PERRY INTO STATE SEMIFINALS, NOW A FOUR TIME MEDALIST
By Joe Walker
HERSHEY – Central Mountain senior Dalton Perry dominated his way into the PIAA Boys Class AAA Championship semifinals and assured himself of a fourth state place finish. Perry recorded a solid tech fall win over South Central regional runner-up Ian Longenberger (43-7) of Boiling Springs to advance.
In the bout with Longenberger, Perry recorded five takedowns in the opening period for a 15-4 lead heading into the second period. Perry promptly recorded two more takedowns early in the second period to come away with the 21-6 tech fall in 43 seconds of the second period.
The Bucktail senior, now 41-3 on the season, will face Northeast Regional Champion Michael Turi, as the junior from West Scranton is now 40-2 on the season and 129-13 for his career. Turi has placed seventh each of the past two state tournaments and has committed to wrestle at Cornell University. Turi was a 10-0 major decision winner over Southeast regional runner-up Kane Lengel (42-7) of Kennett.
Perry improved his outstanding career mark to 160-15, which makes him the third winningest wrestler in Clinton County history, only sitting behind the standout twin brothers by the names of Dylan and Andrew Alton. He also became only the sixth Clinton County wrestler to win four state medals, now it is just a question of which won it will be this year.
In the opposite bracket from Perry is Eren Sement of Council Rock North, who is now 52-2 and into the semifinals as well. Sement has placed third in the state each of the past three seasons and has committed to wrestle for the Michigan Wolverines. In the Floarena rankins he is ranked first in the state, while Perry is second and Turi is third.
