Jared Woomer was about a year old when Bellwood-Antis' Tony Montanaro won a District 6 Class AA title at 125 pounds in 1994.
There hadn't been another B-A wrestler win a district title since Montanaro won his third gold medal.
That is, until Woomer ended the dry spell Saturday night at the Altoona Fieldhouse, beating Cambria Heights' Joe Davis, 5-2, to capture the 120-pound title.
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Photo for the Mirror by Tami Ogline Knopsnyder
B-A’s Jared Woomer tries to control?Cambria Heights’ Joe Davis.
"This feels amazing," Woomer said. "I've been waiting for this since last season ended. It's the greatest thing I've ever felt."
Woomer was one of six area wrestlers who won district gold medals. Central Cambria had two of them in Ben Rager (126) and Tony Risaliti (160), who avenged two previous losses to Forest Hills buddy Cody Law, 7-4, and was later voted the Outstanding Wrestler by the media.
"Pete and repeat," CC coach Bob Nikolishen joked. "What one does the other has to do."
Claysburg-Kimmel's James Dodson (132), Penn Cambria's Nick Szala (138) and Moshannon Valley's James Stodart (195) also won their weight classes. Szala came out of his rugged weight class on top thanks to a 4-2 win over Bellwood-Antis' Trevor Helsley.
Cambria Heights' Ryan Dupas (113), Joe Davis (120), Brad Thomas (126), Ross Inzana (170) and Jake Beach (195) all made the finals but settled for second. The Highlanders finished second in the team race behind Mount Union by five points, 159-154, and Claysburg-Kimmel (146) was third. Among those teams, only C-K had a champion.
"Fantastic day for the Heights boys," CH coach Mike Eckenrode said. "We've never had five finalists in the history of Cambria Heights. It would have been nice to get one winner though
Eckenrode was voted District 6 Class AA Coach of the Year by the district coaches.
"That's great," Eckenrode said. "I really appreciate something from the peers like that. All the credit to the kids and my assistant coaches."
C-K's Josh Brown (106) and Titus Feathers (285) and Mo Valley's Dylan Ludwig (182) and Jake Ludwig (220) finished second, as did Huntingdon's Josh Bafia (152).
Woomer, who pounded West Branch's second-seeded Dustin Fisch, 14-4, in the semifinals, came out of a flurry for a takedown with 12 seconds left in the first period and added an escape and slick takedown in the second. Davis took him down in the third, but couldn't turn Woomer late in the bout with arm bar.
"He wrestled very well," B-A coach Ron Wilson said. "There was a tough situation there at the end. He would have rather had his arm broken that go [to his back]."
"I just went in, wrestled tough, wrestled my match, took the match to him," Woomer said.
When the buzzer sounded, the vocal B-A crowd erupted in celebration, and Woomer jumped into his coaches' arms after getting his hand raised.
What made the win feel even better was recently he had an accident in shop class that took half of his fingernail off. He wrestles with his thumb wrapped.
"I just got cleared to wrestle Wednesday," Woomer said. "I missed about a week-and-a-half of practice. I was like if they don't clear me, I'll wrestle anyway."
Risaliti, the school record holder with 121 wins, trailed 2-1 in the first period when he took Law down. Risaliti reversed in the second period to take a 5-2 lead and gave up a couple escapes in the second and in the third to make the score 5-4. The dangerous Law attempted a desperation headlock in the final seconds, but Risaliti slipped through and got the takedown to win.
"It's amazing," Risalit said. "It's one big step. I'll see maybe two more times. It will be a long road, but it was one goal I had."
"Tony is like a boat," Nikolishen said. "He was out and he saw a leak, and it's not supposed to leak. He patched it and it leaked again. It's taken him several months to get all the holes patched in his boat, but he's ready to set sail now."
Szala reached the finals with a 7-3 win over Blairsville's Noah Tarr, while Helsley got there with a 6-2 win over C-K's top-seeded Ty Dively. Dively, a three-time district runner-up, finished fourth, losing to Tarr, 6-3, in the third-place finals.
After a scoreless first period, Szala rode the first 1:17 of the second period, nearly getting back points, before Helsley reversed. At the end of the period, referee Dan McCormick waved off a Szala reversal, but when he consulted with the mat judge, Szala was awarded a reversal.
Afterward, that would be a sore point for B-A fans, who booed the call.
Szala reversed with 1:06 left in the bout and rode Helsley the rest of the way. Szala pumped his fists and got hugs from his coaches.
"That feels awesome just to know that all the work over the years has paid off," Szala said.
"I'll be honest, all week I've been thinking I hope we're not the odd man out at this weight," PC coach Todd Niebauer said. "And then to come through and win it ... He's been wrestling well all year. He stepped it up a little bit."
