Wildcats advance three to PIAA quarterfinals
HERSHEY, PA – Central Mountain’s three returning state medalists all won their first round matches at Thursday’s opening session of the PIAA AAA wrestling tournament at the Giant Center. Luke Simcox, Dalton Perry and Griffin Walizer will all be competing in Friday’s 2:15 p.m. quarterfinals. Meanwhile the other two Wildcat entries lost their openers, Rocco Serafini staying alive with a consolation win Thursday night, but brother Gino Serafini lost his consolation bout and was eliminated.
At 133 Simcox (39-4) decisioned Gunnar Myers (41-6) from Wallenpaupack by a 3-0 score In Friday’s quarterfinal round he is matched up with Ethan Lebin (32-6) from Hempfield Area and a state runner-up a year ago; Lebin was a 7-0 winner over Kane Langel from Kennet. Simcox defeated Lebin by an 8-0 score at the PIAA team duals on Feb. 10.
At 139 pounds, defending state champion Perry (41-5) opened with a 0:41 fall over Gavin Reynolds from Central Dauphin. Friday Perry will meet Eli Carr (39-6) from Hempfield Area. Carr won 12-2 over Gavin Carroll from Quakertown. Perry and Carr did not meet in the CM-Hempfield dual meet.
At 145 Walizer (35-10) won by a 6-4 score over Ryan Santiago (29-9) of Bethlehem Liberty. In the quarterfinals he will face Matt Repos (48-3) from Central Dauphin. Repos edged Walizer, 3-1 SV, in the state team dual tourney last month.
Gino Serafini (17-14), who has battled health problems his senior year and won accolades from coach Biff Walizer for his effort, fell twice Thursday and was eliminated. He lost his opener by fall in 2:39 to Gavin Pascoe (40-8) from Perkiomen Valley and fell in his consolation bout by a 4-3 score to Shane McGurrin (31-7) of Pennsbury.
Younger brother Rocco Serafini (36-13) lost his opener to Scott Bechtold (40-8) of Owen J. Roberts by an 11-6 score but stayed alive with a consolation fall in 2:15 over Lincoln Bibla (26-13) from Crestwood; Friday he’ll meet Aiden Height (29-12) from Chambersburg.
Central Mountain is in an eighth-place tie with Central Dauphin in the team race with 17 points. Pre-tourney favorite Bethlehem Catholic is on top with 36.5, Nazareth second with 26.5; State College and Easton are tied for third with 21 points.
