Mtn. Lions’ Sipes gives repeat effort
Weaver, Krupka also earn titles
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A week after finishing fifth at PIAA Class 3A Championships last March, Altoona's Luke Sipes placed second at the NHSCA freshmen national tournament in Virginia Beach.
But it was there that Sipes tore his labrum. Not long after that, Sipes underwent surgery to repair the torn labrum.
The 152-pounder went through grueling and extensive physical therapy just so he could wrestle again as a sophomore this season.
Sipes, ranked fourth at 152 by PA Power Wrestling, put the first of what he hopes is multiple exclamation points on his season by repeating as District 6 Class 3A champion before a large crowd on Saturday night at the Altoona Fieldhouse.
"This one means a ton," Sipes said. "I put so many hours into PT and double practices, so I'm super grateful and blessed to get this title.
"We didn't actually know if I was even going to be able to compete. We didn't know how long (rehabilitation) was going to take. A lot of guys tear the shoulder and don't ever come back the same. I was just taking it day by day."
Sipes beat Mifflin County's Parker Kearns, 3-1, in a rematch of last year's district finals and this year's Ultimate Warrior Tournament finals.
"He's tough," Sipes said of Kearns. "I know he's a good competitor and I really respect him. I knew it was going to be a dogfight going in, but I'm ready for that."
Altoona freshman Braiden Weaver and Hollidaysburg sophomore Carson Krupka breezed to District 6 titles. Weaver pinned Central Mountain's Collin Bauman in 41 seconds in the 107-pound final, and Krupka followed with a pin of Mifflin County's Styers Oden in 1:25 at 114 pounds.
"He's peaking at the right time, doing the right thing," Hollidaysburg coach Christian Harr said of Krupka. "He went out and got two falls. I'm super happy for him, and it's a big confidence booster going into regionals."
Altoona's freshman Phillip Sarbo (121) and senior Caleb Fasick (127) weren't as fortunate in the finals. Mifflin County's Hunter Johnson earned a 15-0 technical fall over Sarbo in 5:26, while State College's Hayden Cunningham pinned Fasick in 44 seconds.
"Fasick ran into a juggernaut in Cunningham," Altoona coach Joel Gilbert said. "He got hit in the orbital bone, so I think he was a little shell-shocked for a second. I think he'll be ready to go next week. Sarbo had a good tournament. He got to the finals as a freshman, and it's something to build on and improve."
In all, seven wrestlers from Altoona and Hollidaysburg placed in the top three to qualify for this upcoming weekend's Northwest Regional Tournament at the Fieldhouse.
Hollidaysburg sophomore Mitchell Baronner (160) and Altoona senior Michael Riccio (215) placed third at their respective weights to reach the regional tournament.
Baronner pinned Johnstown's Alijah Gibson in 4:11 to take third. Riccio was in a 7-7 bout with State College's Lucas Anderson when he headlocked Anderson to his back and pinned him in 4:00.
"He wrestled tough," Harr said of Baronner. "It's definitely a good confidence booster for him as well."
Altoona's Eli Wisor (145), Matthew Riccio (172) and Evan Boose (189) finished fourth, while teammates Nick Irwin (114), Wyatt Young (139) and Calvin Troutman (285) placed fifth.
Hollidaysburg had four fourth-placers in Logan Krupka (107), Mason Schenk (133), Aiden Schenk (152) and Wyatt Maines (285). Rally Hoover (215) was fifth, while Jacob Brua (139) finished sixth.
After Sipes (35-3) had a 39-second pin in the semifinals, he drew first blood against Kearns with an escape in the second period. In their Ultimate Warrior finals bout, Sipes pinned Kearns without control with a second left in overtime.
Sipes didn't let it get that far this time. He added a takedown out of a flurry with 25 seconds left in the second to go up 3-0.
"I get into positions like that all the time in practice," Sipes said. "I'm super comfortable there. Most guys, they get an ankle and try to hang on. I was thinking score as soon as I got his far ankle."
"Sipes did what he had to do," Gilbert said. "He got himself in a funky kind of position, and Sipes is pretty good in those positions. He's really improved in that area."
Kearns escaped in the third period, but Sipes stayed in good position and avoided any danger.
"I'm super excited (about the regional tournament)," Sipes said. "I'm going to bring my A game. This could be the regional final. I'm ready for it."
The fifth-ranked Weaver (32-4) recorded a pin in 1:08 in the semifinals to get to the finals. He wasted little time once there, getting a takedown, a three-point nearfall off of a tilt and put Bauman on his back for good - all in 41 seconds.
"I'm happy I got the pin," Weaver said. "I was hoping to get the pin rather than a tech fall. Regionals will be tougher than this, obviously. There are a couple new kids in my bracket that will kind of put up more a fight. I think I'll win regionals."
