Courtesy photo Luke Sipes became Altoona’s career wins leader on Saturday.

Lions place second

From Mirror reports

MILL HALL — Altoona senior Luke Sipes became his school’s career leader in wrestling victories Saturday with a pair of falls in the Mountain Lions’ District 6 Class 3A duals.

Altoona defeated Mifflin County, 41-26, with the help of Sipes’ pin over Dominique Siennick in 1:23 at 160 pounds to advance to the District 6 championship against host Central Mountain.

The Wildcats edged the Lions in the final, 39-28, despite a fall by Sipes over Hayes Miller.

Sipes’ pin put Altoona up by a point, but Central Mountain got falls from Dalton McDermott and Todd Caris in the final two matches to win the title by 11 points.

Sipes passed 2015 graduate D.J. Hollingshead on the all-time Altoona wins list to etch his place in the record book. After his two wins on Saturday, Sipes is now 146-19 with the Mountain Lions.

“Luke has just been a stellar and consistent wrestler for us,” Altoona coach Joel Gilbert said. “I mean for him to get this record he had to wrestle through sickness, and you know he had to wrestle when he was hurt and injured. This is one of those things that you know, it’s a longevity thing in my mind. Just your ability to work through situations, just a testament to him as a person and what kind of individual he is, and how consistent he is, no matter how he feels or what’s hurt on his body, he just keeps coming.”

Altoona’s victory over Mifflin County earlier in the day also made history.

“These are guys that have led our program to where it is today,” Gilbert said. “We had a great weekend. It’s the first time in school history that we’ve ever won a district dual match. We got to the finals. We came up a little bit short, but I think the experience gave our kids a little momentum here going into the postseason. Both matches were close matches, and our kids responded well. We’re really happy with their performance this weekend, and we’re excited for the individual district tournament to see how we do in it.”

Michael Colyer and Braiden Weaver also had pins against Mifflin County, and Dominic Nardozza, Weaver and Reese Hite added falls against Central Mountain.

With its District 6 title, Central Mountain — which topped State College, 44-18, in the other semifinal — will host District 4 champion Shikellamy in the first round of the PIAA team duals on Tuesday, and the winner of that will advance to Friday’s PIAA Class 3A team duals at the Altoona Area High School Fieldhouse.

Other district wrestling

Bishop McCort cruised to another District 6 Class 2A team dual championship with a 55-0 win over Bald Eagle Area in the semifinals and a 59-6 win over host Penns Valley in the championship on Saturday. Both the Crushers and Rams advanced to the state team tournament.

Huntingdon edged Bald Eagle Area, 36-34, in the consolation dual match.

In District 5, Chestnut Ridge won another Class 2A title with a 65-12 win over Meyersdale in the semifinals and a 59-15 victory over Everett in the final. The Warriors beat Berlin Brothersvalley in the other semifinal.

The Lions will host WPIAL runner-up Derry on Tuesday in the PIAA Class 2A first round at 7 p.m.

DISTRICT 6 CLASS 3A

SEMIFINALS

ALTOONA 41, MIFFLIN COUNTY 26

189: Christine, MC, over Davis (Fall 5:08) 215: Colyer, A, over Bender (Fall 1:22) 285: Kearns, MC, over Thompkins (Fall 1:21) 107: Nardozza, A, won by forfeit 114: Alexander, MC, over Irwin (Fall 1:51) 121: Weaver, A, over Shawver (Fall 0:35) 127: Barr, A, over Bowersox (TF 17-0 3:54).

133: Sarbo, A, over Knable (Dec 6-2) 139: Everly, MC, over Wible (TF 20-2 5:03) 145: Hite, A, over Albert (MD 13-4) 152: Seiler, MC, over Ciampoli (Dec 7-2) 160: Sipes, A, over Siennick (Fall 1:23) 172: Darpino, A, over Aurand (TF 26-9 5:55).

CHAMPIONSHIP

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 39, ALTOONA 28

215: Brungard, CM, over Colyer (Dec 10-5) 285: Fravel, CM, over Pringle (Fall) 107: Nardozza, A, over Dorman (Fall) 114: Heverly, CM, over Irwin (Fall) 121: Weaver, A, over Bauman (Fall) 127: Kunes, CM, over Barr (MD 11-2) 133: Tarantella, CM, over Sarbo (Dec 5-0).

139: Hite, A, over Donley (Fall) 145: Perry, CM, won by forfeit 152: Ciampoli, A, over Ananea (MD 10-1) 160: Sipes, A, over Miller (Fall) 172: McDermott, CM, over Darpino (Fall) 189: Caris, CM, over Davis (Fall) (CMH Coach Misconduct -1.0).

DISTRICT 5 CLASS 2A

SEMIFINALS

CHESTNUT RIDGE 65, MEYERSDALE 12

160: Harbaugh, CR, won by forfeit 172: Porter, M, over Casey (Fall 1:53) 189: Imler, CR, won by forfeit 215: Calhoun, CR, over Christner (Fall 0:37) 285: Browne, M, won by forfeit 107: Weyandt, CR, won by forfeit 114: Easton Mull, CR, won by forfeit.

121: Ickes, CR, over Pickrel (Fall 1:04) 127: Deputy, CR, won by forfeit 133: Willey, CR, won by forfeit 139: Sipe, CR, won by forfeit 145: Ickes, CR, over Schardt (TF 17-0 4:28) 152: Feight, CR, over Eisentrout (Fall 0:08).

CHAMPIONSHIP

CHESTNUT RIDGE 59, EVERETT 15

172: Casey, CR, over Cornman (Fall 1:04) 189: Imler, CR, won by forfeit 215: Grove, E, over Calhoun (TF 18-5 5:55) 285: Brambley, E, won by forfeit 107: Weyandt, CR, won by forfeit 114: Mull, CR, over Smith (Fall 1:35) 121: Ickes, CR, over Pittman (Fall 2:45).

127: Deputy, CR, over Defibaugh (Fall 0:10) 133: Willey, CR, over Snyder (Fall 1:10) 139: Shaw, E, over Sipe (MD 18-10) 145: Ickes, CR, over Cornell (Fall 0:55) 152: Feight, CR, over Hall (TF 16-0 4:24) 160: Harbaugh, CR, over Bussard (Fall 3:26).