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Wrestling

CC, Tigers split meet

EBENSBURG — Central Cambria and Hollidaysburg split its high school swimming meet on Wednesday as the CC boys won 105-65, while the Hollidaysburg girls came out on top, 98-72. In boys action, the Golden Tigers’ Kaden Henderson (200-yard individual medley and 100 freestyle) and Andrew Shanafelt (100 butterfly and 500 freestyle) were the only double winners. Addison Smith (200 freestyle and 500 freestyle) won twice for the Lady Tigers, while Kathleen Hodge (200 IM and 100 butterfly) was a double winner for the Lady Red Devils. BOYS CENTRAL CAMBRIA 105, HOLLIDAYSBURG 65 200 ...

Altoona’s Weaver commits to Bulls

By Todd Irwin sports@altoonamirror.com Soon Altoona’s Braiden Weaver will begin his quest for his second PIAA medal, but the Mountain Lion junior already has achieved one of his goals before the wrestling season has started. Weaver verbally committed to wrestle on full scholarship for the University at Buffalo, a Division I program that competes in the MAC. Weaver visited Buffalo over the weekend, including going to the Buffalo Bills game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and was so impressed that he decided to commit. “The coaches really stood out to me,” Weaver said. ...

Regional wrestling tournament gets reimagined

By John Hartsock jhartsock@altoonamirror.com The Altoona Area High School Fieldhouse had been the host site for the Northwest Class 3A Regional boys wrestling tournament for the past several decades. Now, that regional tournament has become a thing of the past. The PIAA Board of Control recently approved the wrestling steering committee’s proposal to make a change and eliminate the Northwest AAA Regional, moving wrestling schools from Districts 6-8-9 and 10 which had long participated in the tournament to an expanded West Regional Tournament with WPIAL schools that will be held ...

Pecora was more than just a coach

By Todd Irwin sports@altoonamirror.com Pat Pecora was a legend in college wrestling, especially in Division II, where he led the University of Pitt-Johnstown wrestling team to unmatched heights over his 48 years at the helm. Pecora, who passed away at 11:58 this past Sunday morning from ...

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 ...