Wildcat grapplers down Mifflin County, 46-21
LEWISTOWN, PA – It was a full house, a great atmosphere at the Mifflin County High School gym Wednesday night. And the dual meet was close for a while, visiting Central Mountain with an 18-15 lead over host Mifflin County after 121 pounds in a match that started at 172 pounds. But the visitors, with their powerful middle weights waiting in the wings, took five of the final six bouts to post a resounding 46-21 victory.
The dual meet was the first for the Wildcats, ranked 13th in the preseason Pennsylvania Power Wrestling state dual rankings, while Mifflin County was ranked 12th. The victory was a revenge of sorts for CM; their last visit to the Huskies’ gym was in February of this year when Mifflin County took the District 6 AAA dual meet title by a 42-24 score.
The match was tied early, 3-3, after Rocco Serafini (4-2) picked up the first CM win, 7-5 over Gavin Mickey at 189. That was the start of a 3-bout Wildcat run: a decision from Dakota McDermott (3-3) at 215, a fall from Brayden Blackwell (5-2) at 285 and a forfeit win for Caden Stoner (1-0) at 107. Mifflin County got back in the match with a fall at 114 and a forfeit at 121, down 18-15 seven bouts into the dual.
Then the Wildcats’ powerful middle weights took over. Luke Simcox (1-0), in his season debut, piled up a 13-1 major, then Dalton Perry (5-0) and Griffin Walizer (5-0) followed with first period pins, extending the lead to 40-15. After a Huskies win at 152, Wildcat senior Braylen Corter (4-2) brought the Wildcat fans to their feet in the final bout. He trailed Mifflin County veteran Deakon Schaeffer by a 3-2 score with time winding down; the two tied up and Corter hit the Huskie with a headlock, followed by the fall at the 5:55 mark for the stunning bout win.
Coach Biff Walizer was happy with the win and cautioned that Mifflin County should be improved as the season goes on. He did note there is room for improvement as the Wildcats lost a couple toss-up weights.
He said he was proud of Corter for his win over a state-ranked opponent; he said he had been “on the cusp” of such a performance. And he noted that Simcox, back in the line-up at 133 pounds Wednesday night, will not have to make that weight anymore this season, that participants beginning with the King of the Mountain event next weekend will all get a 2-pound weight allowance.
The KoM will be the next Wildcat event Dec. 16 and 17. The coach said it will be nice to have the time off to “regroup and refocus…with stuff to work on.”
The Wildcat junior high team won the preliminary by a 45-28 score.
Central Mountain 46, Mifflin County 21
172: Avery Aurand (MC) dec. Jacob Weaver (CM), 5-3 OT.
189: Rocco Serafini (CM) dec. Gavin Mickey (MC), 7-5.
215: Dakota McDermott (CM) dec. Truitt Davis (MC), 2-0.
275: Brayden Blackwell (CM) pinned Levi Marks (MC), 2:25.
107: Caden Stoner (CM) won by forfeit.
114: Styers Oden (MC) pinned Collin Bauman (CM), 4:44.
121: Hunter Johnson (MC) won by forfeit.
127: Jaggar Pardoe (CM) won by forfeit.
133: Luke Simcox (CM) major dec. Blake Aumiller (MC), 13-1.
139: Dalton Perry (CM) pinned Kamden Everly (MC), 1:56.
145: Griffin Walizer (CM) pinned Jacob Cunningham (MC), :42.
152: Parker Kearns (MC) pinned Hunter Donley (CM), 3:59.
160: Braylen Corter (CM) pinned Deakon Schaeffer (MC), 5:55.
