PERRY IN STATE FINALS OF CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Joe Walker

HERSHEY – Dalton Perry will wrestle in the PIAA Class AAA State Finals for the third time, as the Central Mountain Wildcat senior posted a 5-2 win over West Scranton’s Michael Turi in the championship semifinals to advance into the title match. 

Perry broke a scoreless tie in the second, as Turi escaped for a 3-1 lead, but Perry recorded the takedown for a 3-1 lead into the final period. Perry escaped for a 4-1 lead and then wrestlers exchanged penalty points, Perry was hit for stalling real late in the period, while Turi was hit for his third caution and that set the final at 5-2. 

Perry improved to 42-3 on the year and now will get into the finals for one of the premier match-ups in the Class AAA Tournament. Perry will face Eren Sement (53-2) of Council Rock North for the title, as Perry is ranked number one in the state and Sement is ranked number two. 

Both wrestlers are now four time state medalist, as Perry won a title as a freshman, was third as a sophomore and then was a state runner-up last season. Sement has finished third in three straight state tournaments. Perry is 161-15 for his career, while Sement is 179-20 for his career. 

Segments two losses on the season were a 4-1 sudden victory loss to Nazareth standout Tahir Parkins and he lost by fall to Delbarton, New Jersey freshman Nicholas Schwartz, who is currently a state semifinalist in the New Jersey state tournament at 144 pounds. 

The championship finals will be wrestled at all three divisions Saturday at 4 pm.