Trending
The PHAC Division I duals saved the best for last.
Williamsport and Central Mountain both entered their matchup 4-0 on the day and the showdown between both giants was right on the center mat.
After bumping up four wrestlers in their lineup, and each of those wrestlers earning bonus points, the Millionaires knocked off the Wildcats, 41-28 at the Magic Dome in Williamsport Saturday.
With the win, Williamsport snapped a 48-win streak in conference duals ever since Central Mountain joined the PHAC Division I.
"I guess you could say it was nice while it lasted," Wildcats coach Biff Walizer said. "If it was going to end, to have a squad like Williamsport, who I know coach (Brian) Nasdeo has put so much time into for years bringing them up through the elementary ranks and junior high and so forth, if there was a team who was gonna do it and deserve to do it, this is it."
Braden and Riley Bower, Carter Weaver and Roman Morrone all earned bonus points in their final bouts of the day to skyrocket the Millionaires' team score. The Bower brothers came up with back-to-back pins, while Weaver and Morrone posted consecutive majors.
The rapid scoring came after Central Mountain took the first two weights. Taylor Weaver (132) and Luke Simcox (138) both pinned Devin Harris and Alex Randell respectively to create an immediate 12-point deficit for the Millionaires.
"It was a big turning point. It gave everyone momentum and confidence and everyone else wrestled hard," Williamsport's Sebastain Robinson said. "We came to play."
Robinson capped off the scoring run with a 3-0 decision over Damien Galentine. Through five weight classes, the Millionaires rifled off 23 unanswered points.
It wasn't until Micah Walizer posted a 9-1 major over Charlie Lundry at 215 the Wildcats responded. Charles Crews, however, continued to balloon the ever-growing lead with a pin of Brayden Blackwell in a critical heavyweight matchup that tipped the scale in Williamsport's favor.
215 -- Wildcats respond.
Micah Walizer, 9-1 major over Charlie Lundy.
Williamsport 23, Central Mountain 16 pic.twitter.com/NyBmAjwpXa
— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) January 8, 2022
With plenty of insurance already on the scoreboard with just, Crews was still trying to bank bonus points to close the deal with just four weight classes to go, Crews was still trying to march to the same beat of gaining more cushion on the mat.
"If you get bonus points, you're going to win the match," Crews said. "Just getting the bonus points gave us all the momentum to wrestle our hardest, so then we just got our bonus points from all our other weights."
285 -- Charles Crews pins Brayden Blackwell, much to the delight of the Millionaires sideline.
Williamsport is pulling away with a prime chance of snapping Central Mountain's 48-conference dual win streak. pic.twitter.com/ylaMhmWulO
— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) January 8, 2022
Despite the quick start from Taylor Weaver and Simcox, Biff Walizer knew wrestling from behind after the middleweights was almost inevitable.
"(I knew) off the get-go our backs were going to be against the wall, just not having those favorable matchups, on top of them being a heck of a team," Biff Walizer said.
Cael Nasdeo, having wrestled through injury at the Powerade before taking a precautionary injury default, was given some rest after Williamsport's dual meet at State College was postponed to Jan. 19 due to COVID-19 complications within State College's program.
"I was going to wrestle at State College anyway, but I do think it helped a lot," Nasdeo said on the rescheduling.
Nasdeo was in form having made pins in earlier rounds of the meet, and against Clayton Foster at 113, he once again pinned his opponent in 1:20.
113 -- Yet another pin for Cael Nasdeo over Shikellamy's Alex Reed.
While speaking with coach Brian Nasdeo earlier in the week, he told me Cael's injury default at the Powerade was precautionary.
Glad to see Nasdeo is healthy. pic.twitter.com/TDfOeldwbc
— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) January 8, 2022
Without State College as a measuring stick, the Millionaires came into the PHAC Duals with just one prior dual on the season, a 43-19 outing over Altoona. To make a sweep with the strongest team coming their way last, the Millionaires have more pep in their step having already taken the King of the Mountain team title as well.
