Williamsport powers way to top at King of the Mountain

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – After Friday’s first day of the King of the Mountain wrestling tournament, Williamsport was not near the top of the leader board. But the Millionaires caught fire on Saturday, pulling away from a solid 32-team field to post the school’s first-ever KOM title.

The District 4 team crowned three champions in Cael Nasdeo (113), Braden Bower (132) and Charles Crews (285) on the way to a sprint to the top of the scoreboard. The Millionaires ended up with 169 points, followed by Council Rock South with 159, State College with 149.5, Greater Latrobe with 135 and host Central Mountain fifth with 127.

Central Mountain did crown two champs in Dalton Perry at 126 pounds and Luke Simcox at 138, but head coach Biff Walizer said it was a “what coulda’ been situation” for his team. The Wildcats were missing six of their starters due to injury or health issues, but still made a representative showing.

Walizer lauded the work of two reserves pressed into service, Braylen Corter finishing eighth at 132 and Jake Weaver with an eighth place finish at 160. Griffin Walizer was the Wildcats’ other place winner, sixth at 152 pounds, injury forfeiting there after he was shaken up in a loss in the semifinals.

Perry and Simcox were again dominant. The undefeated Perry recorded three first period pins on the way to his final where he won by injury forfeit over Hayden Cunningham of State College. Simcox had two 31 second falls and a 16-1 technical fall along his way to the title match where he took a 16-0 technical fall over Ethan Toth of Forest Hills.

As for the absent Wildcat wrestlers, coach Walizer said “a couple” could be back soon but “time will tell” until his team returns to full strength.

District 6 collectively had a strong tournament. In addition to titles from Perry and Simcox, the other first place finisher from the district was Jude Swisher (145) of Bellefonte with a 4-3 over defending state champion Finn Solomon of Franklin Regional.

Central Mountain will get back into dual meet action on Wednesday, Dec. 22 when they host Mifflin County.

Meanwhile Sunday will see the first ever Queen of the Mountain Open, staged by the Central Mountain Wrestling Booster Club for all female wrestlers grades 7 through 12. That wrestling will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, run simultaneously with the booster club’s Mountain Man Junior Varsity Tournament.