Wildcat heroics pull out 31-28 win over Hempfield at PIAA state tourney
HERSHEY, PA – You couldn’t script a more exciting finish for the Central Mountain wrestling team in their PIAA AAA quarterfinal match with Hempfield on Friday afternoon. The Wildcat middleweight “hammers” came through in the clutch as Central Mountain turned a 28-18 deficit into a wild 31-28 win.
After CM’s Luke Simcox put up an 8-0 major decision over PIAA runner-up Ethan Lebin at 133 pounds, Dalton Perry followed with a first period pin at 139 pounds and the dual meet was tied at 28-28.
That left the dual up to Griffin Walizer for Central Mountain and Eli Carr (29-4) for Hempfield.
After a scoreless first period, Walizer escaped in period two for a 1-0 lead. Carr reversed in the third period for a 2-1 lead but as the clock wound down to the final few seconds, Walizer re-reversed for the 3-2 win and the 31-28 triumph for the Wildcats.
Walizer’s win was one of three clutch 1-point bout triumphs for CM. The dual started at 152 pounds where Wildcat Braylen Corter hit a late 4-point move for a 6-5 win over Charlie Mesich (18-4). Later freshman Jaggar Pardoe, bumped up to 121 pounds and used a last period takedown for a 7-6 win over Nathan Caraccioilo (12-8).
The team score after 121 was 25-18 Hempfield. The Spartans earned a decision at 127 to put Hempfield up 28-18 with three bouts to go. The Wildcats needed their three state medalists all to win and they did, capped off by Walizer’s last second heroics.
Other CM wins came from Rocco Serfini with a first period fall at 189 and a forfeit win for Brayden Blackwell at 285.
Central Mountain moves into the Friday night semifinals against defending AAA team champion Bethlehem Catholic. The perennial District 11 power advanced Friday afternoon with a 55-8 win over Waynesburg Central.
152 – Braylen Corter dec. Charlie Mesich, 6-5 (3-0)
160 – Lucas Kapusta maj. dec. Gino Serafini, 13-5 (3-4)
172 – Pierce Turner dec. Jacob Weaver, 7-2 (3-7)
189 – Rocco Serafini pinned Ryan Steffey, 0:41 (9-7)
215 – Elijah Binakonsky pinned Dakota McDermott, 1:32 (9-13)
285 – Brayden Blackwell won by forfeit (15-13)
107 – Nico Kapusta pinned Caden Stoner, 0:13 (15-19)
114 – Ty King pinned Collin Bauman, 1:55 (15-25)
121 – Jaggar Pardoe dec. Nathan Caracciolo, 7-6 (18-25)
127 – Owen Caracciolo dec. Carnell Noone, 8-4 (18-28)
133 – Luke Simcox maj. dec. Ethan Lebin, 8-0 (22-28)
139 – Dalton Perry pinned Logan Williams, 0:29 (28-28)
145 – Griffin Walizer dec. Eli Carr, 3-2 (31-28)
Central Mountain wrestlers in bold.
