Wildcats’ Houtz Stays Alive at PIAA Day Two

HERSHEY – Senior Mahlik Houtz has always had the ability to hit big point moves and he showed that ability again Friday afternoon at the Giant Center, taking down and decking his opponent in a hurry in round two of consolations at the PIAA state wrestling championships.

Houtz, now 25-11, pinned Owen Verespy (37-8) from North Penn High School in 0:59 to move to the third round of consolations later on Friday. His opponent will be Northeast region champ Greg Bensley (24-4), a senior from Pocono Mountain West.

Houtz is the lone Central Mountain wrestler still alive as teammate Seth Andrus (32-6) saw his season end in his second consolation bout, falling 14-4 to Northeast region champ Pat Gould (29-4) of East Stroudsburg South. Andrus finished his outstanding high school career in eleventh place among all Wildcat wrestlers with his 107 victories.

Bald Eagle Area leads all District 6 teams with two wrestlers advancing to the semifinals: Senior Seth Koleno at 138 pounds downed Zach Ortman of Parkland by a 5-3 score. Sophomore Gage McClenahan at 152 pounds mowed his way into the Saturday morning semifinals with an 18-3 technical fall (3:48) over Dillon Sheehy of Council Rock North.

Other District 6 semifinalists are Mifflin County’s Trent Hidlay at 170 pounds, a 21-6 technical fall in 5:19 over Neamiah Diggs of Harrisburg; Cole Urbas of State College at 195 pounds, a fall in 1:32 over Mitchell Talbot of Central Dauphin; and Parker McClellan of Altoona at 220 pounds, a 6-4 win over Pocono Mountain West’s Bensley.

Nazareth leads the team race with 45 points, Erie Prep second with 43 and Kiski Area third with 35. BEA is in eighth place with 22.5 points.