Wildcats Prep for District Tourney
By John Lipez
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Central Mountain looks to be in the hunt for a title when the Wildcats travel to Altoona next Saturday, Feb. 22 for the new-look one day District 6 individual tournament.
Central Mountain has used a rugged stretch in recent days to prep for the first step in the trip to the PIAA tourney in Hershey March 6-7-8.
The Wildcats, now 14-3, ventured to Hershey for the PIAA team duals last week and, despite incurring their first two losses of the season, held their own with two of the top-ranked teams in the state.
The first round match saw Central Mountain stay with # 5 Parkland but fall by a 33-27 count. The Wildcats lost their first consolation match to #3 Cumberland Valley by a 37-22 score.
On Tuesday of this week the Wildcats traveled to Brookville for a match with the #3 Double-A Raiders (21-4) and came home a 31-25 loser.
Three Wildcats came through that difficult three match gauntlet with 3-0 marks: Gavin Caprio (28-5), Chad Reese (28-5) and Loc Long (15-6).
The dual meet season will end this Thursday on the road with District 4 team dual champion Jersey Shore (13-5).
For what’s believed the first time in District 6 history the District 6 AAA individual tournament will be conducted all in one day, Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Altoona Field House.
With nine teams in the field, district officials have set a preliminary round for 9 a.m., followed by the quarterfinals at 9:30 a.m., consolations at 11:30 a.m., semifinals and a round of consolations at 2:30 p.m.
The field house will then be cleared of spectators, doors reopening at 4:45 p.m. and consolation finals at 5:45 p.m., followed by the championship finals at 7 p.m.
Four mats will be in use; district officials said they would try to follow the time schedule, noting the semifinals will not start before 12 noon but could start after that depending on rest restrictions for the participants.
Top four wrestlers at each of the 14 weights will return to Altoona the following weekend for the Northwestern Regional tournament, a two-day affair, Feb. 28 and March 1.
Central Mountain and Mifflin County are expected to battle for the team title, Bellefonte also challenging. Mifflin County edged Central Mountain for the title a year ago.
