CM Closes Season with 59-21 Win over Hollidaysburg

HOLLIDAYSBURG – Central Mountain (13-2) capped their dual meet season with another victory, besting Hollidaysburg (3-10), 59-21. It was another workman like performance for the Wildcats where they picked up 6 pins, 1 tech fall and three forfeits in the process.

The meet began with CM’s Zach Miller receiving a forfeit at 113 pounds. Then Johnny Shreffler picked up the first Wildcat fall in the second period of the 120 pound bout over the Golden Tiger’s, Andew Simpson at the 3:30 mark which gave Central Mountain an early 12-0 lead.

Hollidaysburg would get on the board at 126 pounds when Cody Dively edged Dalton Bechdel for a 3-2 decision. The momentum pendulum would then win back the opposite direction when the ‘Cats Seth Andrus dominated Hollidaysburg’s Garidan Brindenbaugh 19-2 for a tech fall in 4:40 at 132 pounds to set team score to 17-3.

The Golden Tigers would not be silenced as Nathan Swartz returned the favor, pinning CM’s Cody Coleman at 138 pounds in 51 seconds to close the gap to 17-9 in favor of Central Mountain.

Central Mountain’s Logan Long and Lane Porter each picked up forfeits at 145 and 152 respectively to put the ‘Cats on top 29-9.

Then the dual meet get very interesting at 160 pounds. Alonzo Henry was bumped up to face Hollidaysburg’s Nathan Fisher. Fisher was working a very solid match but with a half minute remaining in the match, Henry found a weakness in the Golden Tiger’s armor and hit a sold head lock and rolled Fisher to his back. The move gave Henry the lead but he held on and kept Fisher in jeopardy and earned the fall with 2 seconds remaining on the clock. That effort extended Central Mountain’s lead to 35-9.

Tanner Weaver made quick work of the Golden Tiger’s Adam Baranik at 170 by locking up a quick cradle for a 47 second pin to set the team score at 41-9.

Once more, Hollidaysburg would step up for a win, this time it was Mason McCready with a fall over CM’s Gage Sutliff at 182 pounds, though the Golden Tigers still trailing at 41-15.

Central Mountain’s Tanner Riggle came out on fire at 195 pounds and used only 1:21 to pin Hollidaysburg’s, Devon Datres to set the score at 47-15.

AT 220 pounds, the Wildcat’s Mahlik Houtz and GT’s Gus Dellinger had been working hard, each looking for an advantage when Dellinger locked up on Houtz late in the second period and tried rolling Houtz, but Houtz used the momentum of the roll to come out on top and decked Dellinger at the 3:44 mark. The fall gave Central Mountain a 53-15 lead.

The Golden Tiger’s Sam Haines worked hard to stave off the advances of the ‘Cat’s Jacob Edwards at 285 pounds. Likewise Edwards would stymy all of Haines’ attempts. The two would trade escapees and with the score knotted at 1-1 after regulation, they went to the sudden victory overtime period. Finally, Edwards found his opening, locking up on Haines and took him to his back for the fall at 6:28 and a 59-15 Central Mountain lead.

Hollidaysburg would earn their final points of the season when Colin Smilnak received a forfeit at 106 pounds to set the final score to 59-21.

“It was good to get a match in with all the practice we’ve had lately,” said CM head coach Biff Walizer of their late season lull in action. When you hit gaps in the schedule it could prove interesting on how a coaching staff can see their team sharp and ready for what lies ahead.

“We start in the middle of November and now it is the middle of February, that’s a long time,” noted Walizer, “It’s easy to get bogged down because everyone is working through bumps and bruises. This is the time of year when we have to work through whatever is nagging them. I’m sure they all have aches and pains at this time. This is what the season is all about and why we work so hard” added Walizer.

“Things get shortened up and we keep the drilling crisp and clean as possible and mix in some setups and finishes along with some live matches to stay sharp,” Walizer explained, “They all go hard in the room and those hard battles in the room make it all possible.”

The Wildcats will have more than a full week to prepare for the District 6 individual tournament slated for Saturday, Feb. 24 in Altoona.

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN – 59 HOLLIDAYSBURG – 21
113 – Zach Miller, Central Mountain, received a forfeit.
120 – Johnny Shreffler, Central Mountain, pinned Andrew Simpson, Hollidaysburg, 3:40.
126 – Cody Dively, Hollidaysburg, dec. Dalton Bechdel, Central Mountain, 3-2.
132 – Seth Andrus, Central Mountain, tech fall Garidan Bridenbaugh, Hollidaysburg, 4:40 (19-2)
138 – Nathan Swartz, Hollidaysburg, pinned Cody Coleman, Central Mountain, 0:51.
145 – Logan Long, Central Mountain, received a forfeit.
152 – Lane Porter, Central Mountain, received a forfeit.
160 – Alonzo Henry, Central Mountain, pinned Nathan Fisher, Hollidaysburg, 5:58.
170 – Tanner Weaver, Central Mountain, pinned Adam Branik, Hollidaysburg, 0:47.
182 – Mason McCready, Central Mountain, pinned Gage Sutliff, Central Mountain, 1:16.
195 – Tanner Riggle, Central Mountain, pinned Devon Datres, Hollidaysburg, 1:21.
220 – Mahlik Houtz, Central Mountain, pinned Gus Dellinger, Hollidaysburg, 3:44.
285 – Jacob Edwards, Central Mountain, pinned Sam Haines, Hollidaysburg, 6:28 SV.
106 – Colin Smilnak, Hollidaysburg, received a forfeit.