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The Tom Best Memorial Top Hat tournament was a moment in the making for Central Mountain's Dalton Perry.
Perry -- the top-ranked incoming freshman -- braced himself for the environment. In the pit of the Williamsport gym, Perry had a first-round bye at 126 pounds and defeated Hughesville's Conor Knight in a fall at the 3:41 mark to advance to the second day of the tournament.
"I looked forward to it for a long time, to wrestle on the Central Mountain team with all my buddies. It's been a few years," Perry said. "But the crowd and everything, I try to block it out in my matches so they don't mess with how I compete."
Perry wasn't the only notable freshman making his debut in a Wildcats singlet. Jacob Weaver, ranked No. 29 among incoming freshmen by PA Power Wrestling, also had his first taste of varsity action.
"For me, it's really big. I haven't wrestled varsity at all," Weaver said. "A lot of good competition for me to get better and I hope I do."
Weaver also advanced via a fall against Hughesville's Luke Stutzman but fell to Jersey Shore's Gabe Andrus in a 4-3 decision at 160. Weaver will continue his tournament bid in the consolation bracket after making it out of the second round.
When asked about what helped him make a resurgence to continue wrestling at the Top Hat, Weaver credited Central Mountain coach Biff Walizer's presence at the mat.
"Having my coach in my corner, telling me my moves, taking shots and keep pushing the pace," Weaver said.
Clayton Foster (113), Taylor Weaver (132), Luke Simcox (138), Gino Serafini (145), Griffin Walizer (152), Rocco Serafini (172), Micah Walizer (215) and Brayden Blackwell (285), along with Perry, all advanced to the championship quarterfinals and gave the Wildcats the lead in the standings with 59.5 points.
After two bye rounds, Simcox -- who took fifth in states last year at 126 -- won via a fall at 2:35 over Conestoga Valley's Payton Peace. Griffin Walizer mirrored that path through the tournament against Kohen Shingara.
Conestoga Valley trails at 52 points, and Saucon Valley in third at 47.5. Montoursville sits in sixth place with 43.5, and Williamsport is right behind the Warriors at 42.5. Muncy (35.5) and Hughesville (35) are at ninth and 10th place respectively, with Jersey Shore in 14th place with 14 points.
With a solid lead after the first day, Central Mountain looks to remain consistent and finish strong.
"I think we just have to keep having fun competing with everybody and not worry about who we're wrestling," Perry said. "Just keep our pace."
TOM BEST MEMORIAL TOP HAT TOURNAMENT
Team Standings: 1, Central Mountain, 59.5; 2, Conestoga Valley, 52; 3, Saucon Valley, 47.5; 4, Clearfield Area, 47; 5, Northampton, 46.5; 6, Montoursville, 43.5; 7, Williamsport, 42.5; 8, Central Dauphin East, 39; 9, Muncy, 35.5; 10, Hughesville, 35; 11, Hazleton, 32.5; 12, Central York, 27; 13, Cocalico, 27; 14, Jersey Shore, 27; 15, South Western, 27; 16, Titusville, 25; 17, Tri-Valley, 23; 18, Daniel Boone, 22; 19, Mifflinburg, 22; 20, Line Mountain, 18; 21, Halifax, 17; 22, Schuylkill Valley, 16.5; 23, East Stroudsburg, 14; 24, Palisades, 4.
Team key: Titusville, T; Halifax, H; Central Dauphin East, CDE; Central York, CY; Cocalico, Co; Conestoga Valley, CV; Williamsport, W; Hughesville, Hu; Jersey Shore, JS; Montoursville, Mo; Muncy, Mu; Line Mountain, LM; Tri-Valley, TV; Saucon Valley, Sa; Northampton, N; Hazleton, Ha; East Stroudsburg North, ESN; Palisades, P; Daniel Boone, DB; Schuylkill Valley, SV; Central Mountain, CM; South Western, SW; Clearfield, Cl.
