CC’s Murin dominant in winning again
Central Cambria’s Max Murin was dominant in winning his fourth District 6 Class 2A title on Saturday night at the AAHS Fieldhouse.
How dominant? We’ll let his coach, Bob Nikolishen, always one to come up with unique comment, put his performance into words:
“Max was a steel chainsaw,” Nikolishen said. “He was just eating through the rain forest today, and there was a whole bunch of lumber laying on the ground. Before people can leave tonight, they can pull their car up and have a whole bunch of firewood split and ready to be burned.”
Murin became his school’s first four-time district champion by rolling to a 20-5 technical fall over Huntingdon’s Tyler Scott in 4:26. To put that into perspective, Scott was last year’s District 6 2A Outstanding Wrestler.
“It feels good. I feel like I accomplished everything I want to accomplish, but now it’s time to move on to regionals, try to dominate as much as possible there and then try to dominate the state tournament.”
Murin was voted this year’s Outstanding Wrestler by the coaches.
“I love getting the OW,” a smiling Murin said before the announcement.
Murin was one of four area champions. Huntingdon’s Jacob Oliver was also dominant in winning his third title, pinning his way through the tournament to win at 170, and teammate Izac Benson won the 126-pound title.
Moshannon Valley’s Larry Brown captured the 160-pound title by escaping from Huntingdon’s Seth Baney in the ultimate tiebreaker and winning, 4-3, in a bout that lived up to expectations. It was Brown’s second title.
Mo Valley’s Joe Ball (113) and Alex Richner (126), Penn Cambria’s Chase Proudfit (120), Central’s Brock Biddle (152), Huntingdon’s Landon Fisher (220) and Central Cambria’s Nate Martin (285) settled for second place.
Huntingdon captured its fourth straight district team title by 29.5 points, 176.5-147, over first-year program Bishop McCort, which had five champions. Mo Valley (142.5), second for much of the tournament, finished third, and Penns Valley (141) was fourth.
“I’m just super happy,” Huntingdon coach Jon Mykut said, “and proud of my guys. This whole weekend, they wrestled tough and got the job done. That’s the bottom line.”
Mo Valley coach Justin Fye was voted Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches.
“It’s all about these kids and the coaches,” Fye said. “Honestly this wouldn’t happen if it were not for the great group of kids we have.”
Thirty-two area wrestlers qualified for next week’s Southwest Regional Tournament at IUP, including six apiece from the Bearcats and Black Knights.
Murin, who had two pins and two technical falls, was at his chain-wrestling best against Scott, going from one move to another. He scored two takedowns in the first, and Scott fought off some takedowns in the period.
Murin took a 4-1 lead into the second period, where he turned up the heat. He scored 13 points and five takedowns in the second to take a 17-5 lead, and he added three nearfall points in the third to end the bout.
“I was just trying to score as many points as I could,” Murin said. “I feel like the tech fall is the most dominant outcome in a wrestling match, and that’s what I went for. In the offseason, I definitely worked on chain wrestling, and just going from one move to the next. If one thing doesn’t work, just keep on trying new stuff. I feel like I’m getting to the next step in my wrestling.”
Oliver (36-1), who finished second last season after coming back from a long layoff due to a shoulder injury, pinned Marion Center’s Carmen Gett in 1:21 in the finals.
“Jake is a great kid, hard worker,” Mykut said, “and very dominant. It’s the way he’s wrestled all year-long.”
Both Brown and Baney had quick escapes in regulation to send the bout into overtime tied, 1-1. Neither scored in overtime, but Baney reversed 10 seconds into the first tiebreaker, nearly giving up back points in a roll, for a 3-1 lead. Brown escaped with 5 seconds left in the period to make the score 3-2.
Brown escaped 11 seconds into the next tiebreaker period, and a Baney interlocking call was waved off when referee Larry Guenot and mat judge Ed Bishop conferred. In the ultimate tiebreaker, the wrestlers went into a flurry off of the mat with 14 seconds left. When the referees conferred again, Brown got the escape for the win, 4-3.
