Wildcats Unload on Seals, 58-15

SELINSGROVE – Going into Tuesday night’s Heartland Conference opener, there was a school of thought that a veteran Selinsgrove team might be able to stay with league kingpin Central Mountain. It didn’t happen. The Wildcats piled up eight falls in dispatching the Seals by a 58-15 score.

In a dual meet that started at 182 pounds, the host Seals actually opened up a 9-4 lead after three bouts. CM’s Austin Confer (2-2) picked up an 11-0 major to start the dual meet, but Selinsgrove picked up wins at the next two weights.

The lead did not last long as the Wildcats piled up five straight falls, starting with Jake Edwards (3-1) at heavyweight, Derek Keen (4-2) at 106, Taylor Weaver (5-2) at 113, Johnny Shreffler (5-0) at 120 and Dalton Bechdel (5-1) at 126. But the visitors were not done scoring: Kayden Busey (2-2) at 132 overcame a late 3-0 deficit and earned an overtime takedown for a 5-3 win; Cody Coleman (4-2) picked up a fall at 138 and Lane Porter (4-2) did likewise at 145. Alonzo Henry (5-2) ended the overall pin onslaught at eight with a fall at 152 and Caleb Porter (3-2) used three third period points for a 3-2 comeback win at 160 pounds. Selinsgrove took the final bout at 170 to put the final at 58-15.

Central Mountain had a 17-10 edge in takedowns and the Wildcats remain undefeated in four-plus years against Heartland Conference competition. The Wildcat junior high team won by a 54-33 score to move to 6-0 on the young season.

The competition will get much tougher this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15, as the Wildcats host their annual King of the Mountain tournament starting Friday at 2 p.m. It is another talent-laden field from 33 schools. State-ranked Council Rock South is expected to be among those challenging for the title. District 6 teams competing, in addition to the Wildcats, are Mifflin County, Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte and State College. Other traditional powers in the field are Boyertown, Brookville, Franklin Regional and Manheim Central.

Wildcat coach Biff Walizer said his program is pleased to be part of the event: “There were multiple guys who didn’t make it to the finals of the KOM last year but were wrestling in the finals at the Giant Center in March. We are very excited about having the opportunity to host the field of teams in the 2018 King of the Mountain. It should be a great weekend of wrestling.  We hope that our Central Mountain boys will compete with their best effort.”