Perry and Walizer claim Top Hat crowns; Perry OW

AdminDecember 4, 2022Last Updated: December 4, 2022

8 minutes read

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – They saved the best for last at the Williamsport High School gym Saturday night, the final round of the annual Tom Best Memorial Top Hat Wrestling Tournament. It’s rare that two PIAA champions will go head-to-head but that happened in the 139 pound final where AAA champion Dalton Perry from Central Mountain took on AA champion Scott Johnson of Muncy.

The Wildcat sophomore and the Indian senior met in the tourney’s final bout and it was close for a while until Perry hit a third period headlock and picked up the fall in 5:33 to claim his second Top Hat crown and his second outstanding wrestler award in two tries.

Both wrestlers were cautious in period one, which ended scoreless. Period two saw Johnson with an escape, followed by a Perry takedown and another Johnson escape to tie match at 2-2 after two. Period three saw a quick Perry escape, followed by a lightning quick headlock for a takedown and the fall and the 139 pound title. The explosive move, followed by the fall, brought a roar from the crowd that had stayed to view the finale.

Perry was one of two individual titleists for Central Mountain. Teammate Griffin Walizer used a 5-point second period power move (a takedown and three back points) to overcome a 3-1 deficit on the way to a 9-5 win over Brady Collins from Clearfield. Both Perry and Walizer went 4-0 over the two-day tourney.

Central Mountain picked up a third-place finish from Gino Serafini at 160 pounds while younger brother Rocco Serafini settled for fourth at 189, as did Braylen Corter at 152 and Brayden Blackwell at 285.

Two lineup newcomers, Jaggar Pardoe at 114 pounds and Dakota McDermott at 215, each finished eighth in the 24-team tourney.

Central Mountain, without entries at three weights, 121, 127, and 133, had to settle for fifth place. Saucon Valley took the team title with 174 points, followed by Montoursville with 171, Hempfield (WPIAL) 163, Northampton 159 and the Wildcats with 154.5 rounding out the top five.

Head coach Biff Walizer noted the three open weights and said the weight issues will be “addressed.” As for the team’s on-mat performance, the coach said he was “pretty pleased…but there’s a lot to work on.” He said the team’s placing eight of 10 wrestlers at the tourney was a plus, noting that Pardoe and McDermott placed in a tourney for the firs time. He pointed out the squad had a solid round in the consolation semifinals to advance four wrestlers to the third place matches.

The Wildcats will start their dual meet season at District 6 rival Mifflin County on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The Huskies started their dual meet season Saturday, falling 39-27 to Chambersburg and 42-27 to Gettysburg.

Wildcat individual results:

107

Collin Bauman (2-2) scored 6.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Collin Bauman (Central Mountain Hs) 2-2 won by major decision over Nathan Bieber (Hughesville Hs) 0-2 (MD 16-2)
Champ. Round 2 – Cash Diehl (Clearfield Area Hs) 4-2 won by fall over Collin Bauman (Central Mountain Hs) 2-2 (Fall 1:42)
Cons. Round 2 – Collin Bauman (Central Mountain Hs) 2-2 won by forfeit over Omar Vargas (Conestoga Valley Hs) 0-2 (For.)
Cons. Round 3 – Sawyer Wolfkiel (Titusville Hs) 17-12 won by major decision over Collin Bauman (Central Mountain Hs) 2-2 (MD 10-2)

114

Jaggar Pardoe (2-3) placed 8th and scored 8.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Jaggar Pardoe (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Jaggar Pardoe (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 won by fall over Cash Twigg (Central York Hs) 0-2 (Fall 5:19)
Quarterfinal – Luke Segraves (Williamsport Area Hs) 3-1 won by fall over Jaggar Pardoe (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 (Fall 0:36)
Cons. Round 4 – Jaggar Pardoe (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 won by decision over Aiden Bayard (Emmaus Hs) 0-2 (Dec 5-1)
Cons. Round 5 – Zayne Dayoub (Northampton Area Hs) 4-3 won by fall over Jaggar Pardoe (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 (Fall 0:57)
7th Place Match – Nathan Caracciolo (Hempfield Area) 3-2 won by fall over Jaggar Pardoe (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 (Fall 3:56)

139

Dalton Perry (4-0) placed 1st and scored 31.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Dalton Perry (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Dalton Perry (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 won by tech fall over Nolan Brown (Daniel Boone Hs) 6-2 (TF-1.5 4:37 (18-3))
Quarterfinal – Dalton Perry (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 won by fall over Edonel Rodriguez (Hazleton Area Hs) 23-14 (Fall 4:31)
Semifinal – Dalton Perry (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 won by tech fall over Caiden Puderbach (Hughesville Hs) 2-3 (TF-1.5 5:18 (16-1))
1st Place Match – Dalton Perry (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 won by fall over Scott Johnson (Muncy Hs) 44-2 (Fall 5:33)

145

Luke Ananea (0-2) .