“I feel pretty great,” said Brown, who has been battling the flu. “I thought I did a good job keeping my feet moving, pushing the pace. Baney is a really good kid. No one really gave me a shot, and I like being the underdog.”
“Next week,” Baney said. “That’s all I’m looking forward to.”
“That was a great match,” Fye said. “That might have been one of the better matches he’s wrestled all year. He was trying to score throughout the match. He puts in a lot of extra time to get where he’s at. He was really relaxed going into that match, which was good to see. He wrestled great these last two days.
From our angle, we saw the kid break the lock (for the escape). They saw something there to give us the escape.”
“Larry Brown is a good wrestler, and he got the better of Seth this time,” Mykut said. “Maybe we’ll get another shot down the road.”
Benson and Richner went to the third tied, 2-2, but Richner released Benson to start the third. There was no other scoring, and when Benson won, 3-2, he flexed to the Huntingdon section and then jumped into the arms of his dad, Terry Benson.
“Izac has had a great season,” Mykut said. “He’s been tremendous on his feet, and he did a great job.”
Biddle, who had a pin and two majors, looked like he was going to stop Ligonier Valley’s Robbie Patrick from winning his third title as he took Patrick down in the third to take a 5-4 lead. But Patrick reversed with 25 seconds left and hung on at the end as Biddle nearly reversed.
“I was just trying to stay on top, try to get the wrist and get a tilt in,” Biddle said. “I was almost out there at the end, but I had some positioning mistakes I need to work on and get ready for regionals.”
Ball, who pinned Forest Hills’ second-seeded Byron Daubert, in the semis, dropped a 5-1 decision to McCort’s Sebastian Kekich. Proudfit dropped a 6-2 decision to Saint Joseph’s Jacob Powers. Fisher was beaten by McCort’s Josiah Jones, 9-3. Martin was edged by Southern Huntingdon’s Nick Winfield, 1-0.
KEY, TEAM STANDINGS
1. H–Huntingdon 176.5; 2. BM–Bishop McCort 147; 3. MV–Moshannon Valley 142.5; 4. PV–Penns Valley 141; 5. MC–Marion Center 136.5; 6. WB–West Branch 104.5; 7. C–Central 101; 8. PC–Penn Cambria and J–Juniata 94; 10. MU–Mount Union 92; 11. CH–Cambria Heights 90.5; 12. FH–Forest Hills 90; 13. GJ–Greater Johnstown 89; 14. SJ–Saint Joseph’s 88; 15. CC–Central Cambria 86; 16. LV–Ligonier Valley 78.5; 17. WH–Westmont Hilltop 73; 18. G–Glendale 61.5; 19. T–Tyrone 61; 20. B–Balirsville 56; 21. SH–Southern Huntingdon 53; 22. P–Portage 49.5; 23. CK–Claysburg-Kimmel 47; 24. BA–Bellwood-Antis 35; 25. U–United 27; 26. R–Richland 24; 27. JV–Juniata Valley 23.
SEMIFINALS
106–Boozel, MU, maj. dec. Simmons, CH, 13-2; Cassidy, BM, maj. dec. Shunk, PV, 13-5; 113–Kekich, BM, dec. Christie, WH, 3-1; Ball, MV, pinned Daubert, FH, 4:34; 120–Powers, SJ, dec. Yearick, PV, 7-1; Proudfit, PC, dec. Polacek, WH, 4-0; 126–Benson, H, dec. Royer, PV, 6-0; Richner, MV, dec. Turner, MC, 4-2; 132–Andrews, BM, pinned Washic, CC, 3:24; Dowling, SJ, dec. Beatty, MC, 4-3; 138–Murin, CC, pinned Courts, SJ, 1:02; Scott, H, dec. Caldwell, LV, 4-2; 145–Hurd, PV, dec. Kennedy, C, 1-0; Cornetto, MC, dec. Wileman, J, 5-3.
