However, that drought would officially come to an end at Saturday’s PHAC Wrestling Championships. Through three matches against solid league opponents, the Wildcat surrendered just three escapes, putting together one of the most composed tourneys of his career en route to a conference gold.

“It’s exciting, definitely boosts my confidence to finally win and not have to go home with a loss or thinking about stuff I did wrong and right,” said Heverly on the accomplishment. “Obviously, there’s still stuff to work on, stuff I did wrong in matches, but it’s a relief of stress.”

His breakthrough was one of many highlights in Central Mountain’s debut appearance at the event.

After missing its inaugural rendition in 2024, the Wildcats left their mark in its second. Aiden Kunes (145) joined Heverly at the top of the podium, Todd Caris (215) and Patrick Tarantella (133) made their respective championship finals and nine other Central Mountain wrestlers earned PHAC medals, culminating in 229.5 team points as the team edged out Mifflinburg for first.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Patrick Tarantella wrestles Mifflinburg's Bradley Wagner at 133 during the final rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

“I feel like as a team, we’ve gotten way better throughout the year,” said Kunes on the team.

“Their technique is getting way better, mentals are getting way better, the nerves are calming down a bit. We were neck-and-neck with Mifflinburg for a while and came up huge in these placing rounds, and that’s what makes the difference.”

Despite a fresh move up to 127, Heverly didn’t show signs of rust or need of adjustment. He used a more defensive approach than most fans are probably used to and used it well, remaining calm even as his last two bouts came down to the wire.

In both his semifinal match against three-time district champ Collin Nasdeo (Williamsport) and championship bout against Mifflinburg’s Jack Gramly, Heverly held less than a takedown lead down the stretch. But rather than get flustered, the junior stayed patient, forcing his opponents to overextend and ending both bouts with a match-sealing takedown.

“I like to think my defense is just as good as my offense, so I like to use it to my skill level to beat my opponents,” said Heverly.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Williamsport's Collin Nasdeo wrestles Central Mountain's Gavin Heverly at 127 during the semifinal rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

“I usually have a mental problem with staying in close matches, but I’ve been working on that. My practice partners, Patrick (Tarantella) and Hayes (Donley), they push me to get better, so I know how to mentally prepare myself.”

Joining Heverly at the top of the podium was Aiden Kunes, who picked up where he left off at his last tournament en route to his third gold of the season.

Through his three matches, including a final against state-ranked Ivan Baker (Loyalsock), the Air Force commit never saw the third period, posting a first-period pin and two decisive tech falls to round out his day. He’s now 22-1 on the season and currently ranks No. 2 in the state at Class AAA, with his lone loss coming against No. 1 Kai Vielma (Connellsville).

“Coach Krause is always pushing me,” said Kunes when discussing the keys to his success this season.

“If I get a takedown in practice, he’s making me get another back-to-back-to-back, and I feel like that helps with the dominance out on the mat in a real live match. If you do it in practice, you’re going to do it in the match.”

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Loyalsock's Ivan Baker wrestles Central Mountain's Aiden Kunes at 145 during the final rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

Though he fell short of gold, enduring a tough loss to two-time state medalist Bradley Wagner in the 133 final, Tarantella also put together a strong run of his own. In a bracket that featured five state-ranked wrestlers, the junior left his mark, defeating one of its top guys in the process.

Against No. 2 seed Teli Bobotas, a three-time state qualifier ranked No. 10 in the state, Tarantella made the most of an opposing overextension deep in the second, working it into a takedown and converting it into a six-point move. That turned the tide, as Tarantella went on to rack up two more takedowns and ten more points on his way to a 16-3 major decision.

“I kind of just fell into it. I got into a little scramble, locked something up tight and got him to his back,” said Tarantella on the sequence. “It was a tough match, coming in as a lower seed, but I ended up getting the max out on top. It just shows that I’ve been progressing this year.”

Caris saw similar success, posting three first-period pins on his way to the 215 final and closing his PHAC stint out with a silver medal. Collin Bauman (121), Hayes Donley (139), Dalton McDermott (160) and Hunter Donley (189) reached their respective third-place bouts, with Bauman and McDermott coming out victorious – Bauman in his return from injury.

Freshman Angelo Tarantella (114) capped his PHAC run on a high note, posting a pin in his fifth-place bout to give his team a late boost. Luke Garman placed fifth at 152, Hunter Nace (107) and Mario Serafini (172) took sixth and Hayes Henry (285) finished in seventh, rounding out 13 medalists for the Wildcats.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Loyalsock's Ivan Baker wrestles Central Mountain's Aiden Kunes at 145 during the final rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

Apart from Central Mountain, Jersey Shore also saw success at the event, placing five wrestlers as the team placed tenth out of 17 with 73.5 team points.

Freshman Gabe Fisher led the way for the Bulldogs, claiming PHAC silver at 121 behind an onslaught of decisive tech falls. Louden Spotts (152) and Tobias Morgret (160) reached their respective third-place bouts, with Spotts earning bronze behind a tense, 4-3 win over Mifflinburg’s Lane Kenamond.

Jon Dincher finished strong at 172, winning three straight matches to finish in fifth. And Riley Kanski rounded out the team’s placements with an eighth-place finish at 189.

“It’s great seeing kids like Gabe out here taking second as a freshman,” said Spotts when discussing the team’s success through the afternoon. “We’re always pushing each other in the room, and that’s what we come out here to do. See everybody succeed.”