"That was a tough loss," Wilson said. "Szala is a good, quality kid. It was a tight match that could have gone either way."
Rager breezed to his second district title, pinning Marion Center's Brandon Heberling in 1:46 in the semis before earning a 12-4 major decision of Thomas. Rager, sporting a fresh tattoo across his upper right arm and chest, notched six takedowns in the win.
Stodart became Mo Valley's first champ since Ryan Jacoby in 2007, defeating Beach, 4-0.
Dodson reached the finals with a 3-0 win over Richland's Nick Naglic, and then he captured his second district title with a 7-1 win over Southern Huntingdon's Brennon Shields.
Brown dropped an 8-6 overtime decision to Ligonier Valley's Justin Patrick. Brown headlocked Patrick to his back for five points and a 6-2 lead in the first period, but two escapes and a takedown tied the score. Patrick got the winning takedown 31 seconds into OT to beat Brown, who avenged an early-season loss in the semifinals by pinning Forest Hills' Triston Law in 1:56.
"There were disappointments," C-K coach Dave Marko said. "To win it, we would have had to wrestle a perfect tournament, and we didn't get a perfect tournament. We've got a chance to get better in the next couple weeks."
Notes: John Rizzo won his fourth district title by pinning Jake Ludwig in 1:27 in the finals. ... The top four wrestlers at each weight advanced to the Southwest Regional in two weeks. ... Mount Union's Ryan Wilson set the school record with his 132nd win earlier in the day.DISTRICT 6 CLASS AA TOURNAMENT
KEY, TEAM STANDINGS
1. MU-Mount Union 159; 2. CH-Cambria Heights 154; 3. CK-Claysburg-Kimmel 146; 4. J-Juniata 140; 5. B-Blairsville and H-Huntingdon 121.5; 7. MV-Moshannon Valley 112; 8. CC-Central Cambria 111; 9. WB-West Branch 110; 10. FH-Forest Hills 107.5; 11. R-Richland 100; 12. BA-Bellwood-Antis 98; 13. T-Tyrone 91; 14. LV-Ligonier Valley 87; 15. PV-Penns Valley 83; 16. U-United 69; 17. PC-Penn Cambria 64; 18. C-Central 44; 19-Glendale 42; 20. MC-Marion Center 40; 21. SH-Southern Huntingdon 33; 22. NC-Northern Cambria and P-Portage 26; 24. JV-Juniata Valley 8.
SEMIFINALS
106-Ju. Patrick, LV, pinned Moist, MU, 2:38; Brown, CK, pinned C. Law, FH, 1:56; 113-Jo. Patrick, LV, pinned Sell, CK, 3:09; Dupas, CH, maj. dec. Wilson, H, 8-0; 120-Davis, CH, dec. Knable, MU, 2-1; Woomer, BA, maj. dec. Fisch, WB, 14-4; 126-Rager, CC, pinned Heberling, MC, 1:46; Thomas, CH, dec. Wilson, MU, 5-1; 132-Dodson, CK, dec. Naglic, R, 3-0; Shields, SH, pinned Fox, P, 2:49; 138-Helsley, BA, dec. Dively, CK, 6-2; Szala, PC, dec. Tarr, B, 7-3; 145-Brydon, FH, maj. dec. Decker, PV, 13-3; Z. Beitz, J, maj. dec. Weston, T, 17-8.
152-Doak, B, dec. Crook, MC, 4-2; Bafia, H, dec. Wunder, T, 5-2; 160-C. Law, FH, pinned Martin, MV, 1:44; Risaliti, C, pinned Kristofits, WB, :56; 170-Inzana, CH, dec. Ickes, CK, 4-3; Blankenship, U, dec. Mat. Swartz, PV, 7-3; 182-S. Thompson, B, maj. dec. Kyle, MU, 16-2; D. Ludwig, MV, dec. Beckwith, T, 5-3; 195-Stodart, MV, pinned English, WB, :30; Beach, CH, dec. Shope, H, 5-0; 220-Rizzo, R, pinned House, MU, 1:27; J. Ludwig, MV, dec. McLendon, PC, 3-1; 285-Powell, J, dec. Smith, MU, 3-2; Feathers, CK, dec. Weakland, G, 8-2.
