Central Mountain vs Mifflin County
District 6 Bragging Rights at Stake
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – For the last several seasons the Central Mountain and Mifflin County wrestling teams have been the dominant squads in District 6 and the unfolding 2015-16 season looks to be a continuation of the same.
The last two seasons the two teams have split their twice-a-year meetings, one the regular season dual and one for the District 6 team dual title. A year ago Central Mountain took the regular season matchup 36-24 and the Huskies got revenge in a 32-31 district title win.
The next round is scheduled for this Saturday night at the Central Mountain High School gym and the senior-dominated Huskies go into the match as the favorite. But because of possible line-up juggling and open weights, it is difficult to get a clear picture until the dual meet unfolds. The biggest unknown is the Mifflin County line-up. The Huskies had no entries at three weights in last weekend’s King of the Mountain tournament and despite a stellar veteran group fell to eighth place, compared to third place the previous year.
Mifflin County started this year with a 4-1 mark at the Ephrata Duals but with a depleted squad lost the championship bout to Downingtown East by a 49-29 score. Yet to take the mat for the Huskies this season is veteran lightweight Noah Myers, the junior a third place finisher at regionals a year ago. His status for this Saturday has not been announced.
But they feature a solid corps of returning starters, headed by senior Hayden Hidlay; the North Carolina State recruit finished third at the PIAA tournament a year ago. Other state place-winners back are West Point-bound Noah Stewart, fourth a year ago, and Lock Haven University recruit Trey Hartsock, seventh last year.
All three won Northwestern Regional titles a year ago, along with sophomore Trent Hidlay who did not place at states in March. Another solid four year starter is upper-weight senior Brandon Wilson, 20-6 a year ago but a wrestler who has battled knee injuries for the last two years; he has been healthy so far this year.
Central Mountain coach Biff Walizer said he expects to see Myers back in the line-up. He lauded the Huskies’ “five big guns” and said the Wildcats “will show up, bring the fight to them and see how it plays out.”
Whoever wins Saturday’s dual will mark itself as the team to beat at the district dual tournament Saturday, Feb. 6 at Tyrone. Central Mountain goes into the Saturday showdown coming off a representative KoM showing, placing four wrestlers and finishing in 15th place.
After Saturday’s match with Mifflin County the Wildcats will be on the road at Bald Eagle Area next Tuesday.
Probable Matchups
| WEIGHT | CENTRAL MOUNTAIN | GR | 0-0 | MIFFLIN COUNTY | GR | 5-1 |
| 106 | Cody Coleman | 9 | 4-5 | Christian Fisher | 9 | |
| 113 | Geo Barzona | 11 | 7-2 | Joey Taptich | 10 | |
| 120 | Kyle Smith | 12 | ||||
| 126 | Seth Andrus | 10 | 7-4 | |||
| 132 | Logan Long | 10 | 4-4 | Logan Wise | 10 | |
| 138 | Asher Corl | 10 | 1-4 | Jonah Kile | 11 | |
| 145 | Colton Weaver | 11 | 6-4 | Brandon Fultz | 12 | |
| 152 | Tanner Weaver | 10 | 7-4 | Hayden Hidlay | 12 | |
| 160 | Brandon Miller | 11 | 4-4 | Trent Hidlay | 10 | |
| 170 | Caleb Turner | 11 | 4-3 | Noah Stewart | 12 | |
| 182 | Greg Stahl | 12 | 0-2 | Mike Bieski | 12 | |
| 195 | Isaac Porter | 12 | 5-3 | Brandon Wilson | 12 | |
| 220 | Hunter Weaver | 12 | 8-3 | Trey Hartsock
Austin Haubrick |
12
12 |
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| 285 | Bryce Bitner | 12 | 74 | Gavin Erb | 12 |
