Bald Eagle matmen muscle out thriller over Penns Valley

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 11, 2024

Photo by Tim Weight

By Kenny Varner

SPRING MILLS – Two legendary wrestling programs renewed acquaintances Thursday night.

Penns Valley high played host to the annual Bald Eagle Area and Penns Valley rivalry.

The rivalry lived up to its reputation as took the Laurel Highlands contest.

The meet came down to the last two matches at 121 and 127.

“It was a good match. Anytime you get Penns Valley and Bald Eagle together you have a good old fashioned rivalry and that showed tonight in the score,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Ron Guenot. “If we wrestled that match again who knows what would happen. It could go the other way. maybe we will see each other down the road at the district duals.”

Going into the final match at 127-pounds, the Eagles held onto a slim 30-29 advantage looking to complete the comeback attempt. They did just did that as the Eagles held onto a hard fought 34-29 contest.

Both teams finished with three pin falls on the night.

Penns Valley sent out Joel Conklin while Bald Eagle brought out Lucas Fye, who has been no stranger to wrestling in big matches.

In the first period, Fye went right to work, shooting on Conklin and was able to control him as he had control of his arm. He was able to flip him over but Conklin was able to get back on stomach, making it just a 2-0 lead going into the second.

Fye was in the down position to start the period, he was able to escape and pull off a reversal that led to a take down extending Fye’s lead to 6-1 going into the final stanza.

The period belonged to Fye as he was able to keep Conklin at bay and post a 10-2 victory to seal the win for the visitors.

Leading the way for the Rams was Penns Valley’s all-time leading pin leader and 100-plus win veteran Ty Watson. Watson added to his All-time leading pin mark, posting a pinfall over Harrison Harter at 1:00.

Starting at 133, the Rams went right to work as Colton Shunk met up with Dawson Lomison.

Shunk got his team off to a quick 4-0 advantage thanks to the 13-5 major decision over Lomison.

The match of the night came at 285, Bald Eagles’ Gage Gardner found himself trailing 1-0 going into the third period against Landon Hess.

Staying off the final period in the down position, Gardner found himself behind as the. The clocked ticked down under 30 seconds. He was able to maneuver his knees into a place to turn the tables on Hess and notched a reversal. Hess was able to escape, putting the contest tied with just seconds left. But as the clock would down to single digits, Gardner lunged and took down Hess and securing a thrilling 4-2 victory.

At 139, the Rams upped its lead to 7-0 when Zachary Rummel pulled out a 6-2 decision over Connor Maney.

The Bald Eagles got on the board at 145-pounds. Mason Reese picked up his team’s first pin as he pinned Sawyer Fetterolf, at the 5:00 mark.

With Watson’s pin at 160 added to his team’s lead at 13-6.

At 160, the Rams continued to add to itheir lead. Ethan Fetterolf picked up a major decision over Gavin Bennett winning 9-1.

But back came the Eagles at 172 – pounds. Cameron Dubbs took care of business and had total control of his opponent Robert Martin winning by decision at 6-1. With the win, the Eagles cut into the Rams lead at 17-9.

189 – pounder Shawn Knepp cut the Penns Valley lead to 17-15 as he was able to pin Ty Steiger at the 3:01 mark.

Caleb Close continued to inch his team closer to the lead as the 215-pounder pinned Brandon Corl at 3:46.

In the light weights, 107 – pounder Conner Myers from Penns Valley pinned Michael Wesley before anyone knew what happened at 0:18 .

At 114, Caden Judice gave the Bald Eagle an easy six points as he won by forfeit extending the lead to 30-23.

At 121, Jack Darlington kept the Rams chances alive as he pinned Gavin Guenot at 1:15.

But the Eagles were able to hold onto take the victory and another chapter of the local rivalry.

Editor’s Note – The Penns Valley wrestling held its Annual Donation night as they raised money this year to the Penns Valley Youth Center.

Bald Eagle Area 34, Penns Valley 29

133 – Colten Shunk (PV) maj. dec. Dawson Lomison (BEA) 13-5

139 – Zachary Rummel (PV) dec. Connor Maney, 6-2

145 – Mason Reese (BEA) pinned Sawyer Fetterolf, 5:00

152 – Ty Watson (PV) pinned Harrison Harter (BEA) 1:00