Wildcats Down Jersey Shore, 62-12

JERSEY SHORE – Central Mountain had too many horses and too much horsepower for the Jersey Shore wrestling team Thursday night, the Wildcats heading home with a 62-12 win. Coach Biff Walizer’s team picked up four falls, five forfeits, one bout termination and one regular decision in moving to 2-0 on the season, the Bulldogs falling to 0-2.

Jersey Shore dug an early hole from which it could not recover, forfeiting three of the first four weights. Along with freshman Taylor Weaver and his 23-8 bout termination at 113 pounds, the Wildcats sprinted to a 23-0 lead.

Kayden Busey at 132 pounds picked up a 17-10 win over Cade Vuocolo in one of the more entertaining bouts. Three CM falls followed, from Cody Coleman, Lane Porter and Alonzo Henry and eight bouts in, the Wildcats led 44-0.

Jersey Shore swept the next three bouts, including a fall from undefeated Hunter O’Connor at 170. His victory was sandwiched between two other competitive bouts. ‘Shore’s Ryan Kirschner made a second period 5-point mover stand up for an 8-7 win over ‘Cat sophomore Caleb Porter and veteran Kyle Tomb held off Central Mountain sophomore Gage Sutliff by a 7-6 count.

The last contested bout came at 195 pounds when Wildcat sophomore Nick Miller pinned ‘Shore’s Jacob Stewart. Tanner Riggle and Jake Edwards followed with forfeits in the last two weights to set the 62-12 final. Earlier forfeit wins came from Derek Keen, Johnny Shreffler and Dalton Bechdel.

Afterwards coach Biff Walizer said he was “happy with the effort, even the guys who fell a little short.” He said his wrestlers have to learn to treat every match the same, noting the atmosphere will be different when rival Bald Eagle Area comes in for the Central Mountain home opener Friday night. The Eagles were one of only two teams to defeat the Wildcats a year ago. He said his team members are well aware of the rivalry.

Members of the undefeated teams from the former Bald Eagle-Nittany (3) and Lock Haven (1) High School teams will be honored before the Friday dual. Walizer called the recognition, “the least we could do.” He said even though those schools, through consolidation, no longer exist, “They built the legacy we still appreciate.”