Central Mountain’s Simcox, Walizer into Powerade quarterfinals
MONROEVILLE, PA – Through mid-afternoon Friday, Central Mountain had qualified two freshmen for the night-time quarterfinals. They are Luke Simcox at 126 pounds and Griffin Walizer at 138 pounds. The 54th annual Powerade wrestling tournament began Friday at the Monroeville Convention Center and Central Mountain is among the 56 teams from four states competing in the two-day event.
Simcox won his first two bouts at 126 pounds: a 17-1 technical fall (4:12) over Joel McClintock of Northern York and 4-2 over Sam Cartella of Western Reserve (OH). Simcox will meet Dustin Norris of LaSalle of Ohio Friday night.
Walizer also took his first two: 7-3 over Ronnie Romanini of Walsh Jesuit (OH), and 5-2 over Lincoln Hower of Faith Christian. He is to wrestle top seeded Cole Homet of Waynesburg Friday night.
Due to COVID-19, the weights are being contested in several phases, lightweights, then middleweights, followed by upper-weights.
Central Mountain was in sixth place in the team race as of mid-afternoon Friday, Malvern Prep, a Philadelphia area private school in first place.
Wildcat results as of mid-day Friday:
106: Clayton Foster – pinned Kayden Cominsky (Hickory), 3:35; pinned by Tyler Chappell (Seneca Valley), 127: consolations: pinned Tyler Stokes (Meadowbrook Christian), 1:17
120: Zane Cooper – pinned Tyler Bowers (Latrobe), 1:41; lost, 8-2, to Greg Sheulis (Mt Pleasant); lost to Hunter Forcellini (Forest Hills), 4-3 in consolations; finishes 1-2
126: Luke Simcox – won, TF, 17-1, 4:12 over Joel McClintock (Northern York); won, 4-2 over Sam Cartella (Western Reserve, OH)
126: Gino Serafini – won by default over Nolan Moore (Moeller, OH); lost 5-3 to Ty Watters (West Allegheny); won consi, 5-0 over Conlan O’Donaghue (Canon-McMillan)
132: Braylen Corter – lost, 9-3 to Damien Finnegan (Altoona); won consolation, 9-0 over Brady Fitz, Thomas Jefferson
138: Griffin Walizer – won, 7-3 over Ronnie Romanini (Walsh Jesuit, OH); won 5-2 over Lincoln Hower (Faith Christian)
145: Rocco Serafini – pinned Michael Inks (Thomas Jefferson), 3:10; lost, 15-0 TF, Chanz Shearer (Seneca Valley)
