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MILL HALL -- Altoona found itself in a big hole it couldn't get out of and lost by a point to Mifflin County, 34-33, in the semifinals of the District 6 Class 3A Duals on Saturday at Central Mountain High School.
The Mountain Lions lost seven of the first eight bouts, including two by forfeit, to trail the Huskies, 34-3. Mifflin County then chose to forfeit to forfeit the final five bouts to apparently conserve energy and health of its upperweights.
Braiden Weaver, wrestling up a weight at 121, was the only Mountain Lion to win on the mat, earning a 3-1 decision over Jake Knable. Mifflin County had two pins, a major decision, two decisions and two forfeit wins in the first eight bouts.
"They outwrestled us early on," Altoona coach Joel Gilbert said. "We did not wrestle well at the beginning. We gave up some things we don't normally give up. We didn't go out enthused and ready to go. Hopefully it was an eye opener for our guys. I think we need to come out and be a little more aggressive and create more action."
Altoona's Luke Sipes (160), Ty'Kear Davis (172), Julian Pringle (189), Evan Boose (215) and Hayden Speece (285) all won by forfeit.
"I believe that this is a trend that's going on in the dual action," Gilbert said. "I can understand their thoughts behind it. They don't want to get guys hurt for the postseason. I've talked to their coaches in the past, and they've said they've lost kids in the past in the duals, and their kids didn't have a postseason."
Central Mountain then won its second straight District 6 3A Duals title and ninth overall with a 36-18 win over Mifflin County in the championship final.
The top-seeded Wildcats advanced to the championship match with a 50-23 win over State College in the semifinals.
The Wildcats will wrestle District 3 runner-up Boiling Springs on Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey in the first round of the PIAA Duals.
The Mountain Lions finished their regular season with an 11-6 record. They'll begin preparing for the Feb. 17 District 6 Tournament at the Altoona Fieldhouse.
"We're letting our guys get a little bit of rest," Gilbert said. "It's a long January for us. We have a lot of dual meets and tournaments. Hopefully our guys get a little bit of rest and get their bodies right and prepare for the postseason."
107--Alexander, MC, dec. Nardozza, 5-0; 114--Shawver, MC, pinned Baker, 3:25; 121--Weaver, A, dec. Knable, 3-1; 127--Aumiller, MC, maj. dec. Ciampoli, 11-3; 133--Everly, MC, won by forfeit; 139--Albert, MC, won by forfeit; 145--Seiler, MC, dec. Young, 6-2
152--Kearns, MC, pinned Mellott, :26; 160--Sipes, A, won by forfeit; 172--Davis, A, won by forfeit; 189--Pringle, A, won by forfeit; 215--Boose, A, won by forfeit; 285--Speece, A, won by forfeit.
Records: Altoona (11-6), Mifflin County (13-4)
Ridge beats NBC for 12th straight
FISHERTOWN -- Chestnut Ridge won its 12th straight District 5 Duals title with a 54-19 win over Northern Bedford in the championship finals on Saturday afternoon at Ridge's Richard W. Fisher Gymnasium.
The Lions, who started their championship run in the District 5 Duals back in 2013, recorded nine pins against the Black Panthers.
They had four straight to start from Aaron Ickes (145), Jayden Imler, Maddux Sipe (160) and Jeb Emerick (172).
The Panthers (14-5) won four straight bouts, getting pins from Rece Dibert (215) and Brock Beach (285), a major decision from Aiden Replogle (107) and an Eion Snider 4-2 decision over Alex Crist at 189. Snider's win was the 100th of his career.
But then the Lions reeled off five straight pins from Dominic Deputy (114), Easton Mull (121), Trenden Willey (127), Mason Weyant (133) and Carter Wharton (139).
The Panthers went 2-1 on Saturday, beating Conemaugh Township, 43-25, in the quarterfinals and Somerset, 40-31, in the semifinals.
Ridge (12-2), which beat Everett, 48-18, in the semifinals, will wrestle District 3 runner-up Berks Catholic in the first round of the PIAA Team Wrestling Championship on Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey.
45--Ickes, CR, pinned Logue, 1:28; 152--Imler, CR, pinned Pittman, 1:45; 160--Sipe, CR, pinned N. Snider, 1:27; 172--Emerick, CR, pinned Paris, :44; 189--E. Snider, NB, dec. Crist, 4-2; 215--Dibert, NB, pinned Webb, :37; 285--Beach, NB, pinned Caulley, 1:19
107--Replogle, NB, maj. dec. Kaufman, 8-0; 114--Deputy, CR, pinned Clapper, 1:48; 121--Mull, CR, pinned Clouse, 1:17; 127--Willey, CR, pinned Free, 2:33; 133--Weyant, CR, pinned Dively, 3:31; 139--Wharton, CR, pinned Amick, :25.
Records: Northern Bedford (14-5), Chestnut Ridge (12-2).
McCort breezes to District 6 2A title
TYRONE -- Second-seeded Bishop McCort breezed to its first District 6 Class 2A Duals title with a 58-15 romp over top-seeded Bald Eagle Area on Saturday afternoon at Tyrone High School.
The 15-0 Crimson Crushers rolled to a 54-18 win over Huntingdon, 54-18, in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Bald Eagle Area beat Centre County rival, 43-18.
In the true second match, BEA qualified for a PIAA Duals wrestle-in match with a 37-30 win over Huntingdon. Huntingdon (20-4) won the third-place match, 35-33, over Penns Valley (10-4).
Bishop McCort's first-round opponent in the PIAA Team Wrestling Championship at the Giant Center will be the winner of today's preliminary round matchup between District 11 runner-up Saucon Valley and District 3 third-placer West Perry.
Bald Eagle Area (11-2) will take on District 7 third-placer Quaker Valley today at home in the preliminary round.