"It's definitely a big confidence booster. We've never beaten them before in school history, so it was a big confidence booster," Nasdeo said. "Everyone on the team knew we could beat em, and I think we showed that out in the wrestling room. Everyone fought and everyone wrestled up."
Having done so in the Magic Dome was an added touch.
"The big thing was just beating them. It does feel good beating them with our crowd," Nasdeo said. "Last year, there was no crowd, just the team together."
With a 6-0 record in duals now, Crews noted he was glad to see the positive translation from big tournaments to one-on-one bouts against other lineups.
"Since we haven't wrestled a lot of dual meets, we've wrestled all these hard tournaments, just to know we could all come together as a team, it feels really good," Crews said.
With control of the conference, Williamsport can win out with a dual meet win against Selinsgrove, which Central Mountain still has to face as well.
"We've got a ways to go, and fortunately, it's only the beginning of January," Biff Walizer said. "When February comes around, hopefully we got time to put it together."
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE DIVISION I DUALS
ROUND 1
WILLIAMSPORT 59, DANVILLE 15
106: Braeden Earlston (D) Fall 1:22 over Jack Heller (W). 113: Cael Nasdeo (W) Fall 0:15 over Austin Springer (D). 120: Luke Segraves (W) Fall 2:53 over Eli Welliver (D). 126: Gavin Haggerty (D) Fall 3:57 over Devin Harris (W). 132: Kyle Vanden Heuvel (D) 4-3 Dec. over Alex Randell (W). 138: Braden Bower (W) Fall 2:11 over Nolan Coombe (D). 145: Riley Bower (W) via forfeit. 152: Carter Weaver (W) via forfeit. 160: Roman Morrone (W) via forfeit. 172: Ryan Dunlap (W) via forfeit. 189: Sebastian Robinson (W) TF 18-2 2:28 over Connor Jones (D). 215: Charlie Lundy (W) Fall 2:53 over Jacob Gilbert (D). 285: Charles Cres (W) via forfeit.
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 59, MIFFLINBURG 15
106: Leeah Eisenhower (CM) via forfeit. 113: Brady Strubble (M) Fall 3:40 over Clayton Foster (CM). 120: Derek Keen (CM) via forfeit. 126: Dalton Perry (CM) 19-4 TF over Dylan Starr (M). 132: Luke Simcox (CM) via forfeit. 138: Taylor Weaver (CM) via forfeit. 145: Gino Serafini (CM) via forfeit. 152: Griffin Walizer (CM) Fall 4:22 over Max Murray (M). 160: Troy Bingaman (M) 12-1 major over Jacob Weaver (CM). 172: Lucas Porter (CM) Fall 1:48 over Jonathan Melendez (M). 189: N/A (CM) via forfeit. 215: Micah Walizer (CM) Fall 1:24 over Shuck (M). 285: Ulrich (M) 17-2 TF over Logan Gunsallus (CM).
SHIKELLAMY 54, JERSEY SHORE 16
113: Alex Reed (S) via forfeit. 120: Brock Weiss (JS) Fall 0.34 over Eben Kisner (S). 126: Blaize Souder (S) via forfeit. 132: Isaac McGregor (S) via forfeit. 138: Liam Goodrich (JS) major over CJ Keener (S). 145: Connor Wetzel (S) via forfeit. 152: Caleb Yoder (S) via forfeit. 160: Coltyn Sempko (S) via forfeit. 172: Gage Wolfe (S) Fall 3:27 over Tyler Bauder (JS). 189: Haydn Packer (JS) Fall 1:33 over Matthew Shaffer (S). 215: Mason Rebuck (S) Fall 2:38 over Dylan Ross (JS). 285: Blake Vankirk (S) via forfeit.
