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7 area wrestlers win gold in District 4 Class AA tournament

By Evan Wheaton 12 min read

Branden Wentzel laid back down and his arms fell to the mat. Even with a 2-1 lead, the Montoursville junior was gassed.

Against Athens' Gavin Bradley -- the top-ranked 113-pounder and only one ranked higher than Wentzel in Class AA -- Wentzel wasn't the one pushing the pace.

"I definitely could've wrestled a lot better. I let him control everything," Wentzel said. "When you let Gavin control everything, you're just going to get beat on. That's what happened to me for the first four minutes."

Bradley pulled off a two-point move at the buzzer heading into the third period. With one minute left in regulation, Wentzel tied the 113-pound final before making a late scramble for a takedown, securing a 5-3 decision in the District 4 Class AA championship round.

"It feels good knowing he went down to my weight. I can still basically say I'm still No. 1 in the state because I just beat the No. 1 in my weight," Wentzel said, still catching his breath after taking the podium. "It's a good confidence booster because I know he's gonna wrestle me the same way every time and I'm just gonna change up the little things, and little details are what make you from a district champ to a state champ."

Jersey Shore 189-pounder Hadyn Packer faced Montoursville state placewinner Isaac Cory last weekend in the Central Sectional final, where he took a 10-7 decision. In the District 4 AA championship bout, the two met once again.

During their bout, Cory's left quad cramped up and he was looked at by trainers. From there, like Wentzel before him, Cory claimed the individual district title with a 5-3 decision.

There was one main takeaway from a week ago and now, and Cory changed his game accordingly.

"Not going chest-to-chest with him," Cory said on his approach. "(Packer is) a lot stronger than I am, a lot bigger than I am, he's just as good as I am technically I think. Just came out with a win this week, it could go either way any match. Last week I got thrown on my back and lost."

Brock Weiss claimed the 120-pound title for Jersey Shore via an 8-5 decision over Benton's Chase Burke.

Wentzel and Bradley's match wasn't the only bout between top two state-ranked wrestlers in the finals. Montgomery's Conner Harer, the No. 1 145-pounder in Class AA, squared off against second-ranked Kaiden Wagner of Lewisburg.

Harer previously wrestled Wagner at Cumberland Valley and took a 3-1 decision. In the District 4 title match, Harer widened that margin with an 11-3 major over Wagner.

The first period was tight, but Harer piled on takedown after takedown through the later frames to balloon his lead through the rest of regulation. It was the type of match that illustrated the jump he's made in the 2021-22 season.

"Last year and this year, I've really focused on not panicking. In a close match sometimes, if it's not to my liking, I tend to shut down," Harer said, noting the change in his nerves from last season to now. "But we really focused on pushing the pace and having fun.

Montgomery went back-to-back in the finals. At 152, senior Devon Deem -- the all-time program leader in wins -- pinned Athens' Karter Rude at the 3:01 mark.

"It's been absolutely amazing having a leader like him. His life is set because he's going to the Naval Academy. He pushes me every day and we have fun," Harer said on Deem. "Without him, I don't think I'd be where I'm at today."

Muncy sent three wrestlers to the District 4 finals, the most of any school. At 126, top-ranked Scott Johnson saw his six-point lead chopped in half late by Warrior Run's Kaden Milheim.

Johnson held on and came out with a title to match his Central Sectional crown.

"I kind of laid off the gas pedal a little bit. I shouldn't have done that but we got in a weird scramble," Johnson said. "I wasn't trying to get caught in a five-point move or anything, so it was a smart play. I tried to conserve the points I gave up there, but it shouldn’t have went to a scramble."

Ty Nixon's bout at 160 against Towanda's Bryant Green came down to the wire. Nixon bolstered Muncy's medal count with a 3-1 decision in sudden victory.

"I think our program is definitely on the rise," Johnson said. "The last couple years, I don't think Muncy's been what Muncy usually is."

