Kyle Scott (Tyrone) reacts after winning the 189lb District 6 2A Title by defeating CJ Pensiero (Bishop McCort) by Default.

It wasn’t the way Tyrone star Kyle Scott wanted to win his first title at the District 6 Class 2A Tournament in his third finals appearance, but he was at long last standing atop the medals stand.

Two-time runner-up Scott didn’t even have to break a sweat Saturday night at the Altoona Fieldhouse.

Scott won by injury default over Bishop McCort’s C.J. Pensiero at 189 pounds because Pensiero has been nursing a shoulder injury.

All Scott had to do was shake hands with Pensiero in the mat circle and wait for official Larry Guenot’s whistle to start and then to immediately stop the clock. Workout partners Scott and Pensiero hugged and Guenot raised Scott’s hand.

“It kind of ruins the fun of winning a district title,” Scott said, “but obviously he has some shoulder problems. I understand.”

“It’s not unexpected, and that’s just how things go,” Tyrone coach Quentin Wright said. “He’s trying to give himself the best opportunity to win. He doesn’t want to give up anything or get hurt any worse because Kyle is a tough dude. If you wrestle against Kyle, you could get hurt real quick, especially if you’re not 100 percent.”

Long before Scott took the mat in the finals, Central sophomore Ty Matthews claimed his first district title at 107 pounds. Matthews pinned Bishop McCort’s seventh-seeded Ethan Cotchen in 5:48 in the finals to become Central’s first District 6 champion since Doug Ritchey won at 103 pounds in 2004.

“It feels great to have a district title under your belt,” Matthews said. “It’s the first district title Central has won in awhile.”

Glendale’s Daniel Williams, like Scott, was vying for his first District 6 title in his third finals appearance, but the Vikings senior had to settle for second again.

After pinning Central’s Blair Miller in 5:00 in their match-anticipated semifinal, Williams, who missed all of last season with knee injuries, dropped a 4-0 decision to Bishop McCort’s returning district runner-up Caleb Rodriguez in the finals.

“I lost, but this isn’t the important one they say,” Williams said. “I’ve got two more tries at it. This should put me in a good spot for regionals and hopefully get some matches there.”

Central Cambria’s Burke Niebauer also finished as a runner-up at 139 as McCort’s Owen McMullen beat him, 18-5, in the championship match.

“It was a tough match,” Niebauer said. “I knew that going into it. I didn’t perform how I wanted to, but I’ll get another shot hopefully.”

The 39-0 Scott went 4-0 in the tournament with three technical falls, including a 15-0 shutout of Huntingdon’s Dom Peruso in 1:09 in the semifinals.

“Stuff was flowing,” Scott said. “I scored a lot of points and was a lot better on top. In the semifinal round, I was pretty well rounded. I’m really proud of that, but other than that it was just another day of business.”

Pensiero earned a 7-3 decision over Richland’s Grayson Mahla in the semifinals.

“I was told at the beginning of weigh-ins (about Pensiero) and I got it confirmed after he wrestled (in the semifinals,” Scott said, “because I didn’t want my family to come out here and watch me get my hand raised real quick.”

Scott and Pensiero were chatting and laughing as they were waiting for the 189-pound medal bouts to start.

“He’s one of my really good friends,” Scott said. “We train a lot together. I go up to their place weekly. If you know where the best are, why not go there and train with them. It’s just wrestling at the end of the day. I’m not going to be mad at him or anything.”

“Kyle was just a monster,” Wright said. “Now I’m going to have to wrestle him in practice to give him some tough matches. I’ll tell Kyle it’s a no-point Tuesday, and he won’t score a point.”

Matthews was dominant throughout the tournament, pinning all four of his opponents and outscoring them 22-0, including Philipsburg-Osceola’s Hayden Koptchak in 4:56 in the semifinals.

Matthews nailed takedowns of Cotchen in the first and second period, rode hard in those periods and took a 6-0 lead into the third. He reversed in the third and later put Cotchen on his back. After the slap of the mat, he celebrated and hugged Marko.

“Ty wrestled a great tournament,” Marko said. “Ty was a legitimate vote for OW (Outstanding Wrestler). He pinned his way through the bracket, was dominant the entire time.”

“I think (the title) sets me up pretty well,” Matthews said. “I think I have myself going to states.”

Williams (41-2) was losing 1-0 against Miller in the semifinal when he hit a roll from the bottom position, put Miller on his back and got the fall.

“I just went for it and luckily it worked out how I wanted it to,” Williams said. “Three pins I can’t really complain about.”

Williams couldn’t get any offense going in the finals, but he set up that roll a couple times in the third period, but Rodriguez (30-8) was well aware of the move and stayed in good position as he rode the entire period.

“I thought he wrestled well,” Glendale coach Brian Storm said. “Rodriguez is tough. Unfortunately we couldn’t really score on him. We’ll see him again.”

