16-2; (7) Kent Steart (MV) Jr., 17-10 vs. (10) Vincent McDowell (WB) Fr., 16-15; (2) Mike Rogers (PV) So., 29-1 vs. Brewer/Gallagher winner.

195 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Jake Cribbs (MC) So., 1-3 vs. (16) Anthony Mezzello (CH) So., 7-13; (21) Isaac Little (C) Jr., 6-16 vs. (12) Ethan Hunter (BA) Jr., 9-8; (13) Damion Dunkle (JV) So., 8-8 vs. (20) Benjamin Hoch (LV) So., 3-8; (19) Cody Pentland (G) Jr., 7-17 vs. (14) Casey Carowick (SH) Sr., 9-18; (15) Charles Litzinger (P) Sr., 6-8; (18) Tom Howell (CC) So., 3-11.
First Round
(1) James Stodart (MV) Sr., 24-2 vs. Cribbs/Mezzello winner; (9) Ty Treaster (J) So., 14-13 vs. (8) Henry Schlosser (PC) Jr., 22-8; (5) Philip Kyle (MU) Jr., 20-10 vs. Little/Hunter winner; (4) Tyler Oliver (U) So., 23-2 vs. Dunkle/Hock winner; (3) Maverick Swartz (PV) Sr., 26-4 vs. Pentland/Carowick winner; (11) Robert Pearce (WB) Jr., 10-9 vs. (6) Mitchell Lauer (H) Jr., 22-11; (7) Alex Tripodis (B) Sr., 22-10 vs. (10) Tyler Elder (CK) Fr., 16-14; (2) DJ Wunder (T) Sr., 21-4 vs. Litzinger/Howell winner.

220 Pounds
Preliminary
(17) Cole Herrington (SH) Jr. 7-21 vs. (16) Owen Musselman (CK) Jr., 3-11.
First Round
(1) Don Shovestull (WH) Sr. 23-5 vs. Herrington/Musselman winner; (9) Darrian Stapleton (MU) Jr, 16-14 vs. (8) Raymond Carlheim (G) So, 17-9; (5) Luke White (B) Sr., 23-7 vs. (12) Dominic Novella (CH) Sr., 9-10; (13) Raymond Marsh (LV) So., 9-12 vs. (4) Patrick Fitzgerald (J) Sr., 24-7; (3) Jacob Ludwig (MV) Sr., 23-3 vs. (14) John Branick (CC) Jr., 7-18; (11) Tyler Wholaver (H) Sr., 13-12 vs. (6) Andrew Deitman (U) So., 23-2; (7) Seth McLendon (PC) Jr., 12-4 vs. (10) Collin Rudd (MC) So., 14-11; (15) Cameron Neel (P) Jr., 5-11 vs. (2) Reynold Maines (WB) So., 29-2.

285 Pounds
Preliminaries
(17) Kody Ness (G) So., 4-7 vs. (16) Lucas Clites (H) So., 3-6; (21) Wes Hueston (C) Jr., 2-19 vs. (12) Christian Roman (WH) Jr., 7-9; (13) Brandon Cunkleman (B) So., 11-15 vs. (20) Kyler Kruel (LV) So., 4-16; (19) Brendan McDonough (J) Sr., 7-13 vs. (14) Mike Confer (PV) Jr., 11-18; (15) Austyn Polisky (MC) Sr., 11-15 vs. (18) Matt Marra (FH) Sr., 5-7.
First Round
(1) Aaron Gill (CH) Jr. 25-3 vs. Ness/Clites winner; (9) Cody Herrington (SH) Sr., 15-12 vs. (8) John Wilkinson (PC) Jr. 16-8; (5) Mathew Moose (R) Jr., 16-3 vs. Hueston/Roman winner; (4) Nikolas Smith (MU) Jr. 23-5 vs. Cunkleman/Kruel winner; (3) Keith Shawley (BA) Sr., 16-3 vs. McDonough/Confer winner; (11) Joel Hammel (CK) Sr., 14-15 vs. (6) Benjamin Mountain (U) Sr., 17-5; (7) Jack Bunnell (MV) Jr., 18-9 vs. (10) Alex Culp (JV) Sr., 9-11; (2) Morgan Selepack (WB) Jr., 29-5 vs. Polisky?Marra winner.

Key To Team Abbreviations
Bellwood-Antis (BA); Blairsville (B); Cambria Heights (CH); Central (C); Central Cambria (CC); Claysburg-Kimmel (CK); Forest Hills (FH); Glendale (G); Huntingdon (H); Juniata (J); Juniata Valley (JV); Ligonier Valley (LV); Marion Center (MC); Moshannon Valley (MV); Mount Union (MU); Northern Cambria (NC); Penn Cambria (PC); Penns Valley (PV); Portage (P); Richland (R); Southern Huntingdon (SH); Tyrone (T); United (U); West Branch (WB); Westmont-Hilltop (WH).