THIRD ROUND CONSOLATIONS
106-Fink, BA, dec. Sacolic, G, 8-3; George, R, pinned K. Confer, PV, 4:37; Sankey, WB, dec. Snyder, T, 7-3; K. Burket, C, pinned Bryan, MV, 3:21; 113-Stewart, MC, dec. Albright, WB, 6-2; Taylor, CC, dec. Lutz, P, 1-0; Foor, MU, pinned Rouser, R, 1:56; Harris, J, maj. dec. Pecze, B, 12-2; 120-Schopp, T, tech. fall Long, CC, 16-1, 4:06; Claar, CK, pinned Lowther, U, 2:29; J. Confer, PV, won by forfeit over Bloom, MV; White, J, pinned Green, H, 4:09; 126-Croyle, LV, dec. Bumbarger, WB, 8-6; Russell, H, dec. McCloskey, T, 3-0; Paronish, NC, dec. Albright, C, 2-1; D. Beitz, J, maj. dec. Myers, SH, 8-0; 132-Corle, FH, dec. Nanna, J, 7-5; Lynn, H, pinned Hommer, G, 4:05; Hayles, WB, maj. dec. McNitt, PV, 14-2; Long, MU, maj. dec. Mock, C, 10-1; 138-Rowles, J, pinned S. Ohler, MV, 1:54; Yahner, NC, pinned Bopp, FH, 3:24; Aurand, MU, tech. fall Quick, WB, 15-0, 3:52; Brown, PV, maj. dec. Mack, U, 15-7; 145-Torsell, BA, dec. Tress, MU, 4-3; Croyle, LV, pinned Sneath, JV, 3:36; Brown, NC, pinned B. Burket, C, 4:41; O. Peters, H, pinned Mowery, B, 3:44; 152-L. Slippey, WB, dec. Hershey, J, 8-1; Devan, R, pinned Astore, BA, :52; Stoy, PC, dec. C. Confer, PV, 11-5; Smith, MU, won by forfeit over P. Husar, P; 160-Pecora, R, pinned Watters, P, 3:49; Kylor, MU, pinned Waksmunski, CH, 1:53; Holley, MC, won by forfeit over Knisely, C; Romano, H, dec. Waite, SH, 5-1; 170-Pinkas, FH, pinned Wisen, P, 2:40; Miles, WB, pinned Swoope, MV, 2:45; Merriman, R, dec. Rhodes, MU, 8-7; B. Thompson, B, tech. fall Sutton, G, 17-1, 4:19; 182-Schlosser, PC, maj. dec. Laurer, H, 12-0; Rogers, PV, maj. dec. Frontino, NC, 9-0; Crawford, CH, pinned Oswald, SH, 2:16; Hropovich, U, pinned Knisely, CK, 3:50; 195-Tripodis, B, dec. Snyder, CC, 2-1; Snopko, R, dec. Oliver, U, 4-3; Shawley, BA, pinned Peters, LV, 1:33; Mav. Swartz, PV, pinned Stapleton, MU, 1:20; 220-Gill, CH, pinned Layden, LV, 3:16; Fitzgerald , J, pinned Wholaver, H, 4:41; Maines, WB, dec. Zearing, CC, 7-2; Strong, P, dec. White, B, 3-1; 285-Mountain, U, pinned Kocik, H, :57; Sokira, CC, pinned Novella, CH, :22; Selepack, WB, pinned Culp, JV, 2:55; Reader, T, pinned Maskrey, B, 1:58.
CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS
106-Fink, BA, pinned George, R, 1:39; K. Burket, C, pinned Sankey, WB, :36; 113-Taylor, CC, dec. Stewart, MC, 7-0; Harris, J, dec. Foor, MU, 11-10; 120-Claar, CK, dec. Schopp, T, 3-2; White, J, dec. J. Confer, PV, 5-4; 126-Russell, H, dec. Croyle, LV, 6-3; D. Beitz, J, dec. Paronish, NC, 4-3; 132-Corle, FH, dec. Lynn, H, 10-8; Hayles, WB, dec. Long, MU, 4-0; 138-Rowles, J, dec. Yahner, NC, 9-5; Brown, PV, dec. Aurand, MU, 2-0; 145-Croyle, LV, dec. Torsell, BA, 7-4; O. Peters, H, maj. dec. Brown, NC, 16-6.
152-Devan, R, dec. L. Slippey, WB, 8-6; Stoy, PC, dec. Smith, MU, 4-3; 160-Pecora, R, dec. Kylor, MU, 2-0; Romano, H, pinned Holley, MC, 4:09; 170-Pinkas, FH, pinned Miles, WB, 4:36; B. Thompson, B, tech. fall Merriman, R, 15-0, 4:03; 182-Rogers, PV, dec. Schlosser, 5-3 OT; Hropovich, U, pinned Crawford, CH, 2:02; 195-Tripodis, B, dec. Snopko, R, 1-0; Shawley, BA, dec. Mav. Swartz, PV, 6-4; 220-Fitzgerald, J, dec. Gill, CH, 12-5; Maines, WB, dec. Strong, P, 5-1; 285-Sokira, CC, pinned Mountain, U, 1:51; Reader, T, pinned Selepack, WB, 2:56.
CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS
106-Moist, MU, pinned Fink, BA, 2:14; T. Law, FH, dec. K. Burket, C, 4-1; 113-Taylor, CC, dec. Wilson, H, 7-5; Harris, J, pinned Sell, CK, 4:00; 120-Claar, CK, dec. Fisch, WB, 7-3; Knable, MU, pinned White, J, 4:09; 126-Wilson, MU, dec. Russell, H, 8-5; Heberling, MC, dec. Beitz, J, 6-2; 132-Corle, FH, pinned Fox, P, 2:30; Hayles, WB, dec. Naglic, R, 1-0; 138-Tarr, B, dec. Rowles, J, 8-2; Dively, CK, maj. dec. Brown, PV, 12-0; 145-Weston, T, pinned Croyle, LV, 1:31; O. Peters, H, dec. Decker, PV, 6-5.
152-Wunder, T, maj. dec. Devan, R, 11-1; Crook, MC, dec. Stoy, PC, 3-1; 160-Martin, MV, pinned Pecora, R, 4:42; Kristofits, WB, dec. Romano, H, 8-6 OT; 170-Mat. Swartz, PV, dec. Pinkas, FH, 7-3; Ickes, CK, maj. dec. B. Thompson, B, 12-3; 182-Kyle, MU, dec. Rogers, PV, 11-9; Beckwith, T, pinned Hropovich, U, :55; 195-Shope, H, dec. Tripodis, B, 1-0; Shawley, BA, pinned English, WB, 1:47; 220-House, MU, dec. Fitzgerald, J, 2-1 OT; McLendon, PC, dec. Maines, WB, 3-2; 285-Smith, MU, dec. Sokira, CC, 1-0; Weakland, G, dec. Reader, T, 8-2.
FIFTH PLACE FINALS
106-K. Burket, C, pinned Fink, BA, 2:17; 113-Wilson, H, dec. Sell, CK, 6-0; 120-Fisch, WB, pinned White, J, 2:30; 126-Russell, H, dec. D. Beitz, J, 3-0; 132-Naglic, R, maj. dec. Fox, P, 11-2; 138-Rowles, J, pinned Brown, PV, 1:56; 145-Decker, PV, won by forfeit over Croyle, LV.
152-Stoy, PC, dec. Devan, R, 11-10; 160-Romano, H, pinned Pecora, R, 1:44; 170-B. Thompson, B, pinned Pinkas, FH, 3:55; 182-Rogers, PV, dec. Hropovich, U, 12-6; 195-English, WB, dec. Tripodis, B, 3-1; 220-Fitzgerald, J, pinned Maines, WB, 3:24; 285-Sokira, CC, dec. Reader, T, 1-0.
THIRD PLACE FINALS
106-Moist, MU, dec. T. Law, FH, 7-4; 113-Harris, J, pinned Taylor, CC, 1:27; 120-Knable, MU, maj. dec. Claar, CK, 12-2; 126-Wilson, MU, maj. dec. Heberling, MC, 16-3; 132-Hayles, WB, dec. Corle, FH, 6-2; 138-Tarr, B, dec. Dively, CK, 6-3; 145-Weston, T, pinned O. Peters, H, 3:50.
152-Crook, MC, dec. Wunder, T, 2-0; 160-Martin, MV, dec. Kristofits, WB, 1-0; 170-Mat. Swartz, PV, dec. Ickes, CK, 4-3; 182-Beckwith, T, pinned Kyle, MU, 2:38; 195-Shope, H, pinned Shawley, BA, 1:12; 220-House, MU, dec. McLendon, PC, 6-1 OT; 285-Smith, MU, dec. Weakland, G, 1-0.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
106-Ju. Patrick, LV, dec. Brown, CK, 8-6 OT; 113-Ju. Patrick, LV, dec. Dupas, CH, 7-2; 120-Woomer, BA, dec. Davis, CH, 5-2; 126-Rager, CC, maj. dec. Thomas, CH, 12-4; 132-Dodson, CK, dec. Shields, SH, 7-1; 138-Szala, PC, dec. Helsley, BA, 4-2; 145-Z. Beitz, J, dec. Brydon, FH, 6-3.
152-Doak, B, dec. Bafia, H, 6-4; 160-Risaliti, CC, dec. C. Law, FH, 7-4; 170-Blankenship, U, dec. Inzana, CH, 3-2; 182-S. Thompson, B, dec. D. Ludwig, MV, 7-4; 195-Stodart, MV, dec. Beach, CH, 4-0; 220-Rizzo, R, pinned J. Ludwig, MV, 1;27; 285-Powell, J, dec. Feathers, CK, 4-2.
Outstanding Wrestler: Tony Risaliti, Central Cambria. Coach of the Year: Mike Eckenrode, Cambria Heights.
