Carson: MIfflin County wrestlers send 11 to regionals

By BRIAN CARSON

Photos by Tim Weight

ALTOONA—Avery Aurand (172) and Gavin Mickey (189) claimed gold, while 11 Mifflin County wrestlers advanced to regionals at the District 6 Class AAA championships on Saturday in Altoona.

Paxton Shawver (114), Jake Knable (121), Blake Aumiller (127), Kamden Everly (133), and Deakon Schaeffer (160) will be joining the champions at the Northwest Class AAA Regionals this Friday and Saturday in Altoona. Anthony Alexander (107), Colby Seiler (145), Parker Kearns (152), and Truitt Davis (215) all claimed third place to advance.

Aurand (29-7) earned his first district title with a 5-0 blanking of Hollidaysburg’s Mitchell Baronner. The Husky junior had a takedown in the first and an escape and takedown in the second for the win. He earned his trip to the finals with a fall in 2:57 over Tykear Davis of Altoona in the semifinals.

Mickey, who was just 5-10 a year ago, continued his stellar season with a 6-4 victory over Central Mountain’s Bryce Brungard for his first district title.

The Husky senior drew first blood on a takedown with 30 seconds left in the first period. Brungard escaped to make it 2-1. Brungard chose bottom to start period two and escaped to tie it at 2-2.

Mickey (25-12) scored another late takedown, this time with 23 seconds to go in the period for the 4-2 lead. The Husky escaped to make it 5-2 before Brungard cut the deficit to 5-4 with a deuce of his own. A Mickey escape set the final score.

Gavin earned his trip to the finals with a fall in 1:08 over Altoona’s Julian Pringle.

On the not-so-good news front, the Huskies had seven in the finals but only went 2-for-5 in the championship round.

At 114, Shawver (24-11) fell behind Altoona’s Braiden Weaver before losing by fall in 1:03 to the Mountain Lion sophomore. The Husky freshman reached the finals with a 5-3 decision over Hollidaysburg’s Landon Krupka.

In a battle of freshmen finalists, Central Mountain’s Aiden Kunes had two takedowns, a reversal, and four nearfall points to defeat Knable by a 12-2 major decision.

Knable advanced to the finals with two pins. The first in 1:55 over Altoona’s Tabor Baker in the quarters and the second in 43 seconds over Logan Krupka of Hollidaysburg in the semifinals. Knable is now 19-14 on the season with 17 falls.

At 127, Altoona’s Gavin Ciampoli got some revenge on Aumiller with a 10-1 major decision in the finals. Aumiller (7-4) beat Ciampoli at the District 6 Duals by an 11-3 major. The Husky senior made the championship match after beating State College’s Nicholas Berrena 15-2 in the semifinals.

Everly (23-15) took out Hollidaysburg’s Jacob Brua by a 12-1 major decision in the semifinals before dropping a 5-1 decision in the finals to State College freshman James Whitbred. A takedown in the first and second periods was the difference in the match.

Schaeffer (32-7) ran into a buzz saw in top-ranked Asher Cunningham of State College in the finals. The Little Lion junior and Penn State commit rang up 11 takedowns in a 23-8 technical fall over the Husky senior in 5:27. Schaeffer reached the championship with a 17-2 tech fall over Central Mountain’s Hunter Donley in 5:04.

On the good news front, Mifflin County went 4-1 in the third-place matches (the blood round).

Alexander (26-13), after dropping a 4-2 decision to Noah Young of State College in the semifinals, qualified for regionals with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory over Hollidaysburg’s Brayden Sidney for third. The Husky freshman made an escape in the first tiebreaker stand up after “Goo” rode Sidney out in the second tiebreaker.

Seiler (22-14) had the misfortune of meeting Pierson Manville of State College in the semifinals. Manville, number one in the state, pinned Seiler in 1:09 to drop him into the consolations. The Husky junior made the most of his setback with a fall in 1:28 over Luke Geishauser of Altoona for third. Seiler was up 9-1 at the time of the fall.

Kearns (31-6) fell in the semifinals to rival Luke Sipes of Altoona by a 3-2 score. An escape and takedown in the second period for Sipes was the difference. In the third-place bout, The Husky senior decked State College’s Brady Bucher in 1:14 after jumping out to a 6-2 lead.

Davis (21-14) was the final regional qualifier after pinning Hollidaysburg’s Caden Frye in 57 seconds of their third-place match. The Husky sophomore lost by fall in 3:57 to Altoona’s Evan Boose in the semifinals.

Dekker Pietzsch (285) came in fourth, and Brian Albert (139) placed fifth but did not make it out of the districts.

Mifflin County finished second in the team standings with 99.5 points, 6.5 points behind first-place Central Mountain.

