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By Todd Irwin
sports@altoonamirror.com
Huntingdon had been off the wrestling mat since finishing second at Rob Rohm Duals last Wednesday at Bloomsburg University.
The Bearcats didn't show any noticeable rust on Thursday night against Altoona.
Huntingdon recorded seven pins, including one by former Central star and current Williamsburg student Andrew McMonagle, on senior night at the Altoona Fieldhouse to roll to a 55-15 win.
"I thought we wrestled very well," Huntingdon coach Jon Mykut said. "The kids went out and went after it. I was really pleased with the effort. They went out and got bonus points."
"They're always consistent," Altoona coach Joel Gilbert said. "Jon puts a good product on the mat all the time. Our kids fought out there. I've got to give our kids credit. We were just outmanned out there a lot of times. There are still some things we need to work on."
It was the last home dual meet for Altoona seniors Logan Brandt (127), Caleb Fasick (133), Eli Wisor (145) and Michael Riccio. All four were recognized in a pre-match ceremony. Fasick was the only winner in the group, earning an 8-4 win over Landon Dunsmore.
The Bearcats (7-2) opened the dual meet with pins from Landon Erdman in 2:41 at 215 and District 6 Class 2A champion and Southwest Regional runner-up Gunner Singleton at 285.
Altoona's Braiden Weaver continued his breakout freshman year by building a 15-1 lead on Gaige Sholly with four takedowns and five nearfall points and getting a fall in 5:01 at 107.
"Braiden wrestled well," Gilbert said. "He's real tough on top. He's getting better from the neutral position each week. He's going to be a force to reckon with at 107 this year."
After Huntingdon's Alex Gladfelter won by fall in 1:36 at 114, teammate Liam Simpson beat freshman Phillip Sarbo, 4-0 at 121. Simpson notched a second-period reversal and another reversal with 6 seconds left in the bout.
"Sarbo wrestled real well," Gilbert said. "He's a guy you can see improvement from each week. He's putting a little extra into the sport right now."
"That was a good match," Mykut said. "Their kid is strong."
Huntingdon's Ryan Yocum followed with a pin in 3:24 at 127, setting up a competitive bout between Fasick (13-5) and Dunsmore (11-5). Fasick, who beat
Dunsmore, 7-3, at the Panther Holiday Classic took a 3-0 lead into the third period.
In the final period, the strong Fasick lifted Dunsmore off the mat and put him on his back for two nearfall points. Dunsmore escaped and Fasick took him down for a 7-1 lead. Dunsmore escaped and slipped through a Fasick headlock to score a takedown of his own. Fasick escaped to win by four points again.
"Dunsmore has been around a long time. He's a pretty good wrestler," Gilbert said. "Caleb is really coming along and really working hard in the room. He's going to do some good things as the season goes on."
After a pin by Eric Mykut at 139 and Grady Clark majoring Wisor, 15-1, at 145, Altoona star Luke Sipes (16-3) stopped Huntingdon's run. Sipes, who took seventh place at the Powerade Tournament, needed only 1:12 to earn a fall at 152. It was the last bout win for the Mountain Lions (1-6).
Huntingdon's Devin Brenneman followed with a 44-second pin at 160, and Kyler Garner picked up a forfeit at 172.
McMonagle (10-3), who sat out last season at Central with a shoulder injury after qualifying for Super Regionals as a freshman, finished the dual meet by moving up to 189 and getting a pin in 1:46.
"He's a great kid," Mykut said. "He fit right in with our guys. He's a team guy, will do anything we ask. He weighed in at 165 and we kicked him up to 189. He pushes our guys in the wrestling room and is one of the hardest workers we have. We're happy to have him."
Altoona will wrestle five dual meets on Saturday at Philipsburg-Osceola in the Mountaineer Duals.
The Mountain Lions begin wrestling in the 9 a.m. round against West Branch on the first available mat. They'll take on Punxsutawney at 11:15 a.m. before facing Bellefonte in the 1 p.m. round on the first available mat. Altoona wrestles Glendale at 2:45 p.m. and P-O at 4:30 p.m.
215--Erdman, H, pinned Mi. Riccio, 2:41; 285--Singleton, H, pinned Speece, 1:15; 107--Weaver, A, pinned Sholly, 5:01; 114--Gladfelter, H, pinned Irwin, 1:36; 121--Simpson, H, dec. Sarbo, 4-0; 127--Yocum, H, pinned Brandt, 3:24; 133--Fasick, A, dec. Dunsmore, 8-4
139--Mykut, H, pinned Young, :48; 145--Clark, H, maj. dec. Wisor, 15-1; 152--Sipes, A, pinned Grubb, 1:12; 160--Brenneman, H, pinned McMillon, :44; 172--Garner, H, won by forfeit; 189--McMonagle, H, pinned Boose, 1:46.
Records: Huntingdon (7-2), Altoona (1-6)
Exhibition winner: McDivitt, H
Referee: Paul Myers