[Kelly Monro]

I've been to some high school matches in the past and they are always fun to watch. Leverage.

[tystates]

Southwest Region wrestling tournament. I've got 4 wrestlers going to states in Hershey.

By TY R. STATES
Sports Writer
Huntingdon freshman Collin Glorioso learned a lot from his loss in the District 6-AA final to Triston Law of Forest Hills. He put that knowledge to good use and came away as the Southwest Region champion at 106 pounds with a 3-0 decision at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown Saturday.
Glorioso (35-4) wrestled not just a great match in the final but was excellent through the entire regional tournament. In what many considered the toughest bracket of all the weight classes, Glorioso went 4-0 and didn't give up a single point the whole weekend.
Day two of the tournament started with six area wrestlers still in the field. Southern Huntingdon's Brennon Shields (132) and Tussey Mountain's Mitchell Hall (285) both lost in the semifinals but placed third. Rocket Dison Myers (126) finished fourth for a total of four locals going to the PIAA state championships at the Giant Center in Hershey Thursday thru Saturday.
"It makes me feel great," Huntingdon head coach Jon Mykut said of watching Glorioso win a region title. "I'm happy for him. He's put in a lot of hard work over the years to get where he got this weekend and he deserves it."
Glorioso's run began with a 6-0 decision over Jihad Ratliff of Valley. He then took a 10-0 major decision from Aaron Burkett of Chestnut Ridge to reach the semifinals.
In his first bout Saturday, Glorioso faced top-seeded and D-7 champ Austin McDermitt (35-6) from Burgettstown. Leading 2-0 in the second period, Glorioso took the fall at the 2:54 mark to reach the championship.
Law had defeated the 7-3 and D-5 champion to reach the final. Law won the D-6 title with a 4-2 decision in Altoona two weeks ago. Mykut said afterwards they knew what to do should they see him again.
"Once you see him the first time, you game plan a little bit. We talked about things and stuck to the game plan," Mykut remarked.
Glorioso and Law wrestled through two scoreless periods. Glorioso began the third on the mat but Law conceeded the point to start in the neutral position. Glorioso grabbed hold of the leg and worked for the takedown, then remained with Law wrapped up tight the rest of the way to win 3-0.
"This is a pretty good feeling. Neutral was the key aspect of that match. He scored twice in the district final on a slide by and took me down, that's what we were watching for," Glorioso explained.
"These matches are always nerve-wracking and you know they're going to be tough. You have to do everything right and stay on your game."
Shields (29-2) lost by fall in 4:27 to the top seed, the D-7 and eventual region champion Jason Nolf from Kittanning in the semifinals. In the consolation semifinals, his bout with Shane Gentry (37-5) was a rematch from the first round, won by Shields 2-1 in an ultimate tie breaker. This time around the score was tied 1-1 in the third when Gentry nearly had Shields on his back. Sheilds carried the momentum through and the counter put him on top for the fall at 4:39.
That sent Shields to the consolation final for third place. His opponent was Jake Wentzel (31-9) from South Park. Wentzel held a 2-0 in the final period and Shields was tied up fairly well on the mat. Shields shifted and arched his back, and Wentzel found his shoulders down while still maintaining the hold and he was pinned at the 3:40 mark.
"The entire focus all season long has been toward this," Shields commented. "Now it's about seed points and where you are in the state bracket."
Myers (31-6) picked up after his 100th win Friday with a rematch against Huntingdon's Devon Green (26-16) in the consolation bracket. Myers edged Green 2-0 in overtime at the district tournament. It wasn't that close this time around as Myers was in control en route to a 13-0 major decision which ended the day for Green.
Myers beat Collin Day (38-10) from Meyersdale 3-0 in the consolation semifinals. He then lost 6-2 to Patrick Dewitt (35-10) of Valley for the second time in the tournament to finish in fourth place.
"I wrestled a lot better this time against Devon then I did at districts. "This is it now. I had to get another weekend of wrestling."
The two Rocket seniors get to wrap up their careers together at the state championship tournament.
"They've been on the road together a long time," Southern Huntingdon head coach Andy Hull said. "They both deserve to be going where they're going."
Titan senior Hall (31-3) met up with West Branch's Morgan Selepack (35-6) for the fourth time this season in the semifinals at heavyweight. Hall pinned Selepack on his way to winning the Thomas Automotive Tournament, but had lost by fall the other two times. Selepack pinned Hall again in 4:37 before losing in the final to Allan Beattie of Burrell.
Hall then pinned Moshannon Valley's Jack Brunnell (25-14) in 2:58 to reach the consolation final. Hall had quickly beaten Brunnell earlier this season and got another familiar opponent next in Chestnut Ridge's Austin Buttry (37-6).
Hall pinned Buttry in the Thomas final and won a 3-1 overtime decision in the District Five championship match. This one went to overtime where Hall won a 4-3 tie breaker decision.
"The guy's he wrestled here are going to be in the top eight at Hershey," Tussey Mountain head coach John Husick said. "It's good that Mitchell could take a loss, recover, and wrestle back through for third place. It was good for his confidence and hopefully we can keep the momentum going."
Mount Union's Sage Moist (31-7) dropped a 6-5 decision in his first match Saturday to Kale Burket (28-7) of Central, which ended the season for Moist. He had lost 4-0 to Burket at the District Six meet.

