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The Resilite mats have been rolled out and while the universities have been competing for a couple weeks, the high school season will get underway this weekend.
One of the top ranked wrestlers in the nation -- Lock Haven's Anthony Noto -- was selected for the all-star meet held at Rec Hall last week. Noto was down 3-2 late in the bout and took a reckless shot and got caught by Matt Ramos of Purdue for a late flurry of points. Ramos was runner-up in NCAA Division I last year. He is most noted for the wrestler who knocked off Spencer Lee in the semis.
Central Mountain and Jersey Shore will join 23 other teams at Williamsport for the annual Tom Best Memorial Top Hat tournament. Saucon Valley is the defending champion, having outscored Montoursville by three points. Central Mountain, without the services of eventual state champ Luke Simcox, was fifth.
Jersey Shore was 17th and did not have Hadyn Packer, who had just finished a strong football season for the Bulldogs.
Returning champions with last year's weight class listed. include Gage Swank, Muncy (114); Brock Weiss, Jersey Shore (127); Dalton Perry, Central Mountain (139); Griffin Walizer, Central Mountain (145); Tucker Hogan, Daniel Boone (189); and Austin Johnson, Muncy (215). Hogan and Johnson were state champions. Luke Simcox was also a state champ.
Returning runners-up are Nico Kapusta, Hempfield Area (107); Brady Collins, Clearfield (145); Carter Davis, Central York (152); and Ayden Wysocki, South Western (285).
Look for Central Mountain (if they have their full lineup) to be among the favorites to win the team title. Clearfield will be in the hunt as will Central York, Muncy, Northampton, Tri-Valley and Easton.
As stated joining the rugged opening tournament this year will be perennial District 11 power Easton, as well as District 4's solid Southern Columbia and independent school member Phelps School, located in Malvern.
Southern Columbia will be missing some starters as their football team is still in the playoff series. Jim Roth's Tigers downed a strong Bald Eagle Area team last Friday, 18-8. Montoursville and Hughesville will not compete in the event this year.
Then, without a lot of rest, Central Mountain will host Jersey Shore on Dec. 5.
Sugar Valley will open the season on Dec. 5 by traveling to Williamson. Jason Bilbay returns for his third year as coach.
Bellefonte, according to athletic director Deb Moore, will open next Saturday at the Wyalusing Tournament. Bald Eagle Area will also open the second week at the Dry Teach Duals. The field includes Chartiers Valley, Greenville and Meadville.
The girls' season for locals will see their first action at the Queen of the Mountain on Sunday, Dec. 17. The King of the Mountain will be Dec. 15-16 at Central Mountain -- more on these later.
BEA grad Cooper Gilham got off to a quick start going 3-0 for Lycoming at the Waynesburg Duals. And speaking of BEA, congratulations to my former teammate and good friend Dick Rhoades who was inducted into the West Branch Sports Hall of Fame. Rhoades is known nationally for his coaching success.
Former Wildcat Dakota McDermott is starting at 197 for St. Vincent's newly-revived wrestling program. Also coming to Rec Hall with his Hofstra teammate will be Nik Miller, also a 197-pounder. Hofstra visits the Nittany Lions on Sunday, Dec. 10. Dennis Papadatos is his tenth season as the Hofstra coach.
Former resident and Lock Haven High School wrestler Steve Toboz will be part of the Class of 2024 as he will enter the PA Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this spring. He will received the coveted Medal of Courage.
My 2023-2024 PA Wrestling Handbook has been doing well. It contains 392 pages of mostly high school information, including almost every returning wrestler with last year's weight class, win-loss records and any places for the PIAA series. The book also lists every name of a wrestler who placed in states since 1938.
A Christmas gift for your favorite wrestling fan?
The Central PA Wrestling Coaches Breakfast held twice a year at the Flemington First Church of Christ was another success as former coaches, wrestler, media and dedicated fans came from far and wide -- nearly 200 of them. Former NCAA champ for Wisconsin Dr. Jeff Walter was the main speaker.
Dave Murray (former Jersey Shore and LHU grappler) also spoke on his pet project Clarity Prep. College coaches Cael Sanderson, Scott Moore, Pankil Chander, Marcus Gordon and Dom Nania attended. Jeff Byers, the voice of Penn State wrestling, served as the master of ceremonies.