CHAMPIONSHIP PIGTAILS
120: Giacomo Tropeano, N, Fall 3:04 over Grayson Bullock, Hu; Bryce Bowman, CV, Fall 0:45 over Eduardo Nobre, ESN; David Kennedy, Mo, Fall 0:52 over Kameron Carcia, Co.
126: Lucas Bodnar, Ha, Fall 2:22 over Adam Rougeux, Cl; Conor Knight, Hu, Fall 3:01 over Niy Niy Soe, CDE; Paxton Derr, My, Fall 1:10 over Noah Rivera-Aquin, CV.
132: Braylen Corter, CM, TF-1.5 5:07 (20-2) over Marissa Rumsey, W; Kadin Fetterman, Hu, Fall 1:49 over Camron Hinton, CY; Devlin Chevere, N, Fall 1:48 over Asher Fogelman, SV; Jake Ward, SW, Fall 5:30 over Dylan Starr, Mo.
138: Payton Peace, CV, Fall 5:34 over Jared Wolk, Ha; Landon Eberly, Co, Fall 1:17 over Brett Marchiano, DB; Mason Basara, N, Fall 1:09 over Carson Yourey, TV; Gavin Reed, W, MD 10-2 over Ian Borrell, SW; Aiden Micheli, N, Fall 2:45 over Owen Kleinman, Mo.
145: Jared Porter, CDE, Fall 3:16 over Lane Frankenfield, P; Devin Youngcourt, Ha, Fall 5:22 over Santino White, W; Max Bingaman, LM, Fall 2:44 over Jalen Frederick, Co; Carter Davis, CY, Fall 2:35 over Robert Bibeau, ESN; Luke Freeland, Cl, Fall 1:18 over Mason Beckowski, SV; Zane Cooper, CM, Fall 2:58 over Chase Stephen, TV; Hunter Miller, Mo, Dec 4-1 over Ryan Poore, DB.
152: Mason Titus, T, Fall 1:17 over Stanley Jimson Jr., Ha; Ryan Wolfgram, CY, Fall 1:20 over Jayden Fryberger, CV; Wyatt Gavit, Hu, Fall 2:50 over Leoridas Zaharakis, SV; Pat Knepp, Cl, Fall 1:40 over Nate Armstrong, P; Kohen Shingara, LM, Dec 9-4 over Nathanie Mitchell, CY.
160: Luke Dewees, SW, Dec 5-1 over Christop Albertson, Ha; Khyre Inman, DB, Fall 5:35 over Wyatt Reorda, Cl; Macoy Kneisley, CV, Fall 1:03 over Nate Lundy, W; Alaa Aly, CDE, Fall 3:05 over Alex Armstrong, P; Jacob Weaver, CM, Fall 3:17 over Luke Stutzman, Hu; Tristan Probst, CM, Fall 0:32 over Jett Witte, CY.
172: Harrison Rhoades, H, Fall 3:21 over Ryan Dunlap, W; David Rhein, SV, Fall 3:16 over Melvin Stoltzfoos, CV; Lucas Porter, CM, Dec 9-3 over Joe Sprenkle, SW; Brayden Paul, CDE, Fall 1:11 over James Nace, CY; Jonas Aponick, H, Fall 2:42 over Kevin Malone, ESN; Isaac Shaffer, LM, Fall 2:56 over Robbie Sterner, SW; Nathanie Kirchner, CV, Fall 1:40 over Phil Kanski, JS;
189: Ethan Wanner, Mo, Fall 0:45 over Jason Eckert, CY; Chase Snyder, Hu, Fall 3:16 over Jamie Harris, DB; Carter Enders, H, Fall 1:13 over Jacob Cooley, Mu; Robby Swift, CV, Fall 0:26 over Jake Pogash, DB; Kaleb Brunst, T, Fall 4:49 over Nate Fisher, Mo; Owen Reed, SW, Fall 3:39 over Peter Brady, Co; Landon Roland, N, Fall 1:40 over Carl Gonzalez, CDE;
220: Zander Rider, CV, Fall 1:00 over Rafael Torres, ESN; Peter Youngcourt, Ha, Fall 3:29 over Kaelex Shuck, Mo; Robert Anderson, Ha, MD 13-0 over Shawakha Hader, CDE; Trent Schickel, CV, Fall 1:39 over Lance Gribbin, SV; Giovanni Tarantella, CM, Fall 2:28 over Brody Wright, CY.