[tystates]

Day 1 Hershey for the state wrestling championships.

By TY R. STATES
Sports Writer
Day one at the PIAA state wrestling championships went well, overall, for the area wrestlers Thursday. Three out of four won their opening bout and are still alive in today's quarterfinals at The GIANT Center in Hershey.
Winning their first match of the tournament were Huntingdon's Collin Glorioso (106), Southern Huntingdon's Brennon Shields (132) and Tussey Mountain's Mitchell Hall (285). Rocket Dison Myers suffered a pair of losses at 126 and finishes his senior year at 31-8.
Glorioso (36-4) opened his first state tournament against the fourth place finisher out of the Southeast Region Joe Lobeck (42-9, Lancaster Catholic). From the start of the bout you could tell that Glorioso would end up with the upperhand. He was able to trap the arm and then work into a cradle for two points. In the second period, Glorioso started in the position and picked up a reversal for a 4-0 lead. One more takedown in the third period set the final score at 6-0.
In the quarterfinals, Glorioso will face Taylor Ortz (33-7, Brookville), the runner-up in the Northwest Region. He took a 5-3 decision over Zack LeBarron (35-2, Warrior Run) in the preliminary round.
Shields (30-2) wrestled through a tough opening bout against Seneca's Adam Fish (34-6), the Northwest Region's runner-up. The two worked a scoreless first period. Fish received a penalty point in the second period for a technical violation. That 1-0 lead went to 2-0 in the third period with an escape. Shields scored a takedown at the edge of the circle. With less than a minute remaining in regulation, Shields secured a cradle to score three backpoints and win a 5-2 decision.
The quarterfinals will see Shields against Ian Brown (37-2, Hanover), the Southeast Region champion. Brown won 7-0 over Jake Wentzel (32-10, South Park).
At heavyweight, Hall took on Union City's Jeff Burger (26-4). The two big men jostled each other around for three periods with no takedowns. Hall had an escape in the second and Burger took one in the third. The bout went to overtime where each man added another escape in the two extra sessions. One more escape by Hall gave him a 3-2 ultimate tie-breaker win.
Hall will face a familiar foe in the quarterfinals, that being Austin Buttry (38-6) of Chestnut Ridge. This will be the fourth meeting between the two this season. Hall beat him 8-4 in the Thomas Automotive Tournament final, won the District 5-AA title with a 3-1 overtime win, and won a 4-3 ultimate tiebreaker to place third at the Southwest Regional.
Myers went up against Ryan Diehl (38-3, Trinity), the Southeast Region champion, in the preliminary round. Diehl was just too good this time around, building a 9-0 lead in the first period. Diehl then took the fall at the 2:14 mark.
In the consolation bracket first-round, Myers faced Patrick Dewitt (36-11, Valley). At the Southwest Regional, Myers lost twice to Dewitt by scores of 4-1 and 6-2. Dewitt had a 3-0 lead after two periods with Myers on the verge of takedowns a couple times. In the third, Dewitt added two more takedowns to win a 7-1 decision and eliminate Myers from the state tournament.
Wrestling got underway this morning at 9 a.m. with the quarterfinals, followed by the second round consolations. This evening the semifinals start at 6:30 p.m. and then the third and fourth round consolations will be wrestled.

[tystates]

Day 2 at the state wrestling tournament.