Austin Johnson cut his bout with Mifflinburg's Emmanuel Ulrich to one point in the last few seconds, but the latter took the 285-pound title with a 4-3 decision.

With the top six finishers earning bids to the Northeast Regionals next week, all three Muncy wrestlers will compete for tickets to the Giant Center.

No freshman heavyweight wrestler has ever placed first in states, and Austin Johnson still has the chance to be the first.

"All I know is, it's going to feel good leaving Hershey with three gold medals," Scott Johnson said. "Hopefully."

DISTRICT 4 CLASS AA TOURNAMENT

(Top six finishers advance to the Northeast Regional)

TOP-10 TEAM SCORES: 1, Southern Columbia, 114; 2, Montoursville, 101; 3, Benton, 97; 4, Canton, 74; 5, Muncy, 70; t-6, Athens, 69; t-6, Jersey Shore, 69; 8, Montgomery, 68.5; 9, South Williamsport, 67.5; 10, Line Mountain, 58.

TEAM KEY: Hughesville (HU), North Penn-Liberty (NPL), Wyalusing (WY), CMVT (CT), Troy (TR), Southern Columbia (SC), Line Mountain (LM), South Williamsport (SW), Danville (D), Sullivan County (SU), Canton (CA), Montgomery (MG), Mount Carmel (MC), Montoursville (MT), Lewisburg (LB), Shamokin (SH), Towanda (TW), Jersey Shore (JS), Warrior Run (WR), Northeast Bradford (NB), Benton (B), Midd-West (MW), Williamson (WL), Loyalsock (L), Milton (ML), Central Columbia (CC), Bloomsburg (BL), Mifflinburg (MB), Athens (A), Meadowbrook Christian (ME), Muncy (MU).

FINALS

106: Colton Wade (SU) Dec. CJ Carr, 4-0; 113: Branden Wentzel (MT) Dec. Gavin Bradley, 5-3; 120: Brock Weiss (JS) Dec. Chase Burke, 8-5; 126: Scott Johnson (MU) Dec. Kaden Milheim, 6-3. 132: Conner Heckman (MW) Dec. Mason Barvitskie, 1-0 UTB. 138: Cade Wirnsberger (ME) Dec. Cameron Milheim, 3-1. 145: Conner Harer (MG) MD Kaiden Wagner, 11-3. 152: Devon Deem (MG) pinned Karter Rude, 3:01. 160: Ty Nixon (MU) Dec. Bryant Green, 3-1 SV. 172: Garrett Garcia (SC) pinned Nolan Lear, 1:42. 189: Isaac Cory (MT) Dec. Hadyn Packer, 5-3. 215: Nick Woodruff (WY) Dec. Damon Backes, 3-2. 285: Emmanuel Ulrich (MB) Dec. Austin Johnson, 4-3.

SEMIFINALS

106: CJ Carr (Wyalusing) Dec. Jace Gessner, 7-4; Colton Wade (SU) Dec. Seth Kolb, 5-0.

113: Branden Wentzel (MT) TF Brady Moyer, 20-4; Gavin Bradley (A) TF Brady Struble, 18-2.

120: Chase Burke (B) MD Nolan Baumert, 15-7; Brock Weiss (JS) Dec. David Kennedy, 6-1.

126: Scott Johnson (MU) MD Dylan Granahan, 22-12; Kaden Milheim (WR) Dec. Robert Gardner (SW), 2-0.

132: Mason Barvitskie (SC) Dec. Caiden Puderbach, 7-0; Conner Heckman (MW) Dec. Ethan Kolb, 5-0.

138: Cameron Milheim (WR) Dec. Jake Courtney, 5-1; Cade Wirnsberger (ME) Dec. Kole Biscoe, 2-0.

145: Conner Harer (MG) TF Mason Leshock, 18-1; Kaiden Wagner (LB) Dec. Hayden Ward, 4-3.