The Huskies travel back to Altoona to kick off the Northwest Regional Class AAA championships on Friday, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

District 6 AAA Results

Team Standings

(1) Central Mountain 206.0, (2) Mifflin County 199.5, (3) State College 195.0, (4) Altoona 159.0, (5) Hollidaysburg 129.0, (6) Greater Johnstown 21.0.

Championship Quarterfinals

107 – ​Brayden Sidney (Hollidaysburg) dec. Dom Nardozza (Altoona), 5-0

114 – ​Jon Whitbred (State College) pinned Collin Bauman (Central Mountain), 1:53

121 – ​Johnathan Coates (State College) pinned Nicolas Taranto (Greater Johnstown), 1:42

​Jake Knable (Mifflin County) pinned Taber Baker (Altoona), 1:55

127 – ​Nicholas Berrena (State College) pinned Carson Krupka (Hollidaysburg), 6:00

139 – ​Mason Schenk (Hollidaysburg) dec. Brian Albert (Mifflin County), 2-0

145 – ​Luke Geishauser (Altoona) pinned James Bialo (Hollidaysburg), 2:18

152 – ​Brady Bucher (State College) pinned Bryce Gainey (Greater Johnstown), 1:58

160 – ​Aiden Schenk (Hollidaysburg) dec. Matthew Riccio (Altoona), 2-0

172 – ​Tykear Davis (Altoona) dec. Xavier Zeruth (State College), 5-3

​Jacob Weaver (Central Mountain) pinned Devin Barrett (Greater Johnstown), 0:31

189 – ​Julian Pringle (Altoona) pinned Julian Rivas (Greater Johnstown), 4:48

​Tyson Bridenbaugh (Hollidaysburg) dec. Reagan Dillon (State College), 4-2

215 – ​Paul Tisinger (Greater Johnstown) pinned Lucas Anderson (State College), 2:51

​Evan Boose (Altoona) pinned Caden Frye (Hollidaysburg), 0:42

285 – ​Hayden Speece (Altoona) pinned Dekker Pietzsch (Mifflin County), 1:59

Championship Semifinals

107 – ​Gavin Heverly (Central Mountain) dec. Brayden Sidney (Hollidaysburg), 3-1

​Noah Young (State College) dec. Andrew Alexander (Mifflin County), 4-2

114 – ​Braiden Weaver (Altoona) pinned Jon Whitbred (State College), 2:29

​Paxton Shawver (Mifflin County) dec. Landon Krupka (Hollidaysburg), 5-3

121 – ​Aiden Kunes (Central Mountain) pinned Johnathan Coates (State College), 2:12

​Jake Knable (Mifflin County) pinned Logan Krupka (Hollidaysburg), 0:43

127 – ​Blake Aumiller (Mifflin County) major dec. Nicholas Berrena (State College), 15-2

​Gavin Ciampoli (Altoona) major dec. Patrick Tarantella (Central Mountain), 15-2

133 – ​James Whitbred (State College) won by tech. fall over Jaggar Pardoe (Central Mountain), 17-0 4:00

​Kamden Everly (Mifflin County) major dec. Jacob Brua (Hollidaysburg), 12-1

139 – ​Dalton Perry (Central Mountain) pinned Mason Schenk (Hollidaysburg), 0:36

​Jacob Campbell (State College) major dec. Wyatt Young (Altoona), 13-2

145 – ​Luke Simcox (Central Mountain) pinned Luke Geishauser (Altoona), 0:24

​Pierson Manville (State College) pinned Colby Seiler (Mifflin County), 1:09

152 – ​Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain) pinned Brady Bucher (State College), 0:40

​Luke Sipes (Altoona) dec. Parker Kearns (Mifflin County), 3-2

160 – ​Asher Cunningham (State College) pinned Aiden Schenk (Hollidaysburg), 1:00

​Deakon Schaeffer (Mifflin County) won by tech. fall over Hunter Donley (Central Mountain), 17-2 5:04

172 – ​Avery Aurand (Mifflin County) pinned Tykear Davis (Altoona), 2:57

​Mitchell Baronner (Hollidaysburg) dec. Jacob Weaver (Central Mountain), 7-2

189 – ​Gavin Mickey (Mifflin County) pinned Julian Pringle (Altoona), 1:08

​Bryce Brungard (Central Mountain) pinned Tyson Bridenbaugh (Hollidaysburg), 4:48

215 – ​Rocco Serafini (Central Mountain) pinned Paul Tisinger (Greater Johnstown), 0:52

​Evan Boose (Altoona) pinned Truitt Davis (Mifflin County), 3:57

285 – ​Nick Pavlechko (State College) pinned Hayden Speece (Altoona), 0:47

​Wyatt Maines (Hollidaysburg) pinned Giovanni Tarantella (Central Mountain), 3:11

Consolation Semifinals

107 – ​Andrew Alexander (Mifflin County) pinned Dom Nardozza (Altoona), 1:23

114 – ​Landon Krupka (Hollidaysburg) dec. Collin Bauman (Central Mountain), 7-4

121 – ​Logan Krupka (Hollidaysburg) pinned Nicolas Taranto (Greater Johnstown), 4:38

