Central Mountain and MIfflin County battle on the mats in early season meet

By Kenny Varner Jr.
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: December 7, 2022

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – Two traditional wrestling power houses renewed their rivalry Wednesday as the MIfflin County Huskies hosted the undefeated Central Mountain Wildcats.

It would be a tough battle between the two but in the end, the Wildcats came out victorious, pulling away late winning 46-21.

“Effort-wise, I have no complaints. I thought our kids really battled. They (Central Mountain) have a really solid group of kids through the middle and you got to give them credit for the talent that they have,” said MIfflin County coach Kirby Martin. “ We’ll keep getting better. It’s going to take some work. They’re so far working hard and wrestling hard. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Mifflin County started off the night with at 172.

Avery Aurand went up against Central Mountain’s Jacob Weaver. Weaver opened the match with an early take down of Aurand.

Going into the second, Aurand took the down position and picked up an escape and proceeded eventually tie the contest at three as the match went into an overtime period.

With both starting in the neutral position, Aurand shot and was able to take Weaver to the mat for the takedown and the 5-3 victory.

The Wildcats’ Rocco Serafini tied things up at three as he defeated Gavin Mickey at 189 by a 7-5 decision.

The two teams had another strong battle at 215 when Central Mountain’s Dakota McDermott muscled out a hard fought battle with Truitt Davis, winning by decision at 2-0.

Rounding out the heavyweights at 285, Brayden Blackwell was able to pin Levi Marks and win by Fall at 2:25. At the time of the pin, Blackwell held a 4-0 lead.

At 107, The Wildcats’ Caden Stoner was able to get his hand lifted as a result of a forfeit.

Mifflin County quickly got back on the scoring column at 113.

Styers Oden battled early but pulled away late picking up a pin over Collin Bauman late in the third period to cut the Central Mountain lead to a 18-9 contest with the fall at 4:16.

Oden started with an early take down on Bauman but a reversal by the Wildcat tied things going into the second period.

Oden was able to build a 5-2 lead as he picked up three back points.

After an escape by Bauman, the match went into the final period, leading 5-3. But with time running out, Oden took down Bauman and was able to pin his shoulders to the mat for the pin.

At 120, Hunter Johnson brought the contest to a 15-18 contest as he picked up a forfeit.

But at 126, Central Mountain picked up six more points when Jaggar Pardoe also picked up a forfeit win.

Ranked at number three in the state,

132-pounder Luke Simcox worked his way past Blake Aumiller for a 13-1 major decision.

Number one ranked Dalton Perry continued his winning ways as he pinned Kamden Everly at 1:56, at 132. With the win, the Wildcats increased its lead to 34-15.

Also ranked in the top 10 in the state, seventh ranked 145-pounder Griffin Walizer pinned his opponent Jacob Cunningham at 0:41.

Mifflin County took the 152-pound weight class as Parker Kearns took care of Hunter Donley by Fall at 3:59.

In the final match at 160, Central Mountain’s Braylen Corter and MIfflin County’s Deakon Schaeffer were battling it out to the final seconds before Corter was able to throw down a late headlock which culminated in a pin with just five ticks showing in the third period. With the fall at 5:55, the meet finished with the Wildcats winning 46-21.

Both teams will be back in action as they compete at the King of the Mountain wrestling tournament next.