So Boozer made a move and boy did it pay off.

Boozer quickly moved against Mid Valley’s Matthew Almedina for a takedown and got on top as the ref held up his hand for three points as the buzzer went off. In an outstanding fast flurry and quick thinking, Boozer became a champion.

The Indian freshman won one of the most exciting matches on Saturday at Williamsport’s Magic Dome over Almedina, 6-4, to win the 139-pound title at the Northeast Class AA Regional tournament. 

“It’s amazing. Coming in here as a freshman, I didn’t think I could do it but last week I got sick. Last Tuesday I got sick and I haven’t been able to practice all week,” Boozer said. “So, coming in here and getting it done is pretty cool.”

Noah Johnson of Warrior Run tries to take down Luke Sottolano of Williamson during their match at 285 pounds during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Boozer’s title highlighted the success the area saw at the Magic Dome on Saturday evening. A total of 22 area wrestlers secured a spot to Hershey for this upcoming week’s PIAA Class AA championships with 13 wrestlers taking first or second and another nine taking either third or fourth.

Only the top four wrestlers at each weight advanced to states.

Bringing home gold medals from the area were Williamson’s Zander Wilson (114), Boozer (139), Montgomery’s Brandt Harer (145), Warrior Run’s Reagan Milheim (160), Montoursville’s Gage Wentzel (172), Montoursville’s Hayden Harvey (189) and Williamson’s Luke Sottolano (285).

Montoursville’s Branden Eisenhour (107), North Penn-Liberty’s Bryce Pequignot (121), Warrior Run’s Chase Wirnsberger (127), Sullivan County’s Andrew Kapec (133) and Warrior Run’s Max Wirnsberger (172) and Warrior Run’s Noah Johnson (285) were all finished as silver medalists.

Johnson became the Defenders’ first heavyweight wrestler to reach the state tournament since 1995.

Brandt Harer of Montgomery wins his match against Gage Evans of Towanda during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Montgomery’s Gabe Oberheim (114, Montgomery’s Liam Seeley (121), Montgomery’s Carden Wagner (127), Lewisburg’s Landon Michaels (133),Lewisburg’s Landen Wagner (152) and Canton’s Carson Rockwell (160) were third-place finishers and taking fourth from the area were North Penn-Liberty’s Bodhi Nickerson (107), Montoursville’s Kaden Kleinman (139) and Montgomery’s Trace Furman (152).

Boozer trailed 3-2 a minute into the second period and was wrestling from behind from there hoping to rally.

In the third period, Almedina had a bottom restart midway through, and that escape gave Almedina a 4-2 lead. But Boozer never stopped fighting and showed that you fight until the horn goes off.

“What, seven seconds left is not really knowing what I’m gonna do,” Boozer said. “Some quick shots off the whistle, got to leave it all out there on the mat,” Boozer said. “That’s what we’re here to do.”

Boozer was Muncy’s only wrestler to reach the state tournament on Saturday.

Hayden Harvey of Montoursville tries to score points on Duke Martin of Honesdale during their match at 189 pounds during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Montgomery, meanwhile, saw a total of four advance including standout senior Brandt Harer, who claimed his fourth career regional title by winning at 145 pounds with a 62-second pin over Towanda’s Gage Evans in the final.

“It means a lot to me,” Harer said. “My last tournament here, which kinda sucks, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter. It’s one of my goals winning four regional titles, states is next and I’m excited for that.”

Williamson’s Zander Wilson dominated at 114. After a narrow 7-6 semifinal win over sixth-ranked Gabe Oberheim of Montgomery, Wilson — ranked No. 5 in the state at 114 — cruised past Southern Columbia’s Rowen Humphrey, ranked No. 12, with a 18-0, 2:52 tech fall win to claim a gold medal.

“It’s pretty big,” Wilson said. “Last year, I fell a little short. I’m pretty excited for states, I’ve been working at it.”

Wilson led 11-0 after the first period and kept it up from there. In the second period, Wilson nearly had a fall near the edge of the mat, but his foot wound up out of bounds, causing a restart. Regardless, however, it still ended with a tech fall win.

Reagan Milheim of Warrior Run wins his match against Evan Maneval of Midd-West at 160 pounds during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“Keep it on the head ties, hand ties and moving my feet,” Wilson said of his strength which worked for him.

Milheim dominated all of the Northeast Class AA Regional tournament. The Defender opened the tournament with a 48-second quarterfinal pin over Montoursville’s Blake Fry before pinning Canton’s Carson Rockwell in 1:20. In the final, he needed just 51 seconds to pin Midd-West’s Evan Maneval to secure his second consecutive gold medal.

Wentzel had a hard-fought win for the title at 172 by beating Warrior Run’s Max Wirnsberger thanks to a takedown in the final minute in the third period. It’s the ninth meeting between them in 14 months and the second consecutive week Wentzel beat Wirnsberger for gold.

“A take down, you know what I mean?” Wentzel said as to what he needed to do late. “I wouldn’t say that was deep waters because I felt as calm as could be out there but one of those things that needed to happen and it was going to happen.”

Wentzel is ranked No. 2 in the state and Wirnsberger is ranked No. 3.

Brandt Harer of Montgomery takes down Gage Evans of Towanda during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

A bout after Wentzel won gold, Harvey, ranked No. 6 at 189, followed up with another title for Montoursville as he had a 13-2 major win against Honesdale’s Duke Martin, ranked No. 9 in the state. 

“Control positions,” Harvey said about what he did in the final. “Being able to score out of any spot and not giving him points when he needed it.”

At 285, Sottolano won his first career regional gold medal with a tight 1-0 SV victory over Warrior Run’s Noah Johnson. 

“I know last week we went into overtime and I felt like I wrestled bad in that match too, but I knew that I had to ride tough and not get any stall calls,” Sottolano said about wrestling Johnson. “As soon as I knew I didn’t have any stall calls, I knew I was going to have to ride tough in the third period. That’s all I had to do. It wasn’t a good look on neutral.”

Sottolano is ranked No. 8 in the state and Johnson is ranked No. 13. While Johnson didn’t secure a gold medal, the senior became Warrior Run’s first heavyweight wrestler to reach the state tournament since 1995.

Bradley Wagner of Mifflinburg and Andrew Kapec of Sullivan County tie up during their match at 133 pounds during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Brock Rothermel of Line Mountain wins his match against Bryce Pequigot of North Penn-Liberty at 121 pounds during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Brock Rothermel of Line Mountain scores points on Bryce Pequigot of North Penn-Liberty during their match at 121 pounds during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Zander Wilson of Williamson takes down Rowen Humphrey of Southern Columbia during their match at 114 pounds during the PIAA Northeast Region AA championships at Williamsport High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette