Altoona graduate and current UPJ redshirt junior Matt Sarbo reached the finals of the Division II National Championships with a pin of the No. 1 seed at 149 pounds in the semifinals.

But the four-time District 6 and Northwest Regional champion had to settle for second place on Saturday night at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

After the fourth-seeded Sarbo pinned Grand Valley State’s Chris Donathan in 2:42 in the semifinals, he dropped a 5-0 decision to Colorado School of Mines’ Cody Thompson in the finals.

Sarbo won two junior college national titles for Iowa Central Community College in 2022-23 and 2023-24 before transferring for UPJ to take a redshirt year last season.

He spent much of the first period against the third-seeded Thompson defending a shot. The official ruled Thompson got the takedown, but when it was waved off when it went to video review.

Thompson rode Sarbo for the entire second period before escaping in the third period. Thompson later took Sarbo down and with more than 3 minutes in riding time advantage, he received a riding time point to set the final.

UPJ’s Ty Morrison placed fourth at 174, while Isaiah Vance took eighth at 285. Penn Cambria graduate Trent Hoover went 2-2 at 165.

Miller wins title

Central junior Blair Miller captured a state title at 250 pounds in the Keystone State Championships on Saturday at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center.

Miller earned a 5-0 decision over Wayne Highlands’ Robert MacDowell to win a title in the boys 15-16 age division. Miller went 5-0 with three falls, a major decision and the decision.

Claysburg-Kimmel’s Ayden Soler (145) placed fourth. Glendale’s Harrison Snyder (124) finished sixth.

Chestnut Ridge’s Brennen Veverka won the 117-pound title with a 4-0 in over Albert Gallatin’s Greyson Morris. Moshannon Valley’s Rocco Reifer won a title at 195 with a 4-1 overtime victory over Corry’s Landon Nickerson.

In the girls division of the 15-16 age group, Claysburg-Kimmel’s Aunnika Imler (100) placed third.

Huntingdon’s Noelle Rasmovicz (136) placed sixth.

Boys 13-14

Altoona’s Nate Picciotti won the 103-pound title in the boys 13-14 age group with a 4-3 decision over State College’s Nathan Kasak. Picciotti went 5-0.

Hollidaysburg’s Vinnie Hite, who attends Bishop Guilfoyle, was a runner-up at 192, losing to Boyertown’s A.J. Ventresca, 8-3.

Juniata Valley’s Camryn White placed second at 212, getting pinned by Kiski Area’s Steven McCartney in 1:23. Portage’s Joey Myers (82) finished second, losing to Chestnut Ridge’s Grayden Paris by technical fall, 15-0 in 2:02.

Altoona’s Brandt Hite (140) placed third. Penn Cambria’s Evan Becker (110) placed sixth. Central’s Braydyn Wenerick (96), Central Cambria’s Tyler Shaffer (103) and Tyrone Christian’s Wyatt Evans (172) were eighth.

Ridge’s Dexter Ward won the 147-pound title. Huntingdon’s Luke Mykut (157) finished second, getting pinned by Dallastown’s Gannon Beach. Tussey Mountain’s Kaden Husick (132) finished third. Ridge’s Kayne Burkett (124) placed sixth, while Huntingdon’s Chayce Raffensberger (172) and Northern Cambria’s Wyatt Barr (252) were seventh.

Girls 13-14

Portage’s Ellie Myers won the 105-pound title in the girls 13-14 age group with an 8-6 win over Titusville’s Jenna Greer.

Chestnut Ridge’s Caela McElroy (132) finished third, while Ridge’s Clover Draves (85) was fifth. Ridge’s Susan Musselman (94) took seventh.

Boys 11-12

Central’s Colvin Smith won the 60-pound title in the boys 11-12 group with an 8-0 win over Central York’s Greyson Bosley.

Claysburg-Kimmel’s Jacobi Burkett (70) placed third. Tyrone’s Josiah Verilla (80) and Cambria Heights’ Brock Lewis (135) were seventh. Portage’s Brody Myers (75), Central Cambria’s Grayson Rakar (100) and Bellwood-Antis’ Landon Hartman (145) finished eighth.

Chestnut Ridge’s Kohyn Deputy claimed the 65-pound title with an 11-0 win over Connellsville’s Corbin Kochis.

Tussey Mountain’s John Michael Neville (75) placed third. Ridge’s Toby Bernash (115) and Philipsburg-Osceola’s J.T. Oppel (200) were fifth. Ridge’s Benton Alt (115) placed sixth. P-O’s Lee Clark (70) finished seventh.

Girls 11-12

Ebensburg resident and Bishop McCort student Journey Strittmatter won the 65-pound title in the girls 11-12 age group with a 7-0 win over Dallastown’s Lilian Strayer.

Northern Bedford’s Harper Boyd (108) placed fifth.

Huntingdon’s Sawyer Banks (90) finished seventh.

Boys 9-10

Ebensburg resident and Bishop McCort student Jordy Strittmatter finished second at 55 pounds in the boys 9-10 age group, losing to Pittston’s Vincent Padilla, 7-0.

Tyrone’s Levi VanAllman (95) placed seventh. Cambria Heights’ Dax Huber (65) and Colton Hite (80) were eighth. Bedford’s Ezra Turkovich (150) also finished eighth.

Girls 9-10

Huntingdon’s Hayleigh Morder (120) finished fifth in the girls 9-10 group. Ebensburg and McCort’s Peyton Strittmatter (56) placed seventh.

Boys 7-8

Hollidaysburg’s Jesse Rhodes, who attends Bishop Guilfoyle, was a runner-up at 50 pounds in the boys 7-8 group. He lost to Mount Lebanon’s Lukas Gregula, 2-0.

Ridge’s Easton Hillegass (60) finished second.

Claysburg-Kimmel’s Jonah Burkett (50) was third. Ridge’s Niko Burkett (55) placed third, while Jayce Yothers (50) was fifth. Ridge’s Damon Zimmerman (74) placed eighth.

Girls 7-8

Portage’s Brynlee Myers (50) placed third in the girls 7-8 age group. Portage’s Brynlee Rusnak (75) took eighth.

Boys 6 and Under

Portage’s Brayden Rusnak won the 61-pound title in the boys 6 and under group with a pin of Nazareth’s Logan Roncolato in 1:21.

Cambria Heights’ Charlie Burrows (61) placed fourth. Bellwood-Antis’ Jack McCaulley (52) finished seventh, while Claysburg-Kimmel’s Asher Burkett (48) placed eighth.

Girls 6 and Under

Chestnut Ridge’s Myla Williams finished second at 40 pounds in the girls 6 and under. Ridge’s Alyvia Yothers (45) finished fourth.