285: Matthew McCauley, Mu, Fall 1:33 over Christia Davila, SV; Ian Schully, CY, Fall 3:44 over Brycen Delker, W; Mohamed Aly, CDE, Fall 1:29 over Ashton Intallura, CM; Eric Myers, Cl, Fall 4:29 over Hunter Corley, Co.
CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND
106: Ryan Aguirre, Mo, Fall 2:21 over Gabe Sieber, CDE; Kody Ziefenfuss, N, Dec 5-0 over Harris Keares, CY.
113: Clayton Foster, CM, Dec 7-0 over Josh Hill, Mu; Brady Struble, Mo, Fall 0:33 over Pawan Kadaraiya, CDE.
120: Branden Wentzel, Mo, TF-1.5 4:28 (18-3) over Giacomo Tropeano, N; Michael Sandacz, CY, Fall 4:16 over Aiden Moyer, SV; Luke Segraves, W, MD 12-0 over Brian Williams, SW; Nolan Baumert, LM, Dec 7-1 over Jackson Albert, SV; Brock Weiss, JS, Fall 0:23 over Bryce Bowman, CV; AJ Dew, N, MD 18-7 over Timothy Porter, Co; Luke Morley, CV, Fall 5:09 over John Haubert, P; David Kennedy, Mo, Fall 4:49 over Derek Keen, CM.
126: Aidan KritzeR, LM, Fall 1:30 over Lucas Bodnar, H; Trenton Rodgers, T, Fall 3:03 over Hector Mateo, SV; Devin Harris, W, Dec 11-5 over Luke Ananea, CM; Gavin Richard, DB, TF-1.5 4:00 (17-1) over Dominic Warfield, SW; Dalton Perry, CM, Fall 3:41 over Conor Knight, Hu; Cole Johnson, Mo, MD 14-5 over Drew Hanlon, TV; Austin Noe, N, Fall 0:19 over Anthony Foscone, SV; Elias Long, CY, Fall 2:47 over Paxton Derr, Mu.
132: Scott Johnson, Mu, TF-1.5 4:12 (22-7) over Braylen Corter, CM; Ian Vitalo, SV, TF-1.5 4:36 (16-0) over Hunter Troutman, TV; Wyatt Hale, SW, Dec 7-4 over Alex Randell, W; Brady Collins, Cl, Fall 2:47 over Kadin Fetterman, Hu; Connor Nicholas, SV, SV-1 9-4 over Devlin Chevere, N; Keagan Smith, Hu, Dec 2-1 over Edonel Rodriguez, H; Blaize Vogel, Mo, Fall 3:13 over Rey Ortiz, CV; Taylor Weaver, Fall 0:34 over Jake Ward, SW.
138: Luke Simcox, CM, Fall 2:35 over Payton Peace, CV; Nolan Brown, DB, Dec 9-6 over Hayden Warner, T; Travis Riefenstahl, SV, Fall 1:01 over Landon Eberly, Co; Caiden Puderbach, Hu, Fall 2:50 over Mason Basara, N; Nolan Barr, Cl, Fall 0:31 over Gavin Reed, W; Peter Ranck, H, Fall 3:47 over Alex Maiorana, Mu; Thaddeus Krebs, CDE, Fall 0:44 over Brody Long, LM; Braden Bower, W, Fall 0:00 over Aiden Micheli, N.
145: Riley Bower, W, TF-1.5 4:00 (18-2) over Jared Porter, CDE; Morgan Gavitt, Hu, Fall 5:50 over Nate Stearns, T; Gino Serafini, CM, Fall 3:00 over Max Bingaman, LM; Keaton Fischer, CV, Dec 5-3 over Carter Davis, CY; Christia Fritz, N, MD 11-3 over Luke Freeland, Cl; Cael Markle, SV, Fall 0:45 over Zane Cooper, CM; Liam Goodrich, JS, MD 16-3 over Devin Youngcourt, H; Mason Leshock, LM, MD 15-4 over Hunter Miller, Mo.