Champ. Round 1 – Peter Ranck (Halifax Area Hs) 3-2 won by fall over Luke Ananea (Central Mountain Hs) 0-2 (Fall 4:27)
Cons. Round 1 – Luke Ananea (Central Mountain Hs) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Gavin Donaldson (Titusville Hs) 18-13 won by decision over Luke Ananea (Central Mountain Hs) 0-2 (Dec 5-0)

145

Griffin Walizer (4-0) placed 1st and scored 28.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 won by tech fall over Leonidas Zaharakis (Saucon Valley Hs) 2-2 (TF-1.5 2:53 (18-3))
Quarterfinal – Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 won by fall over Gage Wentzel (Montoursville Area Hs) 5-2 (Fall 1:40)
Semifinal – Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 won by major decision over Eli Carr (Hempfield Area) 4-1 (MD 13-4)
1st Place Match – Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain Hs) 4-0 won by decision over Brady Collins (Clearfield Area Hs) 38-7 (Dec 9-5)

152

Braylen Corter (3-2) placed 4th and scored 14.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Braylen Corter (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Braylen Corter (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by decision over Dalton Schadel (Line Mountain Hs) 3-2 (Dec 5-2)
Quarterfinal – Braylen Corter (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by decision over Ty Aveni (Clearfield Area Hs) 16-14 (Dec 4-2)
Semifinal – Lucas Kapusta (Hempfield Area) 4-0 won by tech fall over Braylen Corter (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 (TF-1.5 4:22 (18-2))
Cons. Semi – Braylen Corter (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by decision over Jared Porter (Central Dauphin East Hs) 3-3 (Dec 3-0)
3rd Place Match – Carter Waever (Williamsport Area Hs) 4-1 won by decision over Braylen Corter (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 (Dec 10-4)

152

Hunter Donley (3-2).

Champ. Round 1 – Hunter Donley (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by fall over Landyn Wommer (Muncy Hs) 4-16 (Fall 2:57)
Champ. Round 2 – Carter Weaver (Williamsport Area Hs) 4-1 won by fall over Hunter Donley (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 (Fall 2:00)
Cons. Round 2 – Hunter Donley (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by fall over Logan Winters (Palisades Hs) 0-2 (Fall 0:37)
Cons. Round 3 – Hunter Donley (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by major decision over Emidio Diaiuto (Central Dauphin East Hs) 1-2 (MD 16-3)
Cons. Round 4 – Mason Beckowski (Saucon Valley Hs) 16-10 won by fall over Hunter Donley (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 (Fall 2:38)

160

Gino Serafini (4-1) placed 3rd and scored 20.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Gino Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 4-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Gino Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 4-1 won by fall over Pat Knepp (Clearfield Area Hs) 3-8 (Fall 1:47)
Quarterfinal – Gino Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 4-1 won by fall over Luke Needham (Conestoga Valley Hs) 4-2 (Fall 0:58)
Semifinal – Dagen Condomitti (Northampton Area Hs) 38-3 won by fall over Gino Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 4-1 (Fall 5:18)
Cons. Semi – Gino Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 4-1 won by decision over Hunter Miller (Montoursville Area Hs) 4-3 (Dec 6-3)
3rd Place Match – Gino Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 4-1 won by decision over Luke Needham (Conestoga Valley Hs) 4-2 (Dec 2-1)

172

Jacob Weaver (1-2) scored 4.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Jacob Weaver (Central Mountain Hs) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Jacob Weaver (Central Mountain Hs) 1-2 won by decision over Robert Anderson (Hazleton Area Hs) 12-14 (Dec 8-1)
Quarterfinal – Macon Myers (Central York Hs) 33-9 won by tech fall over Jacob Weaver (Central Mountain Hs) 1-2 (TF-1.5 5:21 (16-0))
Cons. Round 4 – Carter Freeland (Clearfield Area Hs) 3-2 won by decision over Jacob Weaver (Central Mountain Hs) 1-2 (Dec 9-3)