152–Patrick, LV, tech. fall Dale, MV, 17-0, 3:26; Biddle, C, maj. dec. Yingling, WB, 13-2; 160–Baney, H, pinned Allebach, PV, :49; Brown, MV, won by forfeit over Harris, T; 170–Oliver, H, pinned Stoy, PC, 4:31; Gett, MC, pinned Myers, WB, 5:49; 182–Barber, GJ, pinned Gabel, J, 5:30; Smith, MC, dec. Mykut, H, 2-0 OT; 195–Walters, BM, pinned Smith, C, 1:11; Loe, GJ, maj. dec. Stewart, MV, 13-4; 220–Jones, BM, dec. Miller, U, 7-3; Fisher, H, dec. Ryan, MU, 6-4; 285–Winfield, SH, pinned Cover, MC, 1:59; Martin, CC, dec. Bogus, CH, 6-2.
CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS
106–Kauffman, SJ, dec. Dively, CK, 6-0; Kushner, WH, dec. Matchock, MV, 7-4; 113–Denochick, WB, pinned Holsinger, C, :35; Rutter, G, tech. fall Cramer, MU, 15-0, 4:13; 120–Shaffer, P, dec. Kirkpatrick, CH, 1-0; Tinsman, MC, dec. Dugan, MV, 5-4; 126–Kern, JV, pinned Pyle, LV, 3:10; Hicks, T, pinned Bailey, SH, 2:48; 132–Templeton, FH, won by forfeit over Swab, C; Confer, WB, pinned Feltman, J, 2:04; 138–Todaro, MU, pinned Felker, PV, 3:34; Link, CH, dec. Hughes, G, 8-4; 145–Law, FH, pinned Sleasman, B, 2:02; Krause, G, dec. Dorian, WH, 1-0.
152–Sharer, PV, maj. dec. Bailey, H, 11-2; Sossong, P, dec. Dixon, T, 1-0; 160–Heister, J, pinned Mezzelo, CH, 4:35; Brown, PC, maj. dec. Whaley, BA, 14-0; 170–Linebarger, LV, dec. Beyer, P, 8-3; Wingard, FH, pinned Alt, WH, 4:15; 182–Yeckley, G, dec. Gilliland, SH, 5-2; Rodgers, FH, pinned Helfrick, MU, 1:45; 195–Hockenberry, MU, dec. Elgin, FH, 8-7; Moore, B, dec. Castel, CC, 6-2; 220–Croft, CC, dec. Corle, CK, 2-0; Conrad, PC, dec. Simms, GJ, 5-4; 285–McDonald, MV, dec. Haselrig, GJ, 7-1; Foltz, J, dec. Bressler, PV, 6-5.
CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS
106–Shunk, PV, dec. Kauffman, SJ, 4-2; Simmons, CH, dec. Kushner, WH, 5-0; 113–Christie, WH, dec. Denochick, WB, 4-0; Daubert, FH, pinned Rutter, G, 1:44; 120–Polacek, WH, dec. Shaffer, P, 3-2; Yearick, PV, maj. dec. Tinsman, MC, 8-0; 126–Turner, MC, decc. Kern, JV, 7-2; Hicks, T, dec. Royer, PV, 8-2; 132–Beatty, MC, dec. Templeton, FH, 6-0; Confer, WB, pinned Washic, CC, 2:57; 138–Caldwell, LV, dec. Todaro, MU, 11-4; Courts, SJ, dec. Link, CH, 4-3; 145–Wileman, J, dec. Law, FH, 5-2; Kennedy, C, dec. Krause, G, 7-3.
152–Yingling, WB, won by injury default over Sharer, PV, 4:45; Dale, MV, dec. Sossong, P, 5-1; 160–Heister, J, won by forfeit over Harris, T; Allebach, PV, maj. dec. Brown, PC, 12-4; 170–Myers, WB, tech. fall Linebarger, LV, 17-0, 4:51; Stoy, PC, dec. WIngard, FH, 8-2; 182–Yeckley, G, dec. Mykut, H, 5-2; Gabel, J, pinned Rodgers, FH, :28; 195–Hockenberry, MU, dec. Stewart, MV, 3-1; Moore, B, dec. Smith, C, 6-2; 220–Ryan, MU, pinned Croft, CC, :24; Miller, U, dec. Conrad, PC, 3-0; 285–McDonald, MV, dec. Cover, MC, 3-2; Bogus, CH, pinned Foltz, J, 3:38.