​Johnathan Coates (State College) major dec. Taber Baker (Altoona), 8-0

127 – ​Patrick Tarantella (Central Mountain) pinned Carson Krupka (Hollidaysburg), 3:35

139 – ​Wyatt Young (Altoona) dec. Brian Albert (Mifflin County), 4-0

145 – ​Colby Seiler (Mifflin County) pinned James Bialo (Hollidaysburg), 2:08

152 – ​Parker Kearns (Mifflin County) pinned Bryce Gainey (Greater Johnstown), 0:47

160 – ​Hunter Donley (Central Mountain) pinned Matthew Riccio (Altoona), 2:26

172 – ​Jacob Weaver (Central Mountain) dec. Xavier Zeruth (State College), 12-5

​Tykear Davis (Altoona) pinned Devin Barrett (Greater Johnstown), 0:57

189 – ​Tyson Bridenbaugh (Hollidaysburg) pinned Julian Rivas (Greater Johnstown), 0:29

​Reagan Dillon (State College) dec. Julian Pringle (Altoona), 3-1

215 – ​Truitt Davis (Mifflin County) pinned Lucas Anderson (State College), 1:39

​Caden Frye (Hollidaysburg) pinned Paul Tisinger (Greater Johnstown), 2:14

285 – ​Dekker Pietzsch (Mifflin County) won by inj. default over Giovanni Tarantella (Central Mountain)

Fifth Place

121 – ​Taber Baker (Altoona) dec. Nicolas Taranto (Greater Johnstown), 4-2

172 – ​Xavier Zeruth (State College) pinned Devin Barrett (Greater Johnstown), 1:08

189 – ​Julian Pringle (Altoona) dec. Julian Rivas (Greater Johnstown), 7-4

215 – ​Lucas Anderson (State College) pinned Paul Tisinger (Greater Johnstown), 2:20

Third Place

107 – ​Andrew Alexander (Mifflin County) dec. Brayden Sidney (Hollidaysburg), 2-1 TB2

114 – ​Landon Krupka (Hollidaysburg) dec. Jon Whitbred (State College), 6-4

121 – ​Johnathan Coates (State College) dec. Logan Krupka (Hollidaysburg), 5-2

127 – ​Patrick Tarantella (Central Mountain) dec. Nicholas Berrena (State College), 6-3

133 – ​Jacob Brua (Hollidaysburg) pinned Jaggar Pardoe (Central Mountain), 2:46

139 – ​Wyatt Young (Altoona) dec. Mason Schenk (Hollidaysburg), 8-1

145 – ​Colby Seiler (Mifflin County) pinned Luke Geishauser (Altoona), 1:28

152 – ​Parker Kearns (Mifflin County) pinned Brady Bucher (State College), 1:14

160 – ​Hunter Donley (Central Mountain) pinned Aiden Schenk (Hollidaysburg), 2:21

172 – ​Jacob Weaver (Central Mountain) pinned Tykear Davis (Altoona), 2:43

189 – ​Tyson Bridenbaugh (Hollidaysburg) pinned Reagan Dillon (State College), 4:00

215 – ​Truitt Davis (Mifflin County) pinned Caden Frye (Hollidaysburg), 0:57

285 – ​Hayden Speece (Altoona) pinned Dekker Pietzsch (Mifflin County), 4:41

Championship Finals

107 – ​Gavin Heverly (Central Mountain) pinned Noah Young (State College), 5:42

114 – ​Braiden Weaver (Altoona) pinned Paxton Shawver (Mifflin County), 1:03

121 – ​Aiden Kunes (Central Mountain) major dec. Jake Knable (Mifflin County), 12-2

127 – ​Gavin Ciampoli (Altoona) major dec. Blake Aumiller (Mifflin County), 10-1

133 – ​James Whitbred (State College) dec. Kamden Everly (Mifflin County), 5-1

139 – ​Dalton Perry (Central Mountain) pinned Jacob Campbell (State College), 2:14

145 – ​Pierson Manville (State College) won by inj. default over Luke Simcox (Central Mountain), 0-0 0:01

152 – ​Luke Sipes (Altoona) dec. Griffin Walizer (Central Mountain), 3-1

160 – ​Asher Cunningham (State College) won by tech. fall over Deakon Schaeffer (Mifflin County), 23-8 5:27

172 – ​Avery Aurand (Mifflin County) dec. Mitchell Baronner (Hollidaysburg), 5-0

189 – ​Gavin Mickey (Mifflin County) dec. Bryce Brungard (Central Mountain), 6-4

215 – ​Rocco Serafini (Central Mountain) pinned Evan Boose (Altoona), 1:59

285 – ​Nick Pavlechko (State College) pinned Wyatt Maines (Hollidaysburg), 0:56