Wildcats Sweep Heartland Conference Duals

PublisherJanuary 16, 2021

2 minutes read

120 Zane Cooper picks up a huge fall at 120 over Williamsport’s Devin Harris, -Record Photo By Tom Elling

Central Mountain’s Nic Miller moved up a weight to 285 to challenge Williamsport’s Charles Crews. Miller started the meet off right with a 5-2 decision. -Record Photosynthesis By Tom Elling

Nic Miller drops PIAA State qualifier Adam Young of Shikellamy, 7-1 -Record Photo By Tom Elling

CM senior Caleb Porter puts the Wildcats ahead 33-30 heading into the final bout. Porter’s fall in 0:59 over Ryan Dunlap erased a 30-27 Williamsport lead -Record Photo By Tom Elling

Gage Sutliffe nabs a first period fall over Williamport’s Charlie Lundy to seal Central Mountain’s 39-30 win over the Billtowners. -Record Photo By Tom Elling

By John Lipez

JERSEY SHORE, PA – The Central Mountain wrestling team had quite the early season test on Saturday, a much anticipated showdown with a highly touted Williamsport team. The Millionaires headed into the final of five Saturday duals with a 6-0 mark, including earlier wins over Cumberland Valley and DuBois and four more tucked on Saturday at the Heartland Conference Duals. Central Mountain meanwhile had to wait until the duals to start its season and mowed over its first four opponents to set up the showdown with Williamsport.

The Wildcats led early, fell behind late, then used final bout first period falls from veterans Caleb Porter and Gage Sutliff to go home a 39-30 winner.

Coach Biff Walizer said that after a long wait, it was nice to see the team back on the competition mat. “The coaches are proud of the effort we saw from everyone today. This group passed their first test of the season against a strong Williamsport squad; looking forward to another test on Tuesday at Selinsgrove.”

The Wildcats had blitzed through their first four matches: 49-19 over Jersey Shore; 58-9 over Danville; 57-12 over Mifflinburg; and 51-14 over Shikellamy. Williamsport did likewise over the same teams, setting up the ‘Cat – Millionaire showdown.

Central Mountain got a huge win in the first bout as Nik Miller bumped up to heavyweight, gave up 45 pounds to Williamsport’s Charles Crews and wrestled a heady match for a hard-earned 5-2 win. Miller, up 3-2, secured a takedown at the buzzer, countering a Crews shot which could have given the Millionaire wrestler the win.

Central Mountain picked up bonus points in every other bout win, the pins from Porter and Sutliff, plus falls from Zane Cooper and Gino Serafini and forfeits for Madison Packer and Luke Simcox.

Simcox, a highly touted freshman, finished the day 5-0, including wins over two state-ranked wrestlers, Gabe Gramly, a 2020 state place-winner from Mifflinburg, 3-1 in overtime; and a 15-0 technical fall over Andrew Johnson, 18-2 a year ago, from Danville. Fellow freshman Cooper also had a 5-0 start to his varsity career. The third Wildcat to complete the day undefeated was sophomore Gino Serafini who went 4-0 with three falls and a forfeit win.

Central Mountain now preps for its Tuesday, Jan. 19 showdown at Selinsgrove. The Seals are off to a remarkable 12-0 start since their season began on Jan. 10. Their closest dual came Saturday, 39-29 over Benton. The Wildcats will have a rare home dual meet on Thursday, Jan. 21 against Bald Eagle Area in this compressed season.

The Central Mountain – Williamsport bout score result:

285 – Nik Miller (CM) dec. Charles Crews, 5-2 (3-0)

106 – Madison Packer (CM) won by forfeit (9-0)

113 – Cael Nasdeo (W) pinned Clayton Foster, 3:18 (9-6)

120 – Zane Cooper (CM) pinned Devin Harris, 4:35 (15-6)

126 – Gino Serafini (CM) pinned Austin Stugart, 3:42 (21-6)

132 – Luke Simcox (CM) won by forfeit (27-6)

138 – Carter Weaver (W) dec. Taylor Weaver, 9-3 (27-9)

145 – Braden Bower (W) dec. Griffin Walizer, 8-3 (27-12)

152 – Riley Bower (W) pinned Rocco Serafini, 3:26 (27-18)

160 – Roman Morrone (W) pinned Damien Galentine, 2:54 (27-24)

172 – Sebastian Robinson (W) won by forfeit (27-30)