Much, much talent returns for Wildcat wrestling
By John Lipez
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – There is no doubt, there is much talent in the Central Mountain wrestling room this season, arguably the most talented group since the Alton twins’ era better than a decade ago.
The challenge for head coach Biff Walizer and staff will be getting that talent spread out throughout the lineup, especially in the middle weights where three PIAA place-winners, including one state champ, return.
And through something of an aberration, the program is all but void of participants at a couple weights, 121 and 127 pounds; what coach Walizer terms “question marks.” He noted if eighth graders could compete, the Wildcats would be fine, but they’re not.
The roster lists 23 boys and six girls. Among the returnees are PIAA champion Dalton Perry, a sophomore, and two juniors, Luke Simcox, a fifth-place finisher the last two years, and Griffin Walizer, who finished eighth a year ago.
And a ton of additional front-liners are back from last year. Among them are, in alphabetical order, Luke Ananea, Brayden Blackwell, Braylen Corter, Gino Serafini, Rocco Serafini and Jacob Weaver. Blackwell and Rocco Serafini were both district runners-up last year; Corter third; and Ananea and Weaver fourth.
As for new faces, they will come in the first couple weights, 107 and 114 pounds this year: Collin Bauman (9th), Caden Stoner (11th), and Leeah Eisenhower (12th) will compete for the 107 spot. Jaggar Pardoe (9th) will most likely hold down the 114 spot, according to the coach.
As to how good the team can be, the coach said, “With a couple of potential empty spots in the lineup, it may be difficult to handle some of the better AAA schools in dual meets. As always, we’re just looking for some hardnosed kids who will go out and give everything they’ve got when they step on the mat. If the right attitude and never-quit-effort is there, then the coaching staff will be pleased regardless of the outcome. I believe we may have a better tournament team with some guys who can consistently get on the awards stand at the tournaments.”
As for expectations on the state level, coach Walizer said, “We have several guys who have their focus on winning state titles and others who want to make their first trip to Hershey and get on the state podium. With a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, we hope to take a good number of wrestlers to the state championships this year.”
As for competition in the area, coach Walizer said Selinsgrove returns most of their lineup, “So they’ll be favored in the Heartland. State College returns a lot of high caliber wrestlers and will be favored to win D6 AAA.”
It should be noted with the departure of Bellefonte and Juniata to Class AA, the District 6 AAA tourney this year will see only six teams: Central Mountain, State College, Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Mifflin County and Johnstown. As a result, the district will advance only three wrestlers per weight to the Northwestern Regional Tournament, as opposed to four in recent years.
The Wildcats open the season this Friday and Saturday at the annual Tom Best Memorial Top Hat wrestling tournament in Williamsport, followed by a dual meet on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Mifflin County.
