MILTON — Bellwood-Antis’ Juliette Cuevas and Northern Bedford’s Rachel Clouse qualified for this week’s PIAA girls Wrestling Championships by earning medals at the Central Regional Tournament on Saturday at Milton High School.

Clouse, a freshman, finished third at 106 pounds. Cuevas, a senior, took fourth at 100 pounds. The top four girls at every weight qualified for the state tournament.

Clouse pinned her first two opponents in 3:31 and 3:44, respectively, but she dropped a 9-6 decision to Montgomery’s eventual champion Jenna Houseknecht in the semifinals. Clouse put a scare into Houseknecht in the third period when she reversed her to back for six points.

Clouse responded with a technical fall in the consolation semifinals and a pin of Wallenpaupack’s Rosa Sanclementi in 2:36 in the third-place bout.

Cuevas went 4-2 on Saturday, opening with a fall before getting pinned by Lackawanna Trail’s Cidney Schaffer in 1:27. Cuevas responded with a 19-3 technical fall and a fall in 2:45.

She then earned a 6-3 decision to get to the third-place bout, where she dropped a 10-1 major decision to Williamsport’s Malaina Comfort.

Three local girls made the blood round. Wrestlers who win that round are assured of medals.

Northern Bedford’s District 5-6-9 champion Emily Dennis went 1-2 in the tournament. Yasmin Miller (112) went 2-2 and was in a 0-0 bout in the blood round when she was pinned in 4:21.

Penn Cambria’s Bethany Watt (136) also went 2-2 and made the blood round, but she was pinned in the consolation quarterfinals.

Hollidaysburg’s Carina Parks (130) went 1-2 and was in the blood round. She had a 6-2 lead when she was pinned in 2:30.

Northern Bedford’s Myha Dixon (118), Emilee Beach (235) and Kyanna Hall (124) also wrestled in the tournament, as did Altoona’s Lindsey Boose (235) and Penn Cambria’s Laura Farabaugh (130).

Three regional girls won titles. Chestnut Ridge sisters Juliet Alt (148) and Violette Lasure (155) repeated as champions, as did Bedford’s Mylah Steinbuch (235).

Bedford’s Aliza Brambley (106) finished second, losing to Houseknecht, 14-0, in the finals.

Athens won the team title by a half point, 100.5-100, over Montgomery.

Sipes wins PJW title

Altoona eighth-grader Colt Sipes captured the 172-pound title in the PJW Junior High State Championships on Sunday at 1st Summit Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown.

Altoona’s Colt Sipes won a PJW junior high state title on Sunday.
Courtesy photo

Sipes, a returning state runner-up, dominated in going 6-0 in the tournament, recording three falls, two technical falls and a forfeit win. Sipes, the younger brother of Luke Sipes, rang up a 19-4 technical fall over Moon’s Joshua Wasnieski in 3:10 in the finals.

Portage’s Joey Myers finished second at 82 pounds after getting pinned by Chestnut Ridge’s Grayden Paris in 3:20.

Bishop Guilfoyle student Vinnie Hite (192), who wrestles for Hollidaysburg, placed third. Penn Cambria’s Evan Becker (110) placed fifth.

Chestnut Ridge had another state champ Brennen Veverka (110) and a runner-up in Crew Musselman (96).

Claysburg-Kimmel’s Aunniika Imler (89) finished third in the girls tournament. Portage’s Ellie Myers (107) and Central Cambria’s Kaydence Sinclair (127) placed fifth.

Chestnut Ridge’s Caelan McElroy (133) was a runner-up.