Wildcat Wrestling Kicks Off Season at Top Hat

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Graduation took a toll on the Central Mountain wrestling team from a year ago, but talent returns and there is optimism in the wrestling room as the start of the new season begins this Friday at the Tom Best-Top Hat tournament in Williamsport.

In addition to the loss of seven starters from last year’s 14-1 team, the Wildcats also had veteran coach Doug Buckwalter retire as Clinton County’s all-time win leader. As it turns out, his replacement sat right beside him during last season’s action, first assistant Biff Walizer hired as his successor.

Walizer said he had a blast year in his first year in the Wildcat program, working with what he termed a highly motivated group of student-athletes. He also said he learned a lot from Buckwalter in a short period of time. Even with the loss of seven starters, Walizer said he won’t call this year a rebuilding year. “Those graduated seniors will certainly be missed but I believe we have some guys ready to step in and get a taste of their own Central Mountain wrestling success.”

Walizer said the program is fortunate to have two returning wrestlers with state championship experience in junior Geo Barzona and senior Isaac Porter. He said the two “know the effort it takes to get to the Giant Center (site of the PIAA tourney) and are able to lead by the example they set in the wrestling room.”

Barzona finished with a 27-9 mark a year ago and was a District 6 and Northwestern Regional runner-up and made a strong run at states, finishing in sixth place. He likely will start this season at 113 pounds. Porter, who already has signed to play baseball next year at Division I St. Bonaventure, was 19-9 last season, finishing as a district runner-up and a third-place finisher at regionals at 182 pounds.

Other returnees from a year ago and their records and last year’s weight include: sophomore Seth Andrus (23-11) at 113 pounds; junior Colton Weaver (23-12) at 132; junior Brandon Miller (6-10) at 145; sophomore Tanner Weaver (8-9) at 145; junior Caleb Turner (16-12) at 160; senior Hunter Weaver (24-10 and a returning district champ) at 220; and senior Bryce Bitner (4-2) at 285 pounds.

Central Mountain also picked up two wrestlers from its co-op program with Bucktail High School; they are senior Josh Marr who lettered as a Buck before that program was dropped several years ago and sophomore Logan Long, younger brother of graduated Wildcat upper-weight Loc Long.

Here is the projected starting lineup when the two-day Top Hat tourney begins at 5 p.m. Friday:

106 Cody Coleman (fr)
113 Geo Barzona (jr)
120 Josh Marr (sr)
126 Seth Andrus (soph)
132 Logan Long (soph)
138 Asher Corl (soph)
145 Colton Weaver (jr)
152 Tanner Weaver (soph)
160 Brandon Miller (jr)
170 Caleb Turner (jr)
182 Greg Stahl (sr)
195 Isaac Porter (sr)
220 Hunter Weaver (sr)
285 Bryce Bitner (sr)

Asked about prospective weaknesses on this year’s team, Walizer cited a lack of depth in some of the lower weights. “We have some spots down low where we are only one man deep, so staying healthy is going to be very important.”

The Wildcats will get a line on where they are early as they open at Williamsport’s Top Hat Tourney this weekend. Session times are:

Pig-tails, Route of 16, Quarterfinals and first-round consolations: Friday 5 p.m.

Second-round consolations: Saturday 10 a.m.

Semi-Finals (following second round consolations): 10:30 a.m.

Third/Fourth round Consolations , 7-8 Consolation following morning session

Break

Parade of Champions : Saturday 4 p.m.

1-2 & 3-4 &5-6 (three mats): Saturday 4:15 p.m.

The Wildcats are defending champions in a 20-team field which will include Bald Eagle Area, Jersey Shore, Hollidaysburg and Clearfield. Montoursville returns considerable talent this year but some of the Warriors were involved in postseason football playoffs through last weekend.

Action will be heard on AM1230-WBPZ and therecord-online for much of the tourney.

Central Mountain will follow that up hosting their own King of the Mountain event, one of the premier high school tourneys in the country on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11 and 12. The first dual meet is the annual regular season showdown with Mifflin County, a home match this year set for Saturday, Dec. 19. Mifflin County, with four returning regional champs (three of whom placed at states a year ago) is the preseason favorite in District 6. The two teams split a pair of 1-point matches a year ago.

Walizer called the Huskies “a tough team to face right out of the gate.” He also looks for challenges from traditional foes Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte and Jersey Shore and notes the schedule addition of West Branch, a solid District 6 Double-A program.

And he said the Wildcats will be going to the Conestoga Valley Holiday Classic after Christmas, a new event for the team. He said he liked the format in that the tourney has both a varsity and jayvee format.