Wildcats Fall to Defending State Champs 34-19

By Joe Walker

HERSHEY-Bonus points and toss-up weights are a big key to get in a big wrestling dual meet and unfortunately for the Central Mountain, Bethlehem Catholic got the better of both to hand the Wildcats a 34-19 defeat in the Class AAA State Team Duals Championship semifinals Friday evening. This is the second year in a row the Golden Hawks stopped the Wildcats in the semifinals. 

The Wildcats used both bonus points and toss-up bout wins to defeat Council Rock South in the quarterfinals earlier in the day, but in the semifinals, Bethlehem Catholic had a 22-10 advantage in bonus points and a 5-1 advantage in six toss-up bouts. The Golden Hawks will look for their third straight state team title when they face fellow District 11 foe Easton in the championship match. Easton got a pin in the final bout to advance with a 29-27 win over District 1 runner-up Pennridge in the other semifinal. 

The Wildcats, now 11-1, fall into the consolation semifinals set for Saturday at 11 am, as they will face the winner of the consolation quarterfinal round bout between District 7 runner-up Franklin Regional (21-2) and District 3 fourth place finisher Central Dauphin (14-5). 

Things got started at 133 pounds in the Wildcat semifinal match, as the Golden Hawks’ Mason Thomas (11-12) handed Wildcat freshman Patrick Tarantella (19-17) a 10-5 loss in the first toss-up bout. Thomas led 2-0 heading into the final period, at which Thomas was leading 5-3 when he caught Tarantella in a five point move. Tarantella was able to reverse Thomas in the final seconds, but Thomas came away with the 10-5 win. 

Dalton Perry (25-2) took down the Golden Hawks’ Marco Frinzi (23-12) twice to lead 4-2 after one period. Perry got another takedown in the second period to lead 6-3 after two periods and then in the third period, the taller Frinzi got an escape to make it 6-4, but surrendered a stall point, as he kept away from Perry and that set the final at 7-4. 

Senior Luke Simcox (21-1) gave the Wildcats a 6-3 team lead, as he posted a 4-1 decision over Shane McFillin (29-7) at 145 pounds. Simcox had two takedowns to a McFillin escape in the first period and that was the scoring for the bout. McFillin rode Simcox the whole second period and then Simcox rode McFillin the whole third period. 

Luke Ananea (10-12) got the call at 152 to face highly touted Koliin Rath (34-1) and the Golden Hawk recorded five takedowns before pinning Ananea in 1:39 of the first period. Rath is ranked number one in the country and a defending state champion. 

Griffin Walizer (29-7) bumped up to face Charlie Scanlan (27-7) at 160 pounds and each wrestler was only able to record one escape each to send a 1-1 bout into overtime. No takedown was recorded in the first minute and then in the first ride out period, Scanlan got an escape with 11 seconds left to make it 2-1. In the final rideout period, Walizer was unable to get away from Scanlan and his 2-1 overtime win gave his team a 12-6 lead. 

The 172 pound bout was the third toss-up bout so far, as the Wildcats’ Jacob Weaver (24-16) went against the Golden Hawks’ Dario Cruz (15-15). It was a 3-3 bout heading into the final period, as Cruz escaped, but was taken down by Weaver, only to see Cruz escape and tie that bout up at 5-5. Weaver got in deep for a takedown with 28 seconds to go, but could not finish the move and a stalemate was called. Cruz then came up with the winning takedown with 11 seconds left to earn a 7-5 decision and give his team a 15-6 lead.

The Golden Hawks increased their lead to 20-6 at 189 pounds, as James Deluise (15-7) worked a 16-0 technical fall over the Wildcats’ Bryce Brungard (27-15) just as the second period came to an end. Senior Rocco Serafini (31-6) got the Wildcats back in it with a fall over James Bozzi in :37 seconds to cut the Golden Hawks lead to 20-12. 

Giovanni Tarantella (15-8) cut the Beth Catholic lead to 20-15 with a 5-2 decision over James Lance (16-13) at 285 pounds, the Wildcat senior using two takedowns to help in the win. Freshman Gavin Heverly (28-10) drew the Wildcats within one point at 20-19, as he posted a 14-6 major decision win over Louden Hower (14-14) at 107 pounds. Heverly dominated on his feet recording five takedowns enroute to the win. 

That was as close as the Wildcats would get, as Reef Dillard (27-10) posted a 17-0 technical fall over the Wildcat senior Caden Stoner (7-13) at 114 and then defending state champion Keanu Dillard (30-5) quickly wrapped up the dual meet for the Golden Hawks with nine second fall over Wildcat sophomore Collin Bauman (1-5) at 121 pounds. The two Dillard brothers wins put the Golden Hawks up 31-19 with one bout to go. 

In the final bout of the evening, Ryder Campbell (21-6) gave up the initial takedown to Wildcat freshman Aiden Kunes (28-11), but later recorded a takedown in each the second and third periods to come away with a 5-2 decision and set the final at 34-19. 

In the Class AA championship, District 6 champion Bishop McCort will face off against District 11 champion Faith Christian Academy. Bishop McCort routed District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge 64-6 in the semifinals, while Faith Christian Academy defeated Bishop McDevitt 43-24 to advance into the finals. 

Two District four teams are still alive in the AA consolations, as District 4 champion Warrior Run defeated Clearfield by a 29-24 score in the second round of consolations and District 4 runner-up Montoursville posted a narrow 31-30 over District 10 runner-up Fort LeBoeuf to stay alive. 

BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC 34, CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 19 

133 – Mason Thomas (BC) WBD Patrick Tarantella, 10-5, (0-3); 139 – Dalton Perry (CM) WBD Marco Frinzi, 7-4, (3-3); 145 – Luke Simcox (CM) WBD Shane McFillin, 4-1, (6-3); 152 – Kollin Rath (BC) WBF Luke Ananea, 1:39, (6-9); 160 – Charlie Scanlan (BC) WBD Griffin Walizer, 2-1ro, (6-12); 172 – Dario Cruz (BC) WBD Jacob Weaver, 7-5, (6-15); 189 – James Deluise (BC) WTF Bryce Brungard, 16-0, 4:00, (6-20); 215 – Rocco Serafini (CM) WBF James Bozzi, :39, (12-20); 285 – Giovanni Tarantella (CM) WBD Jacob Lance, 5-2, (15-20); 107 – Gavin Heverly (CM) WMD Louden Hower, 14-6, (19-20); 114 – Reef Dillard (BC) WTF Caden Stoner 17-2, 4:40, (19-25); 121 – Keanu Dillard (BC) WBF Collin Bauman, :09, (19-31); 127 – Ryder Campbell (BC) WBD Aiden Kunes, 5-2, (19-34).