"Weaver looked real tough out there," Gilbert said. "He was explosive. He went for the fall right away and looked good all weekend."
The top-seeded Carson Krupka (14-18) rolled to a title with a pin in 3:50 in the semifinals and took Oden down to his back in the finals and pinned him. Krupka pounded his fist on the mat in celebration.
"I was very excited," Krupka said. "I wasn't sure if I was going to win. I was very nervous."
Notes: Altoona's Ryan Barr was voted the District 6 Junior High Coach of the Year. ... Altoona athletic director and District 6 chairman Phil Riccio was voted the District 6 Man of the Year by the coaches. ... State College's returning state champion Pierson Manville beat Central Mountain returning state champ Dalton Perry, 1-0, in the 139-pound finals. Manville was voted the 3A Outstanding Wrestler. Central Mountain coach Biff Walizer was voted 3A Coach of the Year.
KEY, TEAM STANDINGS
1. CM--Central Mountain 193.5; 2. MC--Mifflin County 189.5; 3. SC--State College 174; 4. A--Altoona 134; 5. H--Hollidaysburg 88; 6. J--Johnstown 67.
SEMIFINALS
107--Weaver, A, pinned Sanderson, SC, 1:08; Bauman, CM, pinned L. Krupka, H, 5:35; 114--C. Krupka, H, pinned Berrena, SC, 3:50; Oden, MC, pinned Irwin, A, 1:26; 121--Sarbo, A, pinned Williams, J, 2:20; 127--H. Cunningham, SC, pinned Noone, CM, :41; Fasick, A, pinned Everly, MC, 1:22; 133--Simccox, CM, pinned M. Schenk, H, :51; Campbell, SC, pinned Aumiller, MC, 2:41; 139--Manville, SC, pinned Morales, J, :28; Perry, CM, pinned Sheetz, MC, :47; 145--A. Cunningham, SC, pinned Wisor, A, :10; Walizer, CM, maj. dec. Cunningham, MC, 16-5
152--Sipes, A, pinned A. Schenk, H, :39; Pa. Kearns, MC, maj. dec. Corter, CM, 9-1; 160--Shaffer, MC, pinned Gibson, J, 3:06; G. Serafini, CM, pinned Baronner, H, 3:24; 172--Weaverling, SC, pinned Ma. Riccio, A, :46; Aurand, MC, dec. Weaver, CM, 2-1 TB; 189--R. Serafini, CM, maj. dec. Mickey, MC, 9-0; Tisinger, J, dec. Boose, A, 6-4 OT; 215--Tarantella, CM, dec. Mi. Riccio, A, 8-5; Davis, MC, pinned Hoover, H, 1:56; 285-- Pavlechko, SC, pinned Maines, H, :23; Pe. Kearns, MC, dec. Blackwell, CM, 4-3 TB.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
107--Weaver, A, pinned Bauman, CM, :41; 114--C. Krupka, H, pinned Oden, MC, 1:25; 121--Johnson, MC, tech. fall Sarbo, A, 15-0, 5:26; 127--H. Cunningham, SC, pinned Fasick, A, :44; 133--Simcox, CM, pinned Campbell, SC, 2:39; 139--Manville, SC, dec. Perry, CM, 1-0; 145--A. Cunningham, SC, dec. Walizer, CM, 9-5
152--Sipes, A, dec. Pa. Kearns, MC, 3-1; 160--Shaffer, MC, dec. G. Serafini, CM, 3-2; 172--Weaverling, SC, pinned Aurand, MC, 1:54; 189--R. Serafini, CM, pinned Tisinger, J, 1:34; 215--Tarantella, CM, dec. Davis, MC, 7-3; 285--Pavlechko, SC, pinned Pe. Kearns, MC, 1:05.
THIRD PLACE
107--Sanderson, SC, dec. L. Krupka, H, 4-2; 114--Berrena, SC, dec. Pardoe, CM, 5-2; 127--Everly, MC, dec. Noone, CM, 4-0; 133--Aumiller, MC, pinned M. Schenk, 1:36; 139--Sheetz, MC, maj. dec. Morales, J, 13-5; 145--Cunningham, MC, pinned Wisor, A, 1:54
152--Corner, CM, pinned A. Schenk, H, 2:22; 160--Baronner, H, pinned Gibson, J, 4:11; 172--Weaver, CM, maj. dec. Ma. Riccio, A, 15-5; 189--Mickey, MC, maj. dec. Boose, A, 12-1; 215--Mi. Riccio, A, pinned Anderson, SC, 4:00; 285--Blackwell, CM, pinned Maines, H, 4:19.
FIFTH PLACE
139--Young, A, dec. Brua, H, 8-5; 285--Troutman, A, pinned Yingling, J, :53.