Wildcats Fall to Franklin Regional 39-11, Finish 14-2

By Joe Walker

ALTOONA – When you reach this level of team competition it is going to get real tough and for the second match in a row the Central Mountain Wildcats ran into another well balanced team. WPIAL champion Franklin Regional ended the Wildcats dual meet season by a 39-11 count in the PIAA Class AAA consolation quarterfinals. 

The Wildcats came away just three of the 13 bouts, as Dalton Perry improved to 33-2 on the season with a tech fall win at 145, while Aiden Kunes (127) and Bryce Brungard (189) both came away with regular decision wins. 

Perry improved his career mark to 152-14 by using four takedowns and six nearfall points to earn a solid 24-6 tech fall in 42 seconds of the final period against the Panthers’ Buccicone. Kunes used a six point move in the final 21 seconds of the 127 pound bout to defeat the Panthers’ Max Ruane (28-8) by a 7-3 score and improve to 31-7 on the season. 

Brungard got the Wildcats final win at 189 pounds, as the senior Wildcat got a third period takedown to defeat John Montgomery (17-11) by a 4-1 score and improved his season record to 30-12. 

Things started at 215 pounds and Wildcat sophomore Kai Fravel (15-14) lost by tech fall to Panther senior Henry Potts (32-9) by a 15-0 score and then Elishua Daugherty (16-6) won an 11-2 major decision over Wildcat freshman Hayes Henry (11-17) at 285 pounds. 

Wildcat sophomore Cael Dorman (14-14) was a victim of a 16-1 tech fall to freshman Beau Finnick (30-4) at 107 and then Panther sophomore Titus Colangelo (29-7) used a second period escape a 1-0 decision over Wildcat sophomore Gavin Heverly (28-8) at 114 pounds. Colangelo rode Heverly the entire final period, as the Wildcat came close to escapes twice during the final two minutes. 

The Panthers’ Sal Nassif (20-13) used two takedowns to defeated the Collin Bauman (16-16) at 121 pounds and that put the Panthers up 20-0 before Kunes used his big six point move to earn his win at 127 pounds and put the Wildcats on the scoreboard, but trailing 20-3. 

Trailing 2-1 late in his 133 pound, Wildcat sophomore Patrick Tarantella (29-13) gave up a takedown and later four back points to drop a 9-1 major decision to Chase Smith (12-2) and then the Panthers’ Nico Sarnic (26-7) used three takedowns to major decision Wildcat freshman Hayes Donley (11-8) at 145 pounds and that put the Panthers up 28-3. 

Perry cut the lead to 28-8 with his tech fall win at 145 pounds, but the Panthers increased their lead to 33-8 at 152 pounds when Panther freshman Max Firestine (33-4) tech falled Wildcat freshman Dakoda Packer-Edwards (9-13) at 152 pounds to clinch the dual meet for the WPIAL champions. 

Panther senior Luke Ankney (32-8) used a third period escape and takedown to defeat Wildcat senior Luke Ananae (25-12) by a 4-0 decision at 160 pounds. Ethan Cartwright (31-7) used four back points in the second stand, as he defeated Wildcat junior Dalton McDermott (18-13) by a 4-0 decision at 172 pounds. Brungard then followed with his decision win to set the final at 36-11. 

The Wildcats finished their very good dual meet season with a very impressive 14-2 record and finished in the top 8 teams in state Class AAA. The Wildcats will now prepare for the District 6 Class AAA Individual championships starting next Saturday, February 15th at the Altoona High School Field House, as the wrestlers all start their individual quest for a PIAA state championship. 

CLASS AAA RESULTS 

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS 

Nazareth 42, Boyertown 21 

Bethlehem Catholic 29, Connellsville 23 

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS 

Boyertown 39, Council Rock South 22 

Connellsville 28, Franklin Regional 22 

THIRD PLACE: Connellsville 36, Boyertown 21 

FIRST PLACE: Bethlehem Catholic 44, Nazareth 28 (Beth Catholic 4th straight title) 

CLASS AA RESULTS 

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS 

Faith Christian Academy 35, Bishop McDevitt 23 

Bishop McCort 61, Berks Catholic 6 

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS 

Erie Cathedral Prep 29, Berks Catholic 20 

Bishop McDevitt 34, Montoursville 25 

THIRD PLACE: Bishop McDevitt 44, Erie Cathedral Prep 14 

FIRST PLACE: Faith Christian Academy 34, Bishop McCort 25 (FCA 3rd Straight Title)