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Mtn. Lions looking for strong showing

Altoona has been knocking on the door leading to the District 6 Class 3A Tournament team leaders the last couple of years.

Two years ago, the Mountain Lions had an historic day, crowning four champions out of five finalists — the most titles by an Altoona team since 1981 — finished fourth in the team standings and qualified seven to the Northwest Regional.

Last year, the Lions went 2-for-4 in the finals, had the Outstanding Wrestler in Jerrell Kephart, had the co-Coach of the Year in Joel Gilbert, qualified six to regionals and finished fifth in the team standings.

This year, the Lions have four No. 1 seeds, which are the most of any of the teams in the tournament. That includes 132-pounder Cole Manley, who is vying for his fourth district title.

It would take a lot to overcome Central Mountain, which won the District 6 Duals and has won the individual tournament team title seven of the last 10 years. But the Lions have a shot, along with Bellefonte, which beat Altoona in the Duals semis, at cracking the top three and matching or besting the title total from 2015.

“A lot of times enthusiasm and momentum will carry you through,” Gilbert said. “All it takes is one kid, one upset. We expect our kids to wrestle hard for six minutes. As a team, I believe they have an opportunity just as much as any other team here to win the tournament, and we’re looking forward to wrestling.

“I think our guys are fired up. We’re at home, and it’s a great place to be. Hopefully the crowd comes out and sees our guys. I know they will because they have in the past.”

Altoona isn’t the only team, though, looking forward to the reason for the season.

“Going into the season, this is what you wait for,” Hollidaysburg coach Mike Moore said. “You can’t wait for this time of the year. The kids will have fun and compete hard, and that’s what it’s all about.”

“This is the most fun time of the year,” first-year P-O coach Brad Pataky said. “It’s like Christmas coming again. It’s exciting. You go all season-long for these last three weeks. For the kids that didn’t have the regular season they wanted, this gives them another opportunity. For the kids that did have a good season, this gives them another opportunity to do the best that they can.”

For Manley, this is like Christmas. He is looking to become the program’s second four-time champ, joining T.J. Brandt on the list, and the district’s 24th four-timer. Bellefonte’s Brock Port (145) is also looking to win his fourth title.

“He’s prepared himself his whole life for this,” Gilbert said. “I know Cole. Cole is mentally strong, and he’s ready to go. He’s excited, like he always is every year.”

Manley is joined by teammates Hunter Hileman (120), Brinton Simington (170) and Parker McClellan (195) as top seeds. Hileman and Simington won district titles two years ago, but Hileman took third last year, while Simington and McClellan finished second.

“Hunter Hileman has made the sacrifices to get to 120 pounds, and he’s ready to go,” Gilbert said. “He’s ready to make this last march after a four-year career. He’s already been in a district champ once. He wants to put his name on that wall twice.”

Kephart is not a top seed. He’s a fifth seed at 138 – just like he was last year, when he defeated all higher seeded wrestlers, including Hollidaysburg’s Dalton Long in the finals.

“He’s a hot and cold wrestler,” Gilbert said. “It all depends on the kind of day he’s having will determine where he ends up. He could win this tournament just as easy as another guy in that tournament just because of how streaky he is. If he’s on his game that day, I believe he has just as good of an opportunity as to win as any guy in that weight class.”

The top seed at the weight is Hollidaysburg’s Nathan Swartz (25-4), who could tangle with Kephart in the semifinals. Swartz is also seeded ahead of Bald Eagle Area’s two-time district champ Seth Koleno, whom the Golden Tiger pinned in 3:21 on Jan. 7 at the Bald Eagle Area Duals.

“He’s been wrestling terrific all season-long,” Moore said. “When he beat Koleno in the dual meet, it was a big win for him. It kind of gave him a confidence booster, and he’s tough to handle.”

Two of Hollidaysburg’s best kids, seniors Long (145) and Hunter Gill (285), are seeded third at their respective weights.

“We had a couple losses during the course of the year that set us back,” Moore said. “I expect those guys to go in there and perform. They’re both seniors, and I expect both of those guys to be in the finals.”

Another area returning runner-up won’t get a shot at making the finals this year. P-O junior Matt Johnson, who was second at 120 last season, has battled a shoulder problem the second half of the season and can’t wrestle in the postseason.

“It’s tough to see a kid try so hard, and at the end of the season gets pulled out,” Pataky said. “You know how much they want to wrestle.”

For those who will be wrestling, this will be the start of a journey that could take them all the way to Hershey in March.

“It’s kind of bittersweet in a way,” Gilbert said. “I’ve been with a lot of these kids for four years. They’re seniors, and they’ve worked really hard. But we’ve prepared for four years for this, and we’re returning a lot of good guys, a lot of district champs. I think our guys are ready to wrestle. It’s an exciting time of the year, and our guys are hungry.”

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