172

Bryce Brungard (1-2)

Champ. Round 1 – Khyree Inman (Daniel Boone Hs) 2-2 won by decision over Bryce Brungard (Central Mountain Hs) 1-2 (Dec 12-11)
Cons. Round 1 – Bryce Brungard (Central Mountain Hs) 1-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Bryce Brungard (Central Mountain Hs) 1-2 won by fall over Jackson Raker (Williamsport Area Hs) 0-2 (Fall 2:49)
Cons. Round 3 – Carter Freeland (Clearfield Area Hs) 3-2 won by fall over Bryce Brungard (Central Mountain Hs) 1-2 (Fall 0:38)

189

Rocco Serafini (3-2) placed 4th and scored 19.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Rocco Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Rocco Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by fall over Melvin Stoltzfoos (Conestoga Valley Hs) 1-2 (Fall 1:30)
Quarterfinal – Rocco Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by fall over Landon Roland (Northampton Area Hs) 11-17 (Fall 0:55)
Semifinal – Tucker Hogan (Daniel Boone Hs) 4-0 won by major decision over Rocco Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 (MD 15-2)
Cons. Semi – Rocco Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 won by major decision over Abdoul Akala (Conestoga Valley Hs) 3-3 (MD 14-1)
3rd Place Match – Carter Chamberlain (Clearfield Area Hs) 34-12 won by fall over Rocco Serafini (Central Mountain Hs) 3-2 (Fall 3:41)

215

Giovanni Tarantella (0-2)

Champ. Round 1 – Elijah Binakonsky (Hempfield Area) 7-1 won by fall over Giovanni Tarantella (Central Mountain Hs) 0-2 (Fall 1:15)
Cons. Round 1 – Giovanni Tarantella (Central Mountain Hs) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Jamie Harris (Daniel Boone Hs) 2-2 won by fall over Giovanni Tarantella (Central Mountain Hs) 0-2 (Fall 0:56)

215

Dakota McDermott (2-3) placed 8th and scored 4.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Dakota McDermott (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Jake Gross (Emmaus Hs) 18-21 won by tech fall over Dakota McDermott (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 (TF-1.5 4:57 (18-3))
Cons. Round 2 – Dakota McDermott (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Dakota McDermott (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 won by decision over Jamie Harris (Daniel Boone Hs) 2-2 (Dec 6-2)
Cons. Round 4 – Dakota McDermott (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 won by decision over Tal Stoltzfus (Conestoga Valley Hs) 1-2 (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 5 – Jake Gross (Emmaus Hs) 18-21 won by decision over Dakota McDermott (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 (Dec 6-0)
7th Place Match – Cole Yonkin (Montoursville Area Hs) 3-2 won by fall over Dakota McDermott (Central Mountain Hs) 2-3 (Fall 0:38)

285

Brayden Blackwell (4-2) placed 4th and scored 20.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Brayden Blackwell (Central Mountain Hs) 4-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Brayden Blackwell (Central Mountain Hs) 4-2 won by fall over Jordan Meyer (Daniel Boone Hs) 2-2 (Fall 3:14)
Quarterfinal – Ayden Wysocki (South Western Hs) 4-1 won by fall over Brayden Blackwell (Central Mountain Hs) 4-2 (Fall 5:16)
Cons. Round 4 – Brayden Blackwell (Central Mountain Hs) 4-2 won by fall over Evan Leibert (Saucon Valley Hs) 2-2 (Fall 0:58)
Cons. Round 5 – Brayden Blackwell (Central Mountain Hs) 4-2 won by decision over E.J. Boney (Emmaus Hs) 3-5 (Dec 2-0)
Cons. Semi – Brayden Blackwell (Central Mountain Hs) 4-2 won by fall over Brycen Delker (Williamsport Area Hs) 3-3 (Fall 0:31)
3rd Place Match – Justis Troutman (Tri Valley Hs) 35-15 won in tie breaker – 1 over Brayden Blackwell (Central Mountain Hs) 4-2 (TB-1 2-1)