ROUND 2
JERSEY SHORE 36, DANVILLE 24
113: Eli Welliver (D) via forfeit. 120: Brock Weiss (JS) via forfeit. 126: Gavin Haggerty (D) via forfeit. 132: Kyle Vanden Heuvel (D) via forfeit. 138: Liam Goodrich (JS) Fall 1:04 over Nolan Coombe (D). 145: Double forfeit. 152: Double forfeit. 160: Kale Ross (JS) via forfeit. 172: Tyler Bauder (JS) via forfeit. 189: Haydn Packer (JS) Fall 0.27 over Connor Jones (D). 215: Dyllian Ross (JS) Fall 1:07 over Jacob Gilbert (D). 285: Double forfeit. 106: Braeden Earlston (D) via forfeit.
WILLIAMSPORT 63, MIFFLINBURG 9
113: Cael Nasdeo (W) Fall 1:17 over Brady Struble (M). 120: Luke Segraves (W) via forfeit. 126: Devin Harris (W) Fall 3:10 over Dylan Starr (M). 132: Alex Randell (W) via forfeit. 138: Braden Bower via forfeit. 145: Riley Bower (W) via forfeit. 152: Carter Weaver (W) Fall 3:21 over Max Murray (M). 160: Roman Morrone (W) 6-3 Dec. over Troy Bingaman (M). 172: Jonathan Melendez (M) Fall 2:55 over Ryan Dunlap (W). 189: Sebastian Robinson (W) via forfeit. 215: Nathan Lundy (W) 10-9 Dec. over Kaelex Shuck (M). 285: Charles Crews (W) injury default over Emmanuel Ulrich (M).
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 44, SHIKELLAMY 12
106: Leeah Eisenhower (CM) via forfeit. 113: Alex Reed (S) 16-4 Tech Fall over Clayton Foster (CM). 120: Derek Keen (CM) Fall 0:18 over Eben Kisner (S). 126: Dalton Perry (CM) Fall 1:26 over Blaize Sauder (S). 132: Luke Simcox (CM) 21-8 MD over Isaac McGregor (S). 138: Taylor Weaver (CM) 6-4 Dec. over CJ Keener (S). 145: Griffin Walizer (CM) 12-2 MD over Connor Wetzel (S). 152: Gino Serafini (CM) Fall 3:27 over Caleb Yoder (S). 160: Coltyn Sempko (S) 3-0 Dec. over Jacob Weaver (CM). 172: Gage Wolfe (S) 11-0 MD over Tristan Probst (CM). 189: Damien Galentine (CM) Fall 2:47 over Matthew Shaffer (S). 215: Micah Walizer (CM) 7-4 Dec. over Mason Rebuck (S). 285: Brayden Blackwell (CM) 11-6 Dec. over Blake Vankirk (S).
ROUND 3
WILLIAMSPORT 49, JERSEY SHORE 11
120: Brock Weiss (JS) TF 16-1 3:18 over Luke Segraves (W). 126: Devin Harris (W) via forfeit. 132: Alex Randell (W) via forfeit. 138: Braden Bower (W) MD 16-4 over Liam Goodrich (JS). 145: Riley Bower (W) via forfeit. 152: Carter Weaver (W) via forfeit. 160: Double forfeit. 172: Roman Morrone (W) 8-6 Dec. over Tyler Bauder (JS). 189: Haydn Packer (JS) 5-3 Dec. over Sebastian Robinson (W). 215: Dyllian Ross (JS) 9-2 Dec. over Charlie Lundy (W). 285: Charles Crews (W) via forfeit.
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 72, DANVILLE 6
120: Derek Keen (CM) via forfeit. 126: Dalton Perry (CM) Fall 1:39 over Gavin Haggerty (D). 132: Luke Simcox (CM) Fall 0.57 over Kyle Vanden Heuvel (D). 138: Taylor Weaver (CM) Fall 1:19 over Nolan Coombe (D). 145: Griffin Walizer (CM) via forfeit. 152: Gino Serafini (CM) via forfeit. 160: Jacob Weaver (CM) via forfeit. 172: Lucas Porter (CM) via forfeit. 189: Damien Galentine (CM) Fall 1:16 over Connor Jones (D). 215: Micah Walizer (CM) Fall 3:29 over Jacob Gilbert (D). 285: Brayden Blackwell (CM) via forfeit. 106: Braeden Earlston (D) Fall 0.07 over Leeah Eisenhower (CM). 113: Clayton Foster (CM) Fall 3:20 over Eli Welliver (D).