SEVENTH PLACE
106–Dively, CK, dec. Matchock, MV, 3-2; 113–Holsinger, C, dec. Cramer, MU, 4-0; 120–Kirkpatrick, CH, dec. Dugan, MV, 6-2; 126–Bailey, SH, dec. Pyle, LV, 8-4; 132–Feltman, J, won by forfeit over Swab, C; 138–Felker, PV, dec. Hughes, G, 11-9; 145–Sleasman, B, dec. Dorian, WH, 3-2.
152–Bailey, H, won by forfeit over Dixon, T; 160–Mezzelo, CH, dec. Whaley, BA, 8-3; 170–Alt, WH, dec. Beyer, P, 4-3; 182–Helfrick, MU, dec. Gilliland, SH, 5-4; 195–Elgin, FH, dec. Castel, CC, 3-1; 220–Simms, GJ, dec. Corle, CK, 8-5; 285–Haselrig, GJ, dec. Bressler, PV, 1-0.
FIFTH PLACE
106–Kauffman, SJ, maj. dec. Kushner, WH, 8-0; 113–Denochick, WB, pinned Rutter, G, :36; 120–Shaffer, P, dec. Tinsman, MC, 7-1; 126–Kern, JV, maj. dec. Royer, PV, 14-5; 132–Templeton, FH, dec. Washic, CC, 2-1; 138–Link, CH, dec. Todaro, MU, 5-4; 145–Law, FH, maj. dec. Krause, G, 10-2.
152–Sossong, P, won by forfeit over Sharer, PV; 160–Brown, PC, won by forfeit over Harris, T; 170–Wingard, FH, pinned Linebarger, LV, 2:10; 182–Mykut, H, won by flagrant misconduct (biting) over Rodgers, FH; 195–Smith, C, dec. Stewart, MV, 5-1; 220–Croft, CC, dec. Conrad, PC, 5-2; 285–Foltz, J, dec. Cover, MC, 4-2.
THIRD PLACE
106–Shunk, PV, dec. Simmons, CH, 9-4; 113–Daubert, FH, dec. Christie, WH, 6-2; 120–Yearick, PV, dec. Polacek, WH, 5-0; 126–Hicks, T, pinned Turner, MC, 5:58 OT; 132–Beatty, MC, dec. Confer, WB, 5-3; 138–Beatty, MC, dec. Confer, WB, 5-3; 145–Caldwell, LV, dec. Courts, SJ, 1-0; 145–Kennedy, C, dec. Wileman, MC, 8-4.
152–Yingling, WB, dec. Dale, MV, 2-1 UTB RO; 160–Allebach, PV, dec. Heister, J, 5-2; 170–Myers, WB, dec. Stoy, PC, 5-4; 182–Gabel, J, dec. Yeckley, G, 4-3; 195–Moore, B, dec. Hockenberry, MU, 3-0; 220–Miller, U, dec. Ryan, MU, 9-4; 285–Bogus, CH, dec. McDonald, MV, 1-0.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
106–Cassidy, BM, won by disqualification over Boozel, MU, 7:59 TB; 113–Kekich, BM, dec. Ball, MV, 5-1; 120–Powers, SJ, dec. Proudfit, PC, 6-2; 126–Benson, H, dec. Richner, MV, 3-2; 132–Andrews, BM, dec. Dowling, SJ, 5-1; 138–Murin, CC, tech. fall Scott, H, 20-5, 4:26; 145–Hurd, PV, dec. Cornetto, MC, 6-5 UTB.
152–Patrick, LV, dec. Biddle, C, 6-5; 160–Brown, MV, dec. Baney, H, 4-3 UTB; 170–Oliver, H, pinned Gett, MC, 1:21; 182–Barber, GJ, dec. Smith, MC, 7-1; 195–Walters, BM, dec. Loe, GJ, 3-1; 220–Jones, BM, dec. Fisher, H, 9-3; 285–Winfield, SH, dec. Martin, CC, 1-0.
Outstanding Wrestler: Max Murin, Central Cambria. Coach of the Year: Justin Fye, Moshannon Valley
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