KCSD Wrestling Co-op: Eight Bucks Become Wildcats for the Winter

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – When schools have too few kids to field a team of their own, the PIAA permits co-op athletic programs where athletes from one school may participate through a cooperative agreement with a nearby school.

Ridgway and Johnsonburg do it in football, as do Coudersport and Austin, Brockway and DuBois Central Catholic. Keystone Central School District has a couple opportunities of its own, Bucktail High students with the option to participate in wrestling and cross country at downriver Central Mountain.

Central Mountain has seen more than a few in recent years make the after-school trek down Route 120 for wrestling practice. The upcoming season sees eight total Bucktail students, grades eight through twelve, making the trip down to Central Mountain Middle and High Schools for wrestling practice.
There are four on the junior high team: 9th graders Paul Risley and Gunner Sockman, and 8th graders Robert Devaul & Tristan Probst.

There are also four on the varsity team: 12th grader Logan Long, 11th graders Ben Probert and Tanner Riggle, and 9th grader Gage Sutliff.

All eight participated in a fall sport. Probert was a member of the Central Mountain Cross Country Team this year, while all seven of the others played football at Bucktail.

Central Mountain head wrestling coach Biff Walizer (who teaches at Bucktail) lauded the students for their commitment to the sport, “I really respect these guys who have chosen to take part in the co-op wrestling program with Central Mountain. I can only imagine how intimidating it might feel for the boys to make the trip ‘down the road’ for their first practice. My hat goes off to them for having the courage to leave their comfort zone in order to participate in the sport of wrestling.”

Transportation to practice is provided. The boys’ families are responsible for finding transportation back to the Renovo area. Walizer said Central Mountain Middle School is the first stop at the end of the day to drop off the boys on the junior high team for their practice. Then it’s over to CMHS for varsity practice. Walizer said, “It’s a nice luxury to have PA Hall of Fame Coach Doug Buckwalter getting practice up and running when we roll in to the Central Mountain Wrestling Room.” Buckwalter, longtime successful Wildcat head coach, returned to the first assistant’s job this season.

Walizer said while the starting lineup is still being determined, “Chances are you’ll see multiple boys from Bucktail in the starting lineup when the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat Tournament rolls around December 8 & 9 at Williamsport High School.”