Seven Wildcats advance to Regional Semifinals
By Joe Walker
ALTOONA-The Central Mountain Wildcats were able to get 7 of 10 wrestlers in the championship semifinals of the Northwest Regional tournament, which allowed the Wildcats to lead the team race after the first night and still have all 10 wrestlers still alive in the tournament.
Advancing to the semifinals were Gavin Heverly (107), Aiden Kunes (121), Dalton Perry (139), Luke Simcox (145), Griffin Walizer (152), Bryce Brungard (189) and Rocco Serafini (215). Three Wildcats were knocked into the consolations, as Patrick Tarantella (127), Hunter Donley (160) and Jacob Weaver (172) are still eligible to wrestle their way back for a third place finish and a trip to the PIAA state tournament.
Heverly (33-10) received an opening round bye and then in the quarterfinals made quick work of District 4/9 runner-up Jacob Hendricks (15-13) with a fall in 47 seconds of the first period. Heverly will face District 6 fourth place finisher Brayden Sidney (25-10) of Hollidaysburg in the semifinals. Heverly owns a 5-2 win over Sidney this season.
Kunes (33-13) made his way into the semifinals after pinning Steven Bott (7-11) of Williamsport in the opening round and then in the quarterfinals he posted a solid 11-0 major decision over District 10 runner-up Amir Johnson (18-14) of Cathedral Prep. The District 6 champ will face District 4/9 champion Alex Reed (30-4) of Shikellamy in the semifinals. Reed recorded his 100th career victory in the quarterfinals.
Perry (30-2) had the easiest path to the semifinals, as he received a opening round bye and then in the quarterfinals he was awarded a default win in just two seconds of the bout. Wrestlers can no longer say they are forfeiting out, they have to go out on the mat and default as soon as the whistle blows. The District 6 champ will face District 4/9 runner-up Davey Aughenbaugh (35-9) of DuBois in the semifinals at 139 pounds.
The Jersey Shore Bulldogs Brock Weiss (28-0) also received an opening round bye at 139 pounds and then recorded A 35 second fall over Wyatt Young (16-13) of Altoona in the quarterfinals. Weiss will face District 10 champ Jacoby Thompson (22-6) of Meadville in the other semifinal at 139.
Simcox (25-3) received an opening round forfeit and then in the quarterfinals he recorded a fall over District 10 champion Ryder Say (31-6) of Meadville in 1:49 of the first period. In the semifinals, Simcox will face Colby Seiler (24-14) of Mifflin County in the 145 pound semifinals, as the District 6 champ is heading towards a match-up with State Colleges’ Pierson Manville in the finals.
Manville had a first round bye and then a fall in 2:20 over District 10 runner-up Lucas Kurelowech (16-12) of Erie McDowell. Manville will face Gabe Dorman (30-8) of Cathedral Prep in the semifinals and the Little Lion is a heavy favorite to face Simcox, who defaulted to Manville in last week’s District 6 finals.
Walizer (34-8) built up a commanding 11-2 lead before pinning District 4/9 fourth place finisher Alex George (12-19) of Shikellamy in 1:36 of the second period. In the quarterfinals had two takedowns and two nearfall points to defeat District 10 champion Brandon Byrd (21-4) of Cathedral Prep by a 6-0 score.
Walizer will get a tough test in the 152 semifinal, as he will face Mifflin County standout Parker Kearns (33-6), who defeated District 4/9 champ Jordan Thompson (30-4) of Bradford by a 3-2 score. Walizer defeated Kearns by a 6-4 score in the season’s first dual meet.
Brungard 31-17) made his way into the semifinals at 189 by recording a fall over Christian Boetsch (14-17) of Shikellamy in the opening round and then in the quarterfinals he recorded three takedowns enroute to a 8-2 decision over District 10 champ Corey Kowalski (24-9) of Cathedral Prep. In the semifinals, he will face District 4/9 champ Tucker Teats (35-7) of Selinsgrove.
Serafini (36-6) became the Wildcats seventh semifinalist, as he received an opening round bye and then in the quarterfinals he recorded a fall in 2:21 over District 10 runner-up Max Spaulding (24-9) of Cathedral Prep. The Wildcat senior will face District 4/9 runner-up Jarrod Bullington (13-8) in the semifinals at 215 pounds.
Wildcat freshman Patrick Tarantella (23-19) trailed 6-4 late in his opening round match at 127 pounds, when he got a takedown with 18 seconds to go, he let Samson Deeb (27-14) of DuBois out for an escape, but could not get the final takedown and dropped a tough 7-6 decision. Tarantella gets a bye in the first round of consolations and will face District 10 third place finisher Caleb Anderson (15-9) of Meadville in the second round of consolations.
Wildcat sophomore Hunter Donley (21-13) was leading 4-2 when District 10 runner-up Brighton Anderson (34-6) caught him in a spladle move and pinned the Wildcat in 54 seconds of the second period. Donley has a bye in the first round of consolations and will face Noah Moyer (30-7) of Columbia Montour Vo-Tech in the consolation second round.
Wildcat Junior Jacob Weaver (28-19) won his opening round match, as he defeated District 10 runner-up Jaden Crockett (20-10) of Cathedral Prep by a 10-7 score. In the quarterfinals, Weaver lost a 15-0 technical fall to top seeded Cole Wetzel (32-2) of Shikellamy with just five seconds left in the 172 pound bout. Weaver will face Antonio Roa (7-12) of District 8 Brasher in the second round of consolations.
The Wildcats lead the team race with 68 points and seven wrestlers in the semifinals, while Mifflin County is second with 61.5 points and five semifinalists. The two teams meet twice in the semifinals at 145 and 152 pounds. Shikellamy is third with 58.5 points, followed by Cathedral Prep with 55 points and Meadville rounds out the top five with 54 points.
Action gets underway Saturday morning mat 9:30 am with the first round of consolations. The championship semifinals are set for 12:30 pm and then the championship finals start at 5:15 pm with the Parade of Champions.