By TY R. STATES
Sports Writer
Area wrestlers were looking to solidify their position in the PIAA state wrestling championships Friday and find a spot in the medal rounds. Huntingdon freshman Collin Glorioso lost in the semifinals but will wrestle for third place while Tussey Mountain senior heavyweight Mitchell Hall will try to place seventh today at The GIANT Center in Hershey.
It wasn't a bad day overall for the three locals still alive Friday. Glorioso didn't reach the final but bounced back and made it to the consolation championship bout, and Hall rebounded from a quarterfinal loss to earn a place at states. Southern Huntingdon senior Brennon Shields lost his two matches and was eliminated.
Glorioso (38-5) followed up his preliminary round win Thursday with another victory in the quarterfinals Friday. His opponent was Taylor Ortz (33-9) of Brookville, the runner-up in the Northwest Region. Glorioso established himself early in the bout by using the ankle for a takedown close to the circle. He put Ortz on his back for three points and a 5-0 lead after the first period. The freshman maintained command and led 7-1 after two. Ortz did score three points in the final period and another off a stalling call, but Glorioso collected the 7-5 decision.
The evening session started with Glorioso in the semifinals against Bethlehem Catholic freshman Luke Karam (32-2), the champion out of the Southeast Region. Glorioso never got things going in this one. The two both were trying to work as low to the mat as possible, and it was Karam scoring the takedown and two back points. The lead stretched to 7-0 in the second period and 9-0 in the third. A stalling and misconduct penalty set the final score at 11-0 for Karam.
That loss put Glorioso in the fourth round consolation bracket against Austin Griffiths (35-6) from Southmoreland, the third-place finisher in the Southwest Region. Griffiths lost in the region semifinals to Forest Hills' Triston Law, and that is who Glorioso beat in the championship match.
Glorioso came out strong and fast with a takedown using the head and neck, then added two back points for a 4-0 lead after the first two minutes of action. The score was still 4-0 into the third period and Glorioso scored a reverse with 15 seconds left to win a 6-0 decision.
"I got myself back up. I had to get back to my main game how I'd been wrestling the past two tournament and I did get my head back," Glorioso said. "That mental stage is 95 percent of the game after a loss in the semifinals."
"It's tough to recover and battle back after a loss in the semis," Huntingdon head coach Jon Mykut remarked. "He was able to do it and we're proud of him."
The consolation final for third place will pit Glorioso against Jacob Wasser (39-6), the fifth-place finisher out of the Southeast Region from Palisades. Wasser also lost in the semifinals, then defeated Law 3-2 to setup the bout with Glorioso.
Hall (33-5) won in the preliminaries Thursday 3-2 ultimate tie breaker over Jeff Burger (Union City) Thursday. In the quarterfinals Friday he met Chestnut Ridge's Austin Buttry (39-8). Hall was 3-0 against Buttry this season, including taking third place in the Southwest Region consolation final against him.
The two heavyweights worked thru a scoreless first period. In the second Hall came close to scoring a couple times, and received a point for stalling on Buttry. Hall almost had an escape but led 1-0 after two. The third frame saw Buttry with a reversal, but the score was tied 2-2 after a point went to Hall for Buttry clasping the hands. Hall went ahead 4-3 with a reverse, but Buttry hit a low single-leg and then two back points in the closing seconds to win the bout 7-4.
Hall dropped into the second round consolations against Pen Argyl's Brady Mutton (30-10), the Southeast Region runner-up. Hall made an escape in the second and Mutton got one in the third period. Hall stayed alive with a 2-1 tie-breaker win.
Now in the consolation third round, Hall met Trevor Stover (40-4) of Biglerville, the runner-up in the Southeast Region. Late in the first period Stover got underneath for the takedown close to the circle. Stover led 4-1 entering the third period won a 6-2 decision.
Hall now faces one more familiar opponent in West Branch's Morgan Selepack (37-8) in the seventh-place bout. This will be the fifth time the two have wrestled this season. Selepack won three times by fall.
"Tough competition at this level and we're glad to have a place," Tussey Mountain head coach John Husick said. "Hopefully that rubs off on some of the other wrestlers on the team.
"Mitchell's worked hard and really improved this year. "We know what Selepack has and we just need to stop the move he has."
Shields (30-4) got his state tournament action going with a 5-2 decision over Seneca's Adam Fish Thursday. His quarterfinal opponent Friday was the Southeast Region champion from Hanover, Ian Brown (38-2).
Right away Brown scored two points with a takedown and Shields was on the defensive just about the rest of the bout. Back points gave Brown a 6-0 advantage after the first period. Shields stayed on top for most of the middle period before a late escape made it 7-0. Brown held Shields in check the final two minutes to win a 10-0 major decision.
The loss put Shields in the second round consolation bracket. There he found Mifflinburg's Cole Walter (36-5), the runner-up in the Northeast Region.
Walter was quick to grab the leg and secure a takedown, and still led 2-0 after the first period. A couple times Shields was close to scoring, but Walter stopped him and carried a 7-0 lead into the third period. A reversal made it 9-0 and that was final score and last match for Sheilds. He finishes his high school career with a 112-30 (.789) record with 78 pins.
Southern Huntingdon head coach Andy Hull talked about his seniors, Shields and Dison Myers, and what they meant to the program.
"Those two have done so much for the program. They had big shoes to fill, and they came along and worked hard to pick the program back up.
"I don't think their careers are over. I believe they will go on to the next level."
Wrestling today begins at 2 p.m. for Class AA with the third, fifth and seventh place bouts and the championship finals.