Wrestling News & Views – Tom Elling
To paraphrase a Forrest Gump line “Wrestling is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”We could add “Especially, wnen you’re a coach.” And, perhaps the analogy to chocolates is not a good one for the wrestlers trying to keep their wrestling weight under control or looking invincible in one meet then not so much the next.
But, indeed, the past week of wrestling for the locals was busy and entertaining. High school wrestling is one of the most affordable and entertaining sports. I could go on a tirades about more emphasis on dual meets, but I’ll save that for another time.
Central Mountain had little time to relax and recover from the rigors of the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat when they headed to Wingate to take on BEA. Both teams had a lot of youth and a lot of unanswered questions. Both teams were also without one of their talented veterans. BEA was missing American U-bound Caleb Close, while CM went without steady Jacob Weaver. The Wildcats won early and often, capturing the Lion’s …err Cats’ share of the close bouts, taking a 51-9 victory. The premier bout of the night (thanks to the random weight class draw) was PIAA 5th placer Tanner Guenot vs NW AAA Regional Champions and State Qualifier Aiden Kunes. The bout was tense and exciting. Each wrestler attacking and defending, showcasing their skills and abilities. An escape for Kunes in under a minute was the difference. The two should be in opposite brackets in the King of the Mountain and could most likely meet again in the finals on December 21st.
Central Mountain was on the road again (apologies to Willie Nelson and Lloyd Rhoades) last Thursday heading southeast to Sunbury. Awaiting them was another perennially rugged team in Shikellamy.
It went down to the final bouts. Credit to all, but Patrick Tarantella and Dalton Perry performed under pressure to fuel the come-from-behind victory, 35-30. Things didn’t get easier as last night Coach Walizer’s squad made their third trip in a row.
The trip to Shik was enjoyable and I had a chance to catch up with broadcaster Steve ‘Dr. Death’ Williams, Jeff Walter – former Shik two-time state champ and NCAA Champ for Wisconsin, and the grandson of the late and dynamic LHSC prof. Lester ‘Zimmie’ Zimmerman. BTW. Walter’s son plays basketball for the Braves, who will invade the CM gym on February 2nd (Senior Night for CM).
Bald Eagle had a little more time to recover after the CM dual and correct before joining six other teams at the Towanda Dandy Duals. The Eagles bounced back is a big way going unbeaten, and it was great to see Caleb Close back in the line-up. BEA Defeated Wyoming Area (72-0), Montgomery (38-25), North Penn [Liberty] (53-20), Honesdale (50-18) and host #12 Towanda (39-32). Montgomery (ranked 16th in AA) also dropped a tight one to Towanda ((36-30).
Tanner Guenot (127), Caden Judice (133), Dawson Lomison (139) and Close (189) went 5-0. Winning four bouts were Tyler Corey (114), Liam Purcell (121), Kyle Watson (215), and Gage Gardner (285).
Montgomery’s Brandt Harer (139) was named the Outstanding Wrestler.
Tournament host coach Bill Sexton was on hand at the Penn State-Wyoming dual on Sunday. He is one the winningest wrestling coaches EVER in PIAA history. Incidentally, Cael Sanderson picked up his 250th dual meet win at PSU in the 54-zip rout of the Cowboys.
Jersey Shore is more competitive this season and the return of Slate Sechrist as the team leader bolsters the Bulldog lineup, took it to Williamsport last Thursday 49-26 before joining BEA at the Dandy Duals on Saturday. Shore gave up just one forfeit in the Williamsport dual. At the Dandy duals, one marquee match for Shore was at 215, where Sawyer Robinson (who won his 100th over the weekend) downed Bulldog Slate Secgrist, 9-0.Robinson was 7th in the states last season.
Bellefonte, after last week’s loss to BEA (38-26), posted four wins in a row at the Gary Woodruff Memorial Duals in Wyalusing. They opened with a 65-12 crushing of Montrose followed by dominating Elk Lake (59-6), then edging Pittston Area (37-36) and Pocono Mountain East (39-33). Their loss at the end of the day was another competitive dual – a 34-26 loss to unbeaten Wallenpaupack.
Tuesday wasn’t so kind as the Red Raiders dropped a dual to Huntingdon (43-21).
This past Tuesday the team hosted another Centre County foe in Philipsburg-Osceola. P-O is still licking their wounds after rival Clearfield handled them, 55-13. (Results of that meet will be part of next week’s column.)
Sugar Valley Rural Charter had few bright spots as they opened the season finishing 22nd at the Darren Klingerman Invitational. The Phoenix came back on Wednesday (the 11th) with a dominating performance over Columbia Montour Vo-Tech (46-24), winning eight of the 12 bouts. Then on Friday the 13th—egads! .. the team joined five other teams in the PM Gauntlet Duals. The Phoeniux went 2-3- downing Valley View (48-30) and Allentown Allen (40-30). The losses were to Blue Mountain (70-6), Tri-Valley (42-27), and Pleasant Valley 54-21). Six of the Phoenxi collected three wins. They were Tobias Conoway (127), Jarren McCloskey (139), Wyatt Conoway (145), Dakota Jodun (152), and Koda Mincer (285).
This past week, they traveled to Juniata (Monday) then hosted Sullivan County on the 18th.
Wrestling Observations
Reviewing local and statewide rosters, I don’t think it is an understatment to deduce most teams have little (if any) depth. While the girls’ teams have infused more interest and excitement, wrestling is in trouble. Sure, there are the elites (most of which devote their majority of time to the sport). But anyone bothering to pay attention knows wrestling needs a boost.
Coaches and administrators need to step up and be creative to once again fill the stands. While we can lay blame in many directions, it is incumbent of us to seek ways to attract and keep the fans.