ROUND 4
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 63, JERSEY SHORE 9
126: Dalton Perry (CM) via forfeit. 132: Taylor Weaver (CM) via forfeit. 138: Luke Simcox (CM) injury default over Liam Goodrich (JS). 145: Griffin Walizer (CM) via forfeit. 152: Gino Serafini (CM) via forfeit. 160: Jacob Weaver (CM) via forfeit. 172: Tristan Probst (CM) Fall 2:47 over Philip Kanski. 189: Haydn Packer (JS) 10-4 Dec. over Damien Galentine (CM). 215: Micah Walizer (CM) 4-1 Dec. over Dyllian Ross (JS). Brayden Blackwell (CM) via forfeit. 106: Leeah Eisenhower (CM) via forfeit. 113: Clayton Foster (CM) via forfeit. 120: Brock Weiss (JS) Fall 1:35 over Derek Keen (CM).
WILLIAMSPORT 50, SHIKELLAMY 21
126: Devin Harris (W) Fall 1:00 over Blaize Souder (S). 132: Isaac McGregor (S) Fall 4:33 over Alex Randell (W). 138: Braden Bower (W) TF 17-2 4:21 over CJ Keener (S). 145: Riley Bower (W) TF 19-2 5:25 over Connor Wetzel (S). 152: Carter Weaver (W) TF 21-4 4:30 over Caleb Yoder (S). 160: Coltyn Sempko (S) 3-2 Dec. over Roman Morrone (W). 172: Gage Wolfe (S) Fall 0:44 over Ryan Dunlap (W). 189: Sebastian Robinson (W) Fall 1:18 over Matthew Shaffer (S). 215: Mason Rebuck (S) Fall 1:47 over Charlie Lundy (W). 285: Charles Crews (W) Fall 1:16 over Blake Vankirk (S). 106: Jack Heller (W) via forfeit. 113: Cael Nasdeo (W) over Alex Reed (Shikellamy). 120: Luke Segraves (W) TF 18-3 4:08 over Eben Kisner (S).
ROUND 5
WILLIAMSPORT 41, CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 28
132: Taylor Weaver (CM) Fall 3:03 over Devin Harris (W). 138: Luke Simcox (CM) Fall 1:43 over Alex Randell (W). 145: Braden Bower (W) Fall 3:36 over Gino Serafini (CM). 152: Riley Bower (Williamsport) Fall 1:03 over Griffin Walizer (CM). 160: Carter Weaver (W) MD 14-4 over Jacob Weaver (CM). 172: Roman Morrone (W) MD 13-2 over Tristan Probst (CM). 189: Sebastain Robinson (W) 3-0 Dec. over Damien Galentine (CM). 215: Micah Walizer (CM) MD 9-1 over Charlie Lundy (W). 285: Charles Crews (W) Fall 5:38 over Brayden Blackwell (CM). 106: Jack Heller (W) Fall 1:27 over Leeah Eisenhower (CM). 113: Cael Nasdeo (W) Fall 1:20 over Clayton Foster (CM). 120: Derek Keen (CM) Fall 2:19 over Luke Segraves (W). 126: Dalton Perry (CM) via forfeit.
MIFFLINBURG 25, JERSEY SHORE 24
132: Double forfeit. 138: Double forfeit. 145: Double forfeit. 152: Max Murray (M) via forfeit. 160: Troy Bingaman (M) via forfeit. 172: Philip Kanski (JS) Fall 3:01 over Jonathan Melendez (M). 189: Dyllian Ross (JS) via forfeit. 215: Hadyn Packer (JS) Fall 1:39 over Kaeyx Shuck (M). 285: Keisher (M) via forfeit. 106: Double forfeit. 113: Brady Struble (M) via forfeit. 120: Brock Weiss (JS) Fall 0.43 over Starr (M). 126: Double forfeit.