Perry and Simcox in State Finals Saturday

By Joe Walker

HERSHEY-The Central Mountain Wildcats have a pair of state finalist, as both Dalton Perry and Luke Simcox made their way to the PIAA Class AAA state finals with wins in the championship semifinals. 

Perry advanced to his second state final with an 11-4 decision over Jack Campbell (So, 35-6) of Nazareth in the semifinals. Perry recorded four takedowns and two nearfall points enroute to the decision win. 

In the championship finals on Saturday, Perry will face southwest regional champion MAddox Shaw (Jr, 42-3) of Thomas Jefferson. Maddox, who is ranked fourth in the country, lost 1-0 to Simcox in last year’s state final and also lost 3-1 to Perry in the state semifinals in 2022. 

Simcox got into the finals with a narrow 1-0 decision over Evan Petrovich (Jr, 39-6) of Connellsville in the semifinals. Simcox made a second period escape stand up, as Petrovich chose neutral to start the final period and neither wrestler could garner a takedown, thus allowing Simcox to move on. 

In the finals Simcox will meet District 6 rival Pierson Manville (26-1) of State College, who was a winner by a 17-2 tech fall over Elias Long (Sr, 42-4) of Central York in the semifinals. Of course Simcox defeated Manville by a 3-2 ultimate tie breaker decision in the regional finals. 

Senior Griffin Walizer will wrestle in the consolation quarterfinals that are to start at 9:00 pm tonight.