Rodriguez was one of seven champions and 11 finalists for Bishop McCort, which amassed 321 points, breaking its 2025 record by one point.

The top-seeded Niebauer (33-9) reached the finals with an 8-4 decision over Marion Center’s Tyler Phillips.

In the finals, McMullen (33-8) scored 12 of his points in the first two periods and released Niebauer. The Red Devil junior attempted to tie up and throw McMullen in the final period, but McMullen got a couple takedowns of his own.

“I was just looking for anything I could pull out,” he said.

“I think he had a good tournament,” Central Cambria coach Matt Niebauer said. “We improved on a lot of things. We found out we’ve got to work on a few things. It’s all about advancing to the next one.”

Huntingdon had a champ in Landon Erdman (215) and a runner-up in Doug McKim (160).

Central advances four

Central finished in fifth place among 27 teams with 129 points and qualified five wrestlers to the Feb. 27-28 Southwest Regional at the Altoona Fieldhouse. The top six wrestlers at every weight qualified for the regional.

Miller (285) finished third, while Carsen Mowery (121) and Joel Morris (127) placed fourth. Kaden Horn (145) advanced with a sixth-place finish.

“You always want more,” Marko said. “I’m thrilled for the guys who are getting through.”

There were 17 regional qualifiers from the Mirror core coverage area.

Penn Cambria’s Nate Mack (160) finished third. Tyrone’s Tanner Walk (107) and Mason VanAllman (160) took fifth, as did Glendale’s Ethan Gilbey (145) and Central Cambria’s Jeremy Hajzus (189).

Central Cambria’s Parker Anslinger (107) and Hadyn Strittmatter (133), Penn Cambria’s Layton Munyon (121) and Claysburg-Kimmel’s Ayden Soler (139) were sixth.

C-K’s Rylan Quarello (127) and Penn Cambria’s Jesse Horning (215) placed seventh, but didn’t qualify for the regional.

Bellwood-Antis’ Bryson Guyer (114) and Chase Focht (160), Glendale’s Domanic Kaufman (152), Tyrone’s Kyler Suhoney (215) and Tyrone Christian Academy’s first ever district medalist Jacob Evans (133) placed eighth.

B-A’s second-seeded Nolan Hewitt, who had to injury default to Cotchen in the quarterfinals with a 7-4 lead, couldn’t continue in the tournament due to a concussion.

Four locals inducted

Four area graduates were inducted into the District 6 Hall of Fame before the evening round.

Penn Cambria 1992 state runner-up Dr. Tony Albertelli, Tyrone 1989 state runner-up Tony Owens and Huntingdon’s 1983 graduate Curtis Wiley were inducted as wrestlers. Ed Bishop, a 1977 graduate of Cambria Heights, was inducted as an official.

Altoona grad and former Hollidaysburg coach Joe Baranik will be inducted before next Saturday’s District 6 Class 3A finals.

Todara named top JH coach

Cambria Heights’ Ryan Todara was named District 6 Class 2A Junior High Coach of the Year after guiding the Highlanders to a 21-0 season.

KEY, TEAM STANDINGS

1. BM–Bishop McCort 321; 2. PV–Penns Valley 195; 3. BEA–Bald Eagle Area 148.5; 4. H–Huntingdon 147.5; 5. C–Central 129; 6. PO–Philipsburg-Osceola 128; 7. WH–Westmont Hilltop 101.5; 8. WB–West Branch 97; 9. G–Glendale 84.5; 10. T–Tyrone 82; 11. RV–River Valley 78; 12. MV–Moshannon Valley 77; 13. MU–Mount Union 76.5; 14. J–Juniata 75.5; 15. CC–Central Cambria 71.5; 16. FH–Forest Hills 69; 17. MC–Marion Center 67.5; 18. PC–Penn Cambria 64; 19. U–United 62; 20. SH–Southern Huntingdon 53; 21. R–Richland 46.5; 22. CH–Cambria Heights 33.5; 23. WS–West Shamokin 30.5; 24. BA–Bellwood-Antis and CK–Claysburg-Kimmel 27; 26. JV–Juniata Valley 25.5; 27. TCA–Tyrone Christian Academy 11.5.

SEMIFINALS

107–Matthews, C, pinned Koptchak, PO, 4:56; Cotchen, BM, tech fall Anthony, RV, 20-4, 4:23; 114–Dipaola, FH, dec. Sholly, H, 6-5; Edwards, WB, dec. E. Lisowski, PV, 10-3; 121–Dinges, PV, tech fall Mowery, C, 19-2, 1:17; K. Bassett, BM, tech fall Hummel, PO, 15-0, 2:47; 127–Myers, PV, pinned Moss, FH, 4:34; Dluhos, WH, dec. J. Morris, C, 15-9; 133–Guenot, BEA, pinned Kostick, R, 3:39; Carfley, BM, dec. Carlile, PV, 4-3; 139–Niebauer, CC, dec. Phillips, MC, 8-4; McMullen, BM, tech fall Watson, PV, 15-0, 3:50; 145–B. Bassett, BM, tech fall Gable, PO, 19-4, 1:17; Judice, BEA, dec. Garshnick, U, 6-5