152: Carter Weaver, W, Fall 1:15 over Mason Titus, T; Will Domico, Cl, Dec 2-1 over Evan Raposo, ESN; Mason Boltz, TV, Dec 12-9 over Ryan Wolfgram, CY; Marcel McDaniels, CDE, Fall 0:48 over Wyatt Gavitt, Hu; Chris Arcioulo, SV, TF-1.5 2:57 (15-0) over Pat Knepp, Cl; Luke Needham, CV, Dec 6-2 over Gavin Leitzel, SW; Toby Haldeman, Co, Dec 11-9 over Jaxon Covell, T; Griffin Walizer, CM, Fall 1:34 over Kohen Shingara, LM.
160: Dagen Condomitti, N, Fall 1:53 over Luke Dewees, SW; Liam Scrivanich, SV, MD 15-5 over Kayden Frame, Mo; Jonathan Rathman, Co, Fall 2:17 over Khyre Inman, DB; Ty Nixon, Mu, Fall 1:19 over Macoy Kneisley, CV; Troy Bingaman, Mo, Fall 1:58 over Alaa Aly, CDE; Gabe Andrus, JS, Dec 4-3 over Jacob Weaver, CM; Karson Kline, Cl, SV-1 3-1 over Tristan Probst, CM; Roman Morrone, W, Fall 0:48 over Ashton Burleigh, T.
172: Jake Jones, SV, Fall 0:26 over Harrison Rhoades, H; Brock Covell, T, Fall 0:26 over David Rhein, SV; Tyler Bauder, JS, Fall 0:52 over Lucas Porter, CM; Mark McGonigal, Cl, Fall 1:16 over Brayden Paul, CDE; Tucker Hogan, DB, TF-1.5 2:56 (16-0) over Jonas Aponick, H; Rocco Serafini, CM, TF-1.5 4:38 (22-4) over Isaac Shaffer, LM; Daniel Haubert, P, Dec 8-4 over Nathanie Kirchner, CV; Isaac Corry, Mo, Fall 0:36 over Levi Bearinger, Co.
189: Hadyn Packer, JS, Fall 0:59 over Ethan Wanner, Mo; Sebastia Robinson, W, Dec 8-2 over Damien Galentine, CM; Jacob Scheib, TV, Fall 1:45 over Chase Snyder, Hu; Wayne McIntyre, ESN, Fall 1:26 over Carter Enders, H; Ty Csencsits, SV, Fall 0:00 over Robby Swift, CV; Carter Chamberlain, Cl, Fall 1:59 over Kaleb Brunst, T; Turk Baum, Co, Dec 14-7 over Owen Reed, SW; Bryce Molinaro, H, TF-1.5 2:36 (16-1) over Landon Roland, N.
215: Jacob Humphrey, Co, Fall 3:13 over Zander Rider, CV; Micah Walizer, CM, Dec 5-0 over Agustin Alvarez, H; Austin Johnson, Mu, Fall 0:19 over Peter Youngcourt, H; Robert Utz, SW, Fall 0:21 over Robert Anderson, H; Hayden Kovalick, Cl, Fall 1:46 over Trent Schickel, CV; Braxton Schwartz, TV, Dec 3-1 over Bryce Burkhart, Hu; Ty Pfizenmayer, SV, Fall 2:58 over Cole Yonkin, Mo; Travis Armstrong, CDE, Fall 1:03 over Giovanni Tarantella, CM.
285: Emmanuel Ulrich, Mo, Fall 2:35 over Matthew McCauley, Mu; Brayden Egerter, CV, Fall 1:08 over William Eckert, H; Ayden Wysocki, SW, Fall 0:36 over Diego Moran, ESN; Lodge Nosko, T, Fall 0:29 over Ian Schully, CY; Ethan Miller, CY, Fall 3:19 over Mohamed Aly, CDE; Justis Troutman, TV, Fall 0:49 over Juan Fabian, H; Brayden Blackwell, CM, Fall 1:14 over Austin Gray, Hu; Charles Crews, W, Fall 1:16 over Eric Myers, Cl.