152: Devon Deem (MG) MD Bailey Ferguson, 11-2; Karter Rude (A) Dec. Chase Wenrich, 10-4.

160: Ty Nixon (MU) Dec. Porter Dawson, 13-7; Bryant Green (TW) Dec. Troy Bingaman, 4-2.

172: Nolan Lear (B) pinned Kohen Lehman, 3:13; Garrett Garcia (SC) pinned Riley Parker, 1:50.

189: Hadyn Packer (JS) pinned Landon Lorson, 1:32; Isaac Cory (MT) pinned Nick Wharton, 1:25.

215: Damon Backes (MC) Dec. Mike Sipps, 5-2; Nick Woodruff (WY) DEF Cale Bastian.

285: Emmanuel Ulrich (MB) Dec. Gunner Treibley, 3-1; Austin Johnson (MU) Dec. Kade Sottolano, 3-1.

THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

106: Jace Gessner (LB) Dec. Seth Kolb, 5-3; 113: Brady Struble (MB) pinned Kayvan Shams, 3:36; 120: David Kennedy (MT) pinned Matthew Smith, 4:48; 126: Bobby Gardner (SW) Dec. Dylan Granahan, 4-2; 132: Caiden Puderbach (HU) Dec. Ethan Kolb, 7-1; 138: Kole Biscoe (SC) Dec. Jake Courtney, 6-0; 145: Hayden Ward (CA) MD Mason Leshock, 10-0; 152: Bailey Ferguson (Canton) Dec. Louden Murphy (Southern Columbia), 3-1; 160: Troy Bingaman (MB) Dec. Tyler Bauder, 1-0; 172: Riley Parker (CA) pinned Kohen Lehman, 2:47; 189: Landon Lorson (SW) pinned Nick Wharton, 10-4; 215: Joseph Quinton (SC) pinned Bradley Leon, 1:59; 285: Kade Sottolano (WL) Dec. Nathan Rauch, 2-1.

FIFTH-PLACE MATCHES

106: Kaden Shay (SW) Dec. Bradyn Schadel, 8-4; 113: Blake Sassaman (D) Dec. Brady Moyer, 8-2; 120: Wade Alleman (SH) For. Nolan Baumert; 126: Aidan Kritzer (LM) Dec. Ayden Hunsinger, 6-1; 132: Blaize Vogel (MT) Dec. Seth Seymour, 8-5; 138: Lane Schadel (LM) Dec. Caden Temple, 2-0; 145: Braden Vincenzes (L) Dec. Jaymen Golden, 6-1; 152: Kaden Rodarmel (L) For. Chase Wenrich; 160: Alexander Hoffman (ML) Dec. Porter Dawson, 6-2; 172: Caden Hagerman (D) TF Josiah Schans, 15-0; 189: Connor Jones (D) Dec. Jude Bremigen, 2-0; 215: Mike Sipps (WL) For. Cale Bastian; 285: Gunner Treibley (ME) pinned Josh Nittenger, 1:42

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS

106: Jace Gessner (LB) pinned Bradyn Schadel, 0:49; Seth Kolb (B) Dec. Kaden Shay, 9-6.

113: Kayvan Shams (SW) Dec. Brady Moyer, 5-2; Brady Struble (MB) Dec. Blake Sassaman, 9-2.

120: Matthew Smith (MW) Dec. Nolan Baumert, 1-0; David Kennedy (MT) pinned Wade Alleman, 0:55.

126: Dylan Granahan (B) Dec. Aidan Kritzer, 6-4; Bobby Gardner (SW) pinned Ayden Hunsinger, 4:48.

132: Caiden Puderbach (HU) Dec. Seth Seymour, 5-1; Ethan Kolb (B) MD Blaize Vogel, 10-0.

138: Jake Courtney (A) Dec. Caden Temple, 3-1; Kole Biscoe (SC) Dec. Lane Schadel, 7-6.

145: Mason Leshock (LM) pinned Braden Vincenzes; Hayden Ward (CA) pinned Jaymen Golden, 0:51.

