BEA Takes Showdown from Central Mountain, 39-33

WINGATE – Friday night’s dual meet between Central Mountain and the host Eagles in Bald Eagle Area’s “old” gym more than lived up to its billing. In a match-up of early season unbeatens, the Eagles won where expected and took every toss-up opportunity to down the Wildcats by a 39-33 score.

Going in, Wildcat coach Biff Walizer said the match would be a “good early season test.” It was indeed and this time around the Eagles came out on top. The loss was Central Mountain’s first in the Big Seven league since the 2006-07 season, BEA the last team to defeat the ‘Cats. Friday’s defeat inflicted by BEA ended a 64-match league winning streak.

BEA had the edge in two key categories, bouts won 8 to 6 and takedowns 19-13. The two teams each racked up five falls. And the Eagles won regular decisions in the night’s two closest bouts, both by a 6-4 score, Garrett Rigg (9-2) over Logan Long (10-3) at 145 pounds and Garrett Giedroc (8-3) holding off Johnny Shreffler (7-4) at 113 pounds. Geidroc’s win clinched the BEA victory, putting the team score at 39-27 with one bout to go; the victory elicited a roar from Eagle fans in the packed house.

In a dual that started at 126 pounds, the Eagles used their powerful middleweights to open a 21-6 lead, the only Wildcat points coming from a Seth Andrus (12-1) fall at 132 pounds. The Wildcats would quickly forge a tie at 21-all with a decision from Austyn Carson (7-5) at 160 pounds and falls from Asher Corl (9-4) at 170 and Tanner Weaver (10-3) at 182.

The Eagles then took two key bouts to regain the lead at 30-21. Wildcats Tanner Riggle and Mahlik Houtz both picked up the initial takedown in their bouts, but Eagle Dylan Bisel came back and downed Riggle by 11-4 and David Close caught and pinned Houtz in period two.

The Wildcats stayed alive with a deck job at heavyweight from Jake Edwards (10-1), the score 30-27 Eagles with three bouts to go. Bald Eagle Area would get a fall from Cooper Gilham at 106, followed by Giedroc’s clincher at 113. Dalton Bechdel would score the Wildcats’ final points with a fall at 120 pounds to put the final at 39-33 BEA.

After the match coach Walizer was complimentary of the Eagles’ performance, stating “They did what they had to do,” winning those that were seen as toss-ups going in. He said the match was a great atmosphere and “their kids wrestled well.”

The Eagle win tied the all-time series between the two teams at 12-12. Central Mountain, now 2-1, will be off until competing in the Conestoga Holiday Tournament in Lancaster County Friday and Saturday, Dec. 29 and 30. Central Mountain won the junior high meet by an 84-12 score.

And for those looking ahead, the District 6 team dual championships are set for the Tyrone High School gym Saturday, Feb. 3. Wrestling fans wouldn’t be surprised to see the Eagles and Wildcats meeting again on that date.

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN – 33 BALD EAGLE AREA – 39
126 – Lucas Holderman, BEA, pinned Davis Seyler, Central Mountain, 1:08.
132 – Seth Andrus, Central Mountain, pinned Alexander Holt, BEA, 1:39.
138 – Seth Koleno, BEA, pinned Cody Coleman, Central Mountain, 1:39.
145 – Garrett Rigg, BEA dec. Logan Long, Central Mountain, 6-4.
152 – Gage McClenahan, BEA, pinned Alonzo Henry, Central Mountain, 4:33.
160 – Austyn Carson, Central Mountain, dec. Richard Taylor, BEA, 10-4.
170 – Asher Corl, Central Mountain, pinned Daily Irvin, BEA, 1:10.
182 – Tanner Weaver, Central Mountain, pinned Tyler Hall, BEA, 0:21.
195 – Dylan Bisel, BEA, dec. Tanner Riggle, Central Mountain, 11-4.
220 – David Close, BEA, pinned Mahlik Houtz, Central Mountain, 2:27.
285 – Jacob Edwards, Central Mountain, pinned Kurtis Hall, BEA, 2:43.
106 – Cooper Gilham, BEA, pinned Anson Zimmerman, Central Mountain, 1:41.
113 – Garrett Giedroc, BEA, dec. Johnny Shreffler, Central Mountain, 6-4.
120 – Dalton Bechdel, Central Mountain, pinned Drake Holderman, BEA, 1:47.