McCloskey Finishes Fourth, Advances to Regionals For Phoenix
By Joe Walker
WILLIAMSPORT – Senior Jarren McCloskey became just the second wrestler to qualify for the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School to qualify for the Northeast Regional Class AA Championships, as the Phoenix senior placed fourth at the District 4 Class AA Championships this weekend at the Williamsport High School.
McCloskey joined 2023 Phoenix grad Kyle Stahl as the only two Phoenix wrestlers to make it to the regional tournament, as both wrestlers posted 3-2 records in the District tournament, as Stahl placed sixth in 2023.
The sixth seeded McCloskey (139) won three consolation bouts to get into the match for 3rd Place, as he started the day with a solid 12-1 major decision over fifth seeded Cole Patrick of Wyalusing in the first round of consolations. He then won a 6-1 decision over eighth seeded Tommy Preston of Canton in the consi quarterfinals.
In the consi semifinals the Phoenix senior was awarded a medical forfeit win over second seeded Reese Sluyter of Towanda to earn his spot in the consolation match for third place. In the consi final bout, McCloskey faced fourth seeded Lane Kenamond of Mifflinburg, who eliminated McCloskey in the 2024 District consolations by a 9-0 major decision.
In this year’s match, Kenamond broke a scoreless match with a reversal in the second period to take a 2-0 lead into the third period. The Wildcat rolled McCloskey for three nearfall points for a 5-0 lead, as McCloskey managed a late reversal but dropped a 5-2 decision for his fourth place finish.
McCloskey (27-10) will now go into the regional tournament with an 85-46 career record, which makes him the Phoenix all-time winningest wrestler, as he will look to be the first Phoenix wrestler to win a regional tournament match and also hopefully earn a trip to Hershey for the PIAA state tournament.
The Phoenix had two other wrestlers in the District tournament, as junior Wyatt Conoway (145) won his first round bout, but then dropped his championship quarterfinal round match on Friday. LIn Saturday’s consolation first round bout, Conoway dropped a 14-4 major decision to Julius Serrano of Bloomsburg and was eliminated to finish with a 21-15 record for the season.
Sophomore Hunter Berry (114) dropped his first round match Friday night and then Saturday morning was eliminated, as he dropped his first round consolation bout to Andrew Kapec of Sullivan County by a 16-1 tech fall score. Berry finished a very fine sophomore season with a 23-11 record.
Montoursville captured the team title with 189 points, two champions and four second place finishes, while Warrior Run took second with 128 points and two champs. Line Mountain was third with 124.5 points, while Towanda was fourth with 117.5 points and Montgomery rounded out the top five with 112 points. The Phoenix were 22nd out of the 30 team field.
CONSOLATION RD 1
114 – Andrew Kapec (Sullivan County) TF Hunter Berry (SVRC), 16-1 4:02 139 – Jarren Mccloskey (SVRC) MD Cole Patrick (Wyalusing), 12-1 145 – Julius Serrano (Bloomsburg) MD Wyatt Conoway (SVRC), 14-4
CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS
139 – Jarren Mccloskey (SVRC) DEC Tommy Preston (Canton), 6-1
CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS
139 – Jarren Mccloskey (SVRC) Med For Reese Sluyter (Towanda)
THIRD PLACE:
107 – Branden Eisenhour (Montoursville) dec Manny Stoltzfus (Montgomery), 7-1 114 – Liam Seeley (Montgomery) dec Lyle Vermilya (Canton), 4-1 121 – Gage Swank (Muncy) TF Curtis Maynard (Towanda), 15-0 2:44 127 – Bradley Wagner (Mifflinburg) F Brayden Pequignot (North Penn), 2:46 133 – Chase Shaner (Hughesville) dec Gage Evans (Towanda), 7-3 139 – Lane Kenamond (Mifflinburg) dec Jarren Mccloskey (SVRC), 5-2 145 – Nolan Savage (Line Mountain) dec Carson Rockwell (Canton), 4-1 152 – Ayden Hunsinger (Wyalusing) dec Keagan Smith (Hughesville), 4-2 160 – Chase Pensyl (Shamokin) dec Mason Mordan (Hughesville), 5-2 172 – Kohen Shingara (Line Mountain) dec Chase Wenrich (Lewisburg), 4-2 189 – Owen Kleinman (Montoursville) dec Ryder Bowen (Wellsboro), 15-11 215 – Jude Bremigen (So. Columbia) dec Landon Tucker (Mifflinburg), 4-1 SV 285 – Luke Sottolano (Williamson) dec Braylin Smith (Southern Columbia), 6-0
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS:
107 – Zander Wilson (Williamson) dec Rowen Humphrey (So. Columbia), 7-0 114 – Bryce Pequignot (North Penn) MD Chase Wirnsberger (Warrior Run), 8-0 121 – Brock Rothermel (Line Mountain) MD Aristotlis Bobotas (Montoursville), 13-2 127 – David Kennedy (Montoursville) MD Colton Wade (Sullivan County), 13-5 133 – Ben Straub (Mifflinburg) dec Blaize Vogel (Montoursville), 7-5 139 – Brandt Harer (Montgomery) TF Charley Paige (Midd-West), 21-6 1:24 145 – Riley Vanderpool (Towanda) dec Matthew Smith (Midd-West), 9-7 152 – Dalton Schadel (Line Mountain) MD Brayden Andrews (So. Columbia), 13-5 160 – Reagan Milheim (Warrior Run) TF Hayden Harvey (Montoursville), 24-9 5:51 172 – Gage Wentzel (Montoursville) dec Max Wirnsberger (Warrior Run), 5-0 189 – Tyler Ulrich (Warrior Run) dec Coy Bryson (Montgomery), 4-1 215 – Austin Johnson (Muncy) TF Sawyer Robinson (Towanda), 15-0 3:48 285 – Mason Higley (Towanda) TF Landon Morehart (Montoursville), 16-1 4:16