152: Bailey Ferguson (CA) MD Kaden Rodarmel, 10-1; Louden Murphy (SC) DEF Chase Wenrich.

160: Tyler Bauder (JS) Dec. Porter Dawson, 7-0; Troy Bingaman (MB) MD Alexander Hoffman, 10-1.

172: Kohen Lehman (NPL) Dec. Josiah Schans, 13-6; Riley Parker (CA) Dec. Caden Hagerman, 10-3.

189: Landon Lorson (SW) pinned Connor Jones, 2:42; Nick Wharton (BL) pinned Jude Bremigen, 2:47.

215: Joseph Quinton (SC) Dec. Mike Sipps, 4-2; Bradley Leon (MG) For. Cale Bastian.

285: Gunner Treibley (ME) pinned Nathan Rauch, 3:56; Kade Sottolano (WL) MD Josh Nittenger, 9-1.

CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS

106: Bradyn Schadel (LM) Dec. Konner Kerr, 2-0; Kaden Shay (SW) Dec. Josh Hill, 2-0.

113: Kayvan Shams (SW) MD Kris Kalbarchick, 12-3; Blake Sassaman (D) MD Cale Wagner, 8-0.

120: Matthew Smith (MW) Dec. Holden Ward, 8-2; Wade Alleman (SH) pinned Kenyon Slater, 1:39.

126: Aidan Kritzer (LM) Dec. Brady Feese, 3-0; Ayden Hunsinger (WY) pinned Gavin Haggerty, 2:04.

132: Seth Seymour (TR) pinned Kyle Vanden heuvel, 2:48; Blaize Vogel (MT) Dec. Kaden Setzer, 4-3.

138: Caden Temple (B) Dec. Riley Vanderpool, 5-4; Lane Schadel (LM) TF Hudson Ward, 15-0.

145: Braden Vincenzes (L) Dec. Liam Goodrich, 8-7 TB2; Jaymen Golden (SC) Dec. Brian Long, 6-5.

152: Kaden Rodarmel (L) Dec. Jayden Renzo, 9-5; Louden Murphy (SC) pinned Weston Whapham, 4:16.

160: Tyler Bauder (JS) Dec. Greyson Shaud, 5-0; Alexander Hoffman (ML) Dec. Brenen Taylor, 3-1.

172: Josiah Schans (MT) MD Stone Allison, 11-2; Caden Hagerman (D) MD Mason Higley, 15-3

189: Connor Jones (D) Dec. Mason Woodward, 7-1; Jude Bremigen (SC) Dec. Gaven Sexauer, 7-4.

215: Joseph Quinton (SC) Dec. Ryan Casella, 3-1; Bradley Leon (MG) Dec. Cole Yonkin, 3-0.

285: Nathan Rauch (ML) pinned Ryan Weidner, 0:45; Josh Nittenger (A) pinned Mason Nelson, 4:32.

CONSOLATION FIRST ROUND

106: Bradyn Schadel (LM) MD Brayden Pequignot, 8-0; Konner Kerr (TR) pinned Zander Billings, 0:48; Josh Hill (MU) Dec. Gaege Fronk, 4-0; Kaden Shay (SW) Dec. Chase Shaner; 9-4.

113: Kris Kalbarchick (MC) Dec. Rocky Finnegan, 1-0; Kayvan Shams (SW) TF Brennan Emery, 16-1; Cale Wagner (NPL) Dec. Cohen Landis, 6-4; Blake Sassaman (D) Dec. Grayson Bullock, 8-2.

120: Matthew Smith (MW) MD Kruz Mccusker, 13-1; Holden Ward (CA) Dec. Conor Knight, 8-2; Kenyon Slater (TR) Dec. Quinton Bartlett, 11-4; Wade Alleman (SH) pinned Shane Atwood, 4:29.

