WILDCATS EDGE PENNRIDGE FOR STATE THIRD PLACE

By Joe Walker

HERSHEY-Wrestling is a very demanding sport for individuals, both physically and mentally. Wildcat senior 285 pounder Giovanni Tarantella can tell you that first hand, as he physically and mentally fought through some shoulder pain to win a 7-3 bout and secured a 28-24 win over District 1 runner-up Pennridge (21-5) giving the Wildcats a third place finish in the PIAA Class AAA State Team Duals Tournament and a 13-1 dual meet record.. 

The Wildcats led 25-24 heading into the final bout, as Tarantella got the initial takedown and led 2-1 after one period. The Rams Chase Washington (14-4) got a second period escape to make it 2-2 heading into the final period. Tarantella (17-8) escaped for a 3-2 lead and then sandwiched two takedowns around one Washington escape to come away with the 7-3 win. 

Things started out well for the Wildcats, as freshman Gavin Heverly (30-10) recorded eight takedowns enroute to a 16-6 major decision over the Rams’ Kevin McFadden (21-12) at 107 pounds giving the Wildcats a 4-0 lead. 

The Rams’ Colby Martinelli (15-1) gave the Rams a 6-4 lead at 114, as he pinned Wildcat senior Caden Stoner in 1:57 of the second period. Martinelli placed third in the states one year ago. The Rams went up 9-4 at 121, as Rams two-time state qualifier Cole Coffin (31-8) won a 1-0 decision over Wildcat freshman Aiden Kunes (29-13). After a scoreless first period, Kunes rode Coffin the entire second period. In the final period Kunes chose down and could not get away from Coffin and surrendered a stall point late, giving Coffin the deciding point. 

The Rams sent out another 2023 state qualifier in Quinn McBride (22-8) and he upped the Rams lead to 15-4 at 127, as he pinned the Wildcats’ Jaggar Pardoe in 42 second of the first period. Freshman Patrick Tarantella (21-17) got the Wildcats three points, as he won a 7-5 decision over Danny Metzler (12-14) at 133 pounds. Trailing 4-2 in the final period, Tarantella reversed Metzler and recorded 3 nearfall points to earn the win, later giving up an escape. 

Dalton Perry (27-2) closed the Ram lead to 15-13, as he promptly pinned the Rams’ Anthony Granite (8-11) in just 9 seconds. Wildcat Junior Luke Ananea (11-12) then made a line-up switch look good at 145, as after trailing 3-1 after two periods, Ananea recorded an escape and a late takedown to come away with a 4-3 win over the Rams’ Brady McMahon (13-14) and gave the Wildcats a 16-15 lead. 

The Wildcats bumped defending state champ Luke Simcox (22-2) up to 152 to face Ram three-time state qualifier Sam Kuhns (33-4). After a scoreless first period, Simcox got a second period escape to take a 1-0 lead into the final period. A very strong Kuhns escaped and then with 38 seconds left took Simcox down and held on for a 3-1 win and put the Rams back into front 18-16. 

Wildcat senior Griffin Walizer (31-7) bumped up to 160 pounds and won a close 3-2 decision over the Rams’ Ryan Gallagher (21-14). Walizer had a takedown to Gallaghers’ two escapes in the second period to tie it at 2-all heading into the final period. Walizer got the deciding escape late in the third period and the Wildcats were back in front 19-18. 

The Rams’ Talon Hogan (28-7) used three takedowns and two nearfall points enroute to a 9-2 decision over Wildcat junior Jacob Weaver (24-17) at 172 pounds. Hogan finished 6th in the state last season. The win by Hogan put the Rams back in the lead at 21-19. 

Rams’ sophomore Ryan Rowe (11-3) then won a narrow 4-3 decision over the Wildcats’ Bryce Brungard (28-16) to make it a 24-19 Rams lead. Rowe got the initial takedown to lead 2-0 after one period.

Brungard got a takedown to two Rowe escapes to make 4-2 after two periods. Brungard escaped in the third period, but was unable to get a takedown and dropped the 4-3 bout. 

Senior Rocco Serafini (33-6) then provided the Wildcats with the big points they needed, as he pinned the Rams’ Riley Cullen (24-7) in 2:15 of their 215 pound match. Serafini was leading 4-0 at the time of the fall, and his six pointer gave the Wildcats a 25-24 lead and set the stage for Giovanni Tarantella to pull out the win. The victory gave the Wildcat senior career win number 99 and he should get win number 100 in the 

District 6 Individual championships. 

This is the third time the Wildcats have garnered a third place finish in the state duals, as they join the 2008 and 2010 teams who also finished third and the 2009 team finished in fourth place. The Wildcats have been one win away three times from getting into the final four. 

In the Class AAA championship match, Bethlehem Catholic (15-1) claimed their third straight title, as they defeated fellow District 11 foe Easton (21-3) by a 33-24 count. The champions have beaten Easton twice this season, while Easton handed the Golden Hawks their only loss earlier in the season. 

In the Class AA tournament, District 1 champion and Class AA powerhouse Faith Christian Academy manhandled District 6 power Bishop McCort 46-18 to claim their third straight title. In the Class AA third place match, District 11 champion Notre Dame (Green Pond) defeated District 10 champion Reynolds 41-18. 

The Wildcats will now prepare for the District 6 Individual Championships on Saturday, February 17th, at the Altoona Fieldhouse. Class AAA action gets underway at 9 am and runs all day Saturday until the finals which are set for 5:45 pm. Both the Class AA and AAA tournaments will be run the same day on four mats. The Class AA will also have action on Friday, as they have a 27-team field of wrestlers to whittle down. 

The Class AAA field will consist of Central Mountain, Mifflin County, State College, Altoona, Greater Johnstown and Hollidaysburg. The top three place winners at each weight will advance to the Northwest Regional Tournament. 

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 28, PENNRIDGE 24 

107 – Gavin Heverly (CM) WMD Kevin McFadden, 16-6, (4-0); 114 – Colby Martinelli (P) WBF Caden Stoner, 2:57, (4-6); 121 – Cole Coffin (P) WBD Aiden Kunes, 1-0, (4-9); 127 – Quinn McBride (P) WBF Jaggar Pardoe, :42, (4-15); 133 – Patrick Tarantella (CM) WBD Danny Mentzler, 7-5, (7-15); 139 – Dalton Perry (CM) WBF Anthony Granite, :09, (13-15); 145 – Luke Ananea (CM) WBD Brady McMahon, 4-3, (16-15); 152 – Sam Kuhns (P) WBD Luke Simcox, 3-1, (16-18); 160 – Griffin Walizer (CM) WBD Ryan Gallagher, 3-2, (19-18); 172 – Talon Hogan (P) WBD Jacob Weaver, 9-2, (19-21); 189 – Ryan Rowe (P) WBD Bryce Brungard, 4-3, (19-24); 215 – Rocco Serafini (CM) WBF Riley Cullen, 2:15, (25-24); 285 – Giovanni Tarantella (CM) WBD Chase Washington, 7-3, (28-24).