CONSOLATION SECOND ROUND
120: Keen, CM, Fall 0:25 over Bullock, Hu; Albert, SV Fall 1:55 over Nobre, ESN; Tropeano, N, Fall 1:51 over Carcia, Co.
126: Derr, Mu, Fall 1:36 over Rougeux, Cl; Pierce, SW, Dec 5-1 over Hanlon, TV; Knight, Hu, Fall 1:36 over Fritz, Co; Warfield, SW, Dec 6-2 over Soe, CDE; Bodnar, H, Fall 2:14 over Rivera-Aqu, CV.
132: Rumsey, W, Fall 1:35 over Ward, SW; Chevere, N, Fall 1:40 over Hinton, CY; Fetterman, Hu, Fall 2:06 over Fogelman, SV; Corter, CM, Fall 3:00 over Starr, Mo.
138: Micheli, N, TF-1.5 3:37 (16-1) over Wolk, H; Marchiano, DB, Fall 1:13 over Maiorana, Mu; Reed, W, Dec 4-0 over Yourey, TV; Basara, N, Fall 1:30 over Borrell, SW; Peace, CV, Fall 2:31 over Kleinman, Mo.
145: Miller, Mo, Fall 2:25 over Frankenfie, P; Freeland, Cl, Dec 5-3 over White, W; Davis, CY, Dec 8-1 over Frederick, Co; Bibeau, ESN, Fall 2:24 over Bingaman, LM; Beckowski, SV, Dec 12-5 over Youngcourt, H; Stephen, TV, MD 19-8 over Stearns, T; Porter, CDE, Dec 9-3 over Poore, DB.
152: Shingara, LM, Dec 8-1 over Jimson Jr., H; Leitzel, SW, Fall 0:19 over Fryberger, CV; Knepp, CA, Fall 1:33 over Zaharakis, SV; Gavitt, Hu, Fall 0:59 over Armstrong, P; Titus, T, Fall 1:46 over Mitchell, CY.
160: Albertson, H, Fall 4:15 over Burleigh, T; Weaver, CM, Fall 4:04 over Reorda, Cl; Aly, CDE, Dec 8-3 over Lundy, W; Kneisley, CV, Fall 3:30 over Armstrong, P; Inman, DB, Fall 2:58 over Stutzman, Hu; Frame, Mo, Fall 2:06 over Witte, CY.
172: Bearinger, Co, Fall 2:27 over Dunlap, W; Kirchner, CV, Fall 4:55 over Stoltzfoos, CV; Sterner, SW Dec 3-2 over Sprenkle, SW; Aponick, H, MD 15-2 over Nace, CY; Malone, ESN, Fall 0:39; Porter, CM, Fall 2:01 over Shaffer, LM; Rhein, SV, Fall 2:00 over Kanski, JS;
189: Roland, N, Fall 0:24 over Eckert, CY; Brunst, T, Fall 1:56 over Harris, DB; Cooley, Mu, Fall 0:59 over Swift, CV; Enders, H, Fall 0:53 over Pogash, DB; Snyder, H, Dec 5-0 over Fisher, Mo; Galentine, CM, Fall 0:26 over Brady, Co; Wanner, Mo, Fall 2:00 over Gonzalez, CDE.
215: Tarantella, CM, Fall 0:49 over Torres, ESN; Shuck, Mo, Fall 2:48 over Burkhart, Hu; Schickel, CV, Dec 4-0 over Hader, CDE; Anderson, H, Fall 3:25 over Gribbin, SV; Rider, CV, Fall 0:41 over Wright, CY.
285: Davila, SV, Fall 4:15 over Myers, Cl; Aly, CDE, Fall 2:04 over Delker, W; Schully, CY, Fall 4:00 over Intallura, CM; McCauley, Mu, Fall 1:24 over Corley, Co.