126: Brady Feese (SC) pinned Cayden Miller, 3:11; Aidan Kritzer (LM) pinned Rylee Sluyter, 3:17; Ayden Hunsinger (WY) pinned Brady Wolkoski, 2:22; Gavin Haggerty (D) pinned Tyler Russell, 4:10.

132: Kyle Vanden heuvel (D) MD Ryland Sakers, 15-6; Seth Seymour (TR) MD Noah Moyer, 8-0; Kaden Setzer (A) MD Sam Persun, 10-0; Blaize Vogel (MT) TF Cade Mcmicken, 17-0.

138: Caden Temple (B) pinned Chase Pensyl, 4:12; Riley Vanderpool (Towanda) Dec. Caden Finck, 5-1; Hudson Ward (CA) pinned Ayden Sprague, 3:50; Lane Schadel (LM) TF Isaiah Conoway, 16-0.

145: Braden Vincenzes (L) For. Owen Cummings; Liam Goodrich (JS) pinned Colby Lebarron, 4:44; Jaymen Golden (SC) Dec. Sawyer Robinson, 4-0; Brian Long (SH) MD Jacob Hinman, 11-0.

152: Jayden Renzo (TR) Dec. Evan Brokenshire, 3-1; Kaden Rodarmel (L) Dec. Isaiah Betz, 3-1; Weston Whapham (D) Dec. Jace Gunther, 7-0; Louden Murphy (SC) Dec. Kohen Shingara, 9-2.

160: Greyson Shaud (CC) Dec. Caden Wolfley, 11-7; Tyler Bauder (JS) Dec. Tanner Springman, 5-0; Alexander Hoffman (ML) Dec. Tyler Whary, 4-1; Brenen Taylor (CA) Pinned Easton Pequignot, 2:23.

172: Josiah Schans (MT) pinned Cody Welliver, 0:34; Caden Hagerman (D) pinned Ethan French, 0:46; Stone Allison (WR) pinned Gavin Lasko, 3:56; Mason Higley (TW) pinned Timothy Freeman, 2:59.

189: Mason Woodward (TR) pinned Thomas Davitt, 0:57; Gaven Sexauer (NPL) pinned Trent Wenrich (LB), 1:54; Connor Jones (D) MD Alex Hunsinger, 12-0; Jude Bremigen (SC) Dec. Aiden Miller, 3-2.

215: Ryan Casella (SW) Dec. Connor Davis, 7-2; Joseph Quinton (SC) pinned Kaelex Shuck, 4:32; Bradley Leon (MG) Dec. Dyllian Ross, 8-2; Cole Yonkin (MT) Dec. Caleb Nason, 6-4.

285: Ryan Weidner (MC) pinned Andrew Wolfe, 4:17; Nathan Rauch (ML) pinned Justin Kutcher, 0:47; Mason Nelson (CA) Dec. Gaven Farquharson, 2-0; Josh Nittenger (A) Dec. Jared Gunther, 3-1.

SEVENTH-PLACE MATCHES

106: Josh Hill (MU) Dec. Konner Kerr, 6-0; 113: Cale Wagner (NPL) Dec. Kris Kalbarchick, 9-2; 120:Holden Ward (CA) MD Kenyon Slater, 13-2; 126: Brady Feese (SC) MD Gavin Haggerty, 10-1; 132: Kaden Setzer (A) pinned Kyle Vanden heuvel, 0:47; 138: Riley Vanderpool (TW) MD Hudson Ward, 9-1; 145: Liam Goodrich (JS) pinned Brian Long, 4:23; 152: Weston Whapham (D) Dec. Jayden Renzo, 6-0; 160: Brenen Taylor (CA) Dec. Greyson Shaud, 9-3; 172: Mason Higley (TW) Dec. Stone Allison, 4-0; 189: Mason Woodward (TR) For. Gaven Sexauer. 215: Ryan Casella (SW) pinned Cole Yonkin, 0:37; 285: Ryan Weidner (MCl) For. Mason Nelson.

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