Recenty, Shikellamy held a dual meet during school hours in assembly fashion. At the dual meet with Central Mountain on Thursday, fans were invited to circle the mat and attempt to roll an oject to the center of the mat and land on top of a belleyes target. LHU has held a Military appreciation night, Tyrone created banners and honored their past state champions. “If you build it, they will come” can become a wrestling reality if our leaders take a good hard look at promotions. (And, yes, I’ll says it.. coaches need to get back to making the our-town-vs-your town dual meets relevant once more.) Very few people want to spend a full day or more sitting on very hard bleachers.
Perhaps, high school could emulate the colleges by instituting a ‘half-time’ break (Yes, I know that is a misnomer with 13 weight classes, but you get the concept.)
A tip of the headgear to the following who dedicate much time to wrestling reports, stats, photos, and other duties: Joe Walker (tracking CM stats); Todd Warner and Adam Day (streaming and detailed reports on BEA); Mike Maney (tracking his alums in college), Jeff Jodun, Sr. (BEA photos); Tim Weight (CM photos); Craig Buskirk (providing SVRCS results); Frank Dimon (provides some photos for the Record-Online)- among others. These men are invaluable.
Girls’ Wrestling:
Central Mountain fell to 3-5 with the 39-30 loss to Shikellamy. The main problem for Dylan Capio’s team is lack of numbers, which not only produces forfeits but also limits the practice flexibility. Add to that three of the competitors are also involved with basketball and/or swimming, speaking to their versatility but limiting valuable mat practice time. The Lady Wildcats’ next action is December 22 at the Queen of the Mountain tournament.
BEA is 2-0 with wins over Bellefonte (36-18) and Central Mountain (30-18). On Saturday, they took second in the Lady Phoenix tournament at Sugar Valley. Thge team standings were: (1) Southern Huntingdon 120.5, (2) Bald Eagle Area 119, (3) Jersey Shore 116, (4) Mifflinburg 99.5, (5) Sugar Valley Rural Charter 97, (6) Wellsboro 88, (7) Muncy 82, (8) Bellefonte 64, (9) Line Mountain 56.0, (10) Benton 4, (11) Sullivan County 38
Champions for the Lady Eagles were 106 – Eden Eveleth and 112 – Addison Tice. Runners-up were Cameron Corl-Alton at 155 and Grace Crestani at 170. Third Placers were Lily Spicer (106) and Rebekah Guenot (118). Shaylin Harter (190) was 4th.
Bellefonte has a 1-1 dual meet mark. The win was an 18-6 verdict over Huntingdon. The Lady Red Raiders like most area teams took part in the Loganton Tournament. As noted above, they took 8th place. Ella Johnsonbaugh (136) was the lone champ, while Carly Bair (124) and Bailee Scott (170) took 3rds.
Sugar Valley took 5th in their own tournament on Saturday. Their lone champion was Marrin Clester (190). Olivia Johnson (142) was 3rd. Kohana Yamashita (112) came back for a 5th, and Olivia Clester (170 was 4th.
Was a busy past couple weeks for yours truly. After the annual Tom Best Memorial Top Hat, a visit to familiar Thomas Field House to watch Scott Moore’s Bald Eagles rebound from the loss to Rutgers for a “W” over Big Ten Wisconsin. (Tucker Hogan was particularly impressive.) Then dual meets at BEA and Shikellamy… and a trip to BJC to photo the Nittany Lion/Wyoming dual. Wednesday – A sojourn over the Seven Mountains for the CM/Mifflin County clash (results not available as column deadline is Monday.) To end the week- Thursday off to the Altoona area for the annual District Six dinner meeting and, of course, the classic King of the Mountain tournament at Central Mountain on Friday and Saturday.
The Class of 2025 (to be honored April 27th in Hershey) includes Joe Baranik, Ralph Cindrich, Jeff Cook, Curtis Herneisen, Rick Mahonski, C. D. Mock, Ken Shirk, Pete Smith and Ron Spinner. Shirk has served at BEA as a longtime assistant. Mahonski was Williamsport’s first PIAA Champion and a huge supporter of all things wrestling. He was a national Greco age division champion in Las Vegas last spring. He was second in Freestyle. Baranik did his collegiate wrestling at Lock Haven and is editor of the popular PA Wrestling Magazine. Cindrich. a former Pitt wrestler and pro footballer, is best known for being one of the top agents in professional football.
Amazing: Since wrestling as initiated in 1960, Reynolds has amassed a record of 943-110-2. Neil Lineman, Brain Hills and Casey Taylor have all served as head coaches during that run.
Hughesville had success at its own Spartan Duals Tournament on Saturday as the Spartans went 6-0 in competition to win the tournament title and improve to 7-0 through dual-meet competition.
In its own tournament, Hughesville went 6-0. The Spartans downed Lackawanna Trail (57-12), Sullivan County (53-15), Wyoming Valley West (54-18), Mid-Valley Secondary Charter (52-14), Wellsboro (66-6) and Northeast Bradford (56-9). Former BE-N legend the late Pete Wolf was a legendary coach at Hughesville.
Did you know? Former Keystone Central superintendent and also former head wrestling coach at Bellefonte Tom Muir is a 1969 graduate from Lehigh University. He competed from 1965 to 1969. He was an EIWA runner-up, and took third twice. Muir was also the 1965 Wilkes Open Champ. He wrestled at Philipsburg-Osceola High School for Chuck Goldthorp, where he won District 6 and NW Regional titles. While at Lehigh, he wrestled for Gerry Leeman. The ‘Red Bear’ was a PIAA Wrestling Official and worked the PIAA state championships for two years. Tom served as the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament Director from 1985 to 1988.
