PERRY EASILY ADVANCES INTO STATE QUARTERFINALS

By Joe Walker

HERSHEY – Dalton Perry was top seeded in the boys PIAA Class AAA State Tournament and ranked number 1 at 145 pounds and the Central Mountain senior wasted no time in advancing into the Class AAA Championship quarterfinals at the Hershey Giant Center. 

Perry (40-3) racked up three takedowns and a 9-2 lead before locking up a cradle and pinning Northeast regional fourth place finisher Jared Gonzalez (21-14) in 1:01 of the first period. Perry will now move into the championship quarterfinals to face South Central region runner-up Ian Longenberger (43-7) of Boiling Springs, who was also a winner by fall in the Round of 16. 

Another win by Perry would advance him into the championship semifinals, where he would be assured of his fourth state medal, just a question as to what spot. Of course the Bucktail senior and future Penn State wrestler has one thing on his mind and that is the top spot of the podium on Saturday evening. 

In the top half of the bracket with Perry is West Scranton junior Michael Turi (39-2), who has placed in seventh in each of the last two seasons and is 127-13 in his career. The second seed and in the bottom half of the bracket is Eren Sement (51-2) of Council Rock North, who has placed third in each of the last three seasons and is 177-20 in his career, while he is committed to the Michigan Wolverines wrestling program. 

The championship quarterfinals and second round of consolations get underway Friday at 2:15, while the third round of consolations to follow.