RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's wrestles Central Mountain's at 121 during the semifinal rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

In a dual match against Shikellamy a month ago, Central Mountain wrestler Collin Bauman suffered an injury that terrified himself, his team and spectators on both sides of the gym.

An adjustment to work his way out of a cradle coupled with the chokehold of his opponent, Braylon Chestnut, led to his jugular cord being pinched, which resulted in the senior losing consciousness. Spectators were left to watch and wonder about the extent of the injury as a long delay commenced, before Bauman ultimately left via ambulance.

“There was nothing I could do,” said Bauman when recalling the injury. “I blacked out for the entire last period. And after the match, he dropped me on the mat and that’s when I got my concussion.”

Once it was determined he was okay, the concerns became how long it’d be until he could take the mat again and the patience that came with getting him there at 100 percent.

Early indications painted a picture of another lost season. Bauman had previously missed most of his sophomore campaign with a broken collarbone, competing in just eight matches throughout the season. And in this case, it was his senior season at stake, his last chance to take a large step forward.

But fortunately, with the help of athletic trainer Lindsey Dry and his focus shifting solely to his recovery, it wouldn’t be long before Bauman took the mat for the Wildcats again. Just one month after the incident, he was back in the team’s starting rotation for a Thursday dual against Selinsgrove, helping Central Mountain improve to 7-0.

“Definitely just taking the precautions and not doing any physical activity for 2-3 weeks and letting my mind and brain heal to where they were,” said Bauman on the keys to his recovery. “And Lindsey, our athletic trainer, does an amazing job with that kind of stuff.”

Although he’d battle a cold through the week and weekend, the senior was back to 100 percent and showed it with a 14-3 major decision against the Seals and third place showing at PHACs on Saturday. Just being back was surreal, but the success on top of it made it all-the-more memorable.

“It means a lot,” said Bauman after earning a PHAC bronze medal on Saturday. “This is the sport I love doing the most, and I’m just glad to be back. That was probably one of the scariest injuries I’ve ever had, and I just don’t want to miss my senior year.”

At PHACs, Bauman went into his 121-pound bracket as the No. 6 seed and quickly proved that seeding invalid. He’d post a pin and tech fall to make it to championship semifinals, with the tech fall coming against No. 3 seed Liam Gray of Southern Columbia.

Even after suffering a tough loss there at the hands of Jersey Shore’s Gabe Fisher, the Wildcat remained composed and fought his way to the consolation final. There, he’d run into Gray again. And in the runback, he was even more dominant, racking up seven points through the first period before carrying a second-period takedown into an early pin.

“I’ve always been a second-half wrestler,” said Bauman, referring to the second half of the season. “First half’s not my thing but after Christmas, I just turn into a different person.”

“I think my biggest positive was definitely on my feet. I got the first takedown in almost all of my matches,” he added when discussing his positives from the tournament.

That success carried into Tuesday’s dual against Bald Eagle Area, which saw him take part in the team’s four-bout barrage of first-period pins to start. He’s now at 8-6 on the season, and continues to prove himself reliable in duals at 121.

“It’s been great (having him back),” said Central Mountain head coach Biff Walizer when discussing the senior on Tuesday. “I can see he’s fully back, and he went out and got after it tonight and got a quick pin.”

“I like where he’s at right now. Dropped to 121, and he seems ot be doing very well,” he added.

As it stands, his biggest focus moving forward is getting his conditioning back to where it was at the start of the season.

Once that happens, the two-time regional qualifier is hoping to punch his ticket to Hershey for the first time, as he looks to close out his high school career on a high note.

“That’s the one I’ve always wanted to accomplish,” said Bauman when discussing his goals for the rest of the campaign. “Other than that, just win every match and take it one match at a time.”