152–Lomison, BEA, maj. dec. Mykut, H, 11-3; Butler, BM, tech fall Smith, J, 22-4, 4:40; 160–Miller, BM, tech fall Mack, PC, 23-8, 1:42; McKim, H, pinned VanAllman, T, 2:31; 172–B. Lisowski, PV, dec. Reifer, MV, 4-1 OT; Gunby, BM, maj. dec. Clark, H, 14-3; 189–Scott, T, tech fall Peruso, H, 15-0, 1:09; Pensiero, BM, dec. Mahla, R, 7-3; 215–Erdman, H, pinned Ryan, MU, 5:31; Gordon, BM, pinned McConville, U, 4:30; 285–Rodriguez, BM, pinned Gardner, BEA, 3:16; Williams, G, pinned Miller, C, 5:00.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

107–Matthews, C, pinned Cotchen, BM, 5:48; 114–Edwards, WB, dec. Dipaola, FH, 7-1; 121–K. Bassett, BM, maj. dec. Dinges, PV, 14-3; 127–Myers, PV, tech fall Dluhos, WH, 16-1, 6:00; 133–Carfley, BM, dec. Guenot, BEA, 4-3; 139–McMullen, BM, maj. dec. Niebauer, CC, 18-5; 145–B. Bassett, BM, tech fall Judice, BEA, 19-4, 2:00

152–Lomison, BEA, dec. Butler, BM, 5-2 OT; 160–Miller, BM, tech fall McKim, H, 21-6, 1:59; 172–Gunby, BM, pinned B. Lisowski, PV, 3:39; 189–Scott, T, won by injury default over Pensiero, BM; 215–Erdman, H, dec. Gordon, BM, 8-7; 285–Rodriguez, BM, dec. Williams, G, 4-0.

Outstanding Wrestler: Dawson Lomison, Bald Eagle Area

THIRD PLACE

107–Anthony, RV, dec. Koptchak, PO, 4-2; 114–E. Lisowski, PV, dec. Sholly, , 2-0; 121–Hummel, PO, maj. dec. Mowery, C, 16-6; 127–Moss, FH, pinned J. Morris, C, 2:31; 133–Carlile, PV, dec. Kostick, R, 4-0; 139–Watson, PV, dec. Phillips, MC, 7-1; 145–Garshnick, U, maj. dec. Gable, PO, 15-4

152–Smith, J, dec. Mykut, H, 5-3; 160–Mack, PC, tech fall Sample, WB, 16-0, 4:38; 172–McClain-Hartman, MU, dec. Flickinger, RV, 7-2; 189–Mahla, R, dec. Peruso, H, 4-1 TB; 215–Ryan, MU, pinned McConville, U, 1:50; 285–Miller, C, dec. Gardner, BEA, 1-0.

FIFTH PLACE

107–Walk, T, pinned Anslinger, CC, 1:36; 114–Dugan, PO, pinned T. Corey, BEA, 2:44; 121–Beatty, MU, maj. dec. Munyon, PC, 10-0; 127–Purcell, BEA, dec. Britt, BM, 9-6 OT; 133–Tinsman, MC, dec. Strittmatter, CC, 8-2; 139–Mihalko, MV, pinned Soler, CK, 2:20; 145–Gilbey, G, dec. Horn, C, 5-4

152–Fetterolf, PV, dec. Hess, MU, 3-2; 160–VanAllman, T, maj. dec. Riffer, U, 17-3; 172–Reifer, MV, dec. Clark, H, 2-1 TB; 189–Hajzus, CC, dec. Chapman, PO, 4-1 OT; 215–Martin, PV, dec. Ward, WH, 4-2; 285–Bonnell, J, pinned Wano, RV, 2:48.

SEVENTH PLACE

107–Plusquellec, MV, dec. Panebianco, WB, 7-1; 114–Keith, MV, dec. Guyer, BA, 7-0; 121–L. Corey, BEA, dec. Cook, MV, 3-0; 127–Quarello, CK, dec. Long, PO, 10-3; 133–Foster, PO, maj. dec. Evans, TCA, 13-5; 139–Guenot, PO, dec. Taylor, H, 8-6; 145–Fahnestock, J, dec. Johnson, FH, 4-3

152–Cromwell, SH, pinned Kaufman, G, 1:37; 160–Filipovich, MC, pinned Focht, BA, 4:23; 172–Myers, WH, pinned Troyer, J, :55; 189–Rimmey, PV, pinned Krause, MV, 2:29; 215–Horning, PC, maj. dec. Suhoney, T, 9-1; 285–Knox, MC, dec. McCoy, WH, 2-1 TB.