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High School Wrestling

Altoona’s Sipes now committed to UNC

By Todd Irwin sports@altoonamirror.com A little more than seven months after verbally committing to wrestle for Princeton University, Altoona junior Luke Sipes has decommitted and will wrestle for the University of North Carolina. Sipes, who committed to Princeton in October, decommitted two weeks ago. And then a week later, he gave his verbal commitment to wrestle for State College graduate Rob Koll at UNC. Sipes, who placed fourth at the PIAA Championships at 152 in March for his third state tournament medal, cited lack of communication with Princeton for the reason he chose to ...

Legendary coach dies at 81

By John Hartsock jhartsock@altoonamirror.com During his 36 years as the head wrestling coach at Altoona Area High School, Marty Rusnak’s contributions to the sport on a local, state and even national level were monumental. But perhaps even more importantly, Rusnak’s contributions to ...

Four Golden Eagles, three girls among honorees

By Todd Irwin sports@altoonamirror.com While Andrew McMonagle led the state in pins with 37 this season, it was the Huntingdon wrestler and Williamsburg senior’s battles with Bald Eagle Area’s Caleb Close and Southern Columbia’s Garrett Garcia that stand out. McMonagle beat Close, 6-3, in the Laurel Highlands Conference Tournament finals and was named the tournament Outstanding Wrestler. Close then nipped him in a battle of the top two guys in the PA Power Wrestling rankings in the District 6 and Southwest Regional finals, 5-2 and 5-3. But it was McMonagle standing atop the ...

Huntingdon, Williamsburg celebrate Wrestler of Year

By Todd Irwin sports@altoonamirror.com Not too long after Andrew McMonagle captured the 189-pound title at the PIAA Class 2A Championships at Hershey’s Giant Center, his celebrity status increased. McMonagle, a Williamsburg High School senior who wrestled for Huntingdon as a junior ...

Coach Gilbert guides Mountain Lions to continued success

By Todd Irwin sports@altoonamirror.com The Altoona wrestling team posted a 12-6 mark during the regular season, which is the program’s best record since going 12-6 in 2016-17. The Mountain Lions also had three District 6 champions in Braiden Weaver (114), Gavin Ciampoli (127) and Luke Sipes (152). All three went on to qualify for the PIAA Class 3A Championships, with Sipes placing fourth for his third state medal. As a result, Altoona coach Joel Gilbert has been named the Altoona Mirror Coach of the Year for the second straight season on the 41st annual Mirror All-Star Team. ...

Bellwood’s Cuevas claims title

By Todd Irwin sports@altoonamirror.com Bellwood-Antis sophomore Juliette Cuevas followed up her seventh-place finish at the inaugural PIAA Girls Championships by capturing a state title at 103 pounds in the girls 15-16 age division of the Keystone State Championships over the weekend at Santander Arena in Reading. Cuevas pinned Fort LeBoeuf’s Hayden Ramey in 3:12 in the championship finals. Both of her wins were pins. Glendale’s Bethany Watt finished second at 148 in the same division. Chestnut Ridge state champion Violette Lasure pinned Watt in 53 seconds. Northern Bedford’s ...