Both teams return to action next week in a dual setting. On Tuesday, Central Mountain plays host to Bald Eagle Area. And on Thursday, the Bulldogs travel to face Selinsgrove on the road. Each match is set for 7 p.m.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Patrick Tarantella wrestles Mifflinburg's Bradley Wagner at 133 during the final rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

PHAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

FIRST-PLACE FINALS

107: Branden Eisenhour, Montoursville, pinned Kael Majcher, Warrior Run, 2:17. 114: Jordan Piselli, Williamsport, maj. dec. Rowen Humphrey, Southern, 14-2. 121: Griffin Walls, Mifflinburg, pinned Gabriel Fisher, Jersey Shore, 0:31. 127: Gavin Heverly, CM, dec. Jack Gramly, Mifflinburg, 7-2. 133: Bradley Wagner, Mifflinburg, tech fall Patrick Tarantella, CM, 18-3, 3:22. 139: Benjamin Straub, Mifflinburg, dec. Alex Kadryna, Selinsgrove, 5-1. 145: Aiden Kunes, CM, tech fall Ivan Baker, Loyalsock, 21-5, 2:42. 152: Landen Wagner, Lewisburg, dec. Brayden Andrews, Southern, 3-2, TB2. 160: Reagan Milheim, WR< pinned Kile Hartman, Hughesville, 1:28. 172: Gage Wentzel, Montoursville, maj. dec. Max Wirnsberger, WR, 9-1. 189: Hayden harvey, Montoursville, dec. Tyler Ulrich, WR, 6-1. 215: Landon Tucker, Mifflinburg, pinned Todd Caris, CM, 2:58. 285:Brody Rebuck, Shikellamy, dec. Jack Peters, Selinsgrove, 4-0. THIRD-PLACE FINALS 107: Colton Kratzer, SElinsgrove, pinned Ashton Hughes, Shamokin, 3:42. 114: Max Hallman, Shikellamy, dec. Coltyn Wagner, Montoursville, 5-2. 121: Collin Bauman, CM, pinned Liam Grey, Southern, 2:03. 127: Brody Bower, Montoursville, def. Collin Nasdeo, Williamsport, by forfeit. 133: Teli Bobotas, Montoursville, dec. Chase Wirnsberger, WR, 4-1. 139: Lauger Waldman, Williamsport def. Hayes Donley, CM, by forfeit. 145: Gavin Richard, Southern, dec. Westley Harvey, Hughesville, 7-2. 152: Louden Spotts, Jersey Shore, dec. Lane Kenamond, Mifflinburg, 5-3. 160: Dalton McDermott, CM, dec. Tobias Morgret, Jersey Shore, 7-2, SV. 172: Caius Morrow, Southern, pinned Oliver Patte, Mifflinburg, 3:53. 189: Christian Boetsch, Shikellamy, dec. Hunter Donley, CM, 7-2. 215: John Quinton, Southern, dec. Colton Woolever, Hughesville, 4-0. 285: Noah Johnson, WR< dec. Claton Whitenight, Central Columbia, 7-2. FIFTH-PLACE FINALS 107: Colin Roman, Mifflinburg, pinned Hunter Nace, CM, 2:03. 114: Angelo Tarantella, CM, pinned Joey Laubacher, Hughesville, 0:32. 121: Anthony Snook, Selinsgrove, tech fall Jake Hendricks, Shikellamy, 17-1, 3:13. 127: Ezeriah Tobias, Danville, maj. dec. Gavin Rebuck, Selinsgrove, 8-0. 133: Landon Michaels, Lewisburg, pinned Ethan Wodrig, Hughesville, 2:15. 139: Nolan Altoft, Lewisburg, def. Ryder Borich, Shikellamy, by forfeit. 145: Gradyn Shuck, Mifflinburg, maj. dec. Ryan Harpster, Selinsgrove, 14-4. 152: Luke Garman, CM, def. Blake Fry, Montoursville, by forfeit. 160: Ethan Long, Lewisburg, def. Wesley Smith, Mifflinburg, by forfeit. 172: Jonathan Dincher, Jersey Shore, def. Mario Serafini, CM, by forfeit.. 189: Hunter Collett, Bloomsburg, pinned Chance Swatski, Mount Carmel, 1:53. 215: Owen Hoffman, Selinsgrove, dec. Blake Parker, WR, 5-3. 285: Landon Moser, Mifflinburg, def. Braylen Smith, Southern, by forfeit. SEVENTH-PLACE FINALS 107: Kyle Curland, Central Columbia, dec. Austin Wolfe, Shikellamy, 3-2. 114: Colt Carmean, Central Columbia, tech fall Anthony Vazquez, Lewisburg, 16-0, 3:29.. 121: Jake Keller, Bloomsburg, dec. Brayden Mirarck, Mount Carmel, 9-4. 127: Cole Horrax, Central Columbia, dec. Bently Chappell, Lewisburg, 4-1. 133: Keatin Lattimore, Shikellamy, def. Carter Brown, Loyalsock by forfeit. 139: Kaden Kleinman, Montoursville, pinned Gavin Trometter, Southern, 2:34.. 145: Gavin Keefer, Shikellamy, pinned Alexadner Wright, Williamsport, 2:19. 152: Landen Puderbach, Hughesville, dec. Lukas Carpenter, Mount Carmel, 5-2. 160: Wyatt Schrader, Bloomsburg, pinned Cain Carter, Selinsgrove, 2:46. 172: Evan Jones, Mount Carmel, pinned Hunter Derk, Selinsgrove, 2:02. 189: Jaxon Felmey, Mifflinburg, dec. Riley Kanski, Jersey Shore, 7-0. 215: Mason Murray, Montoursville, pinned Noah Musselman, Central Columbia, 0:25. 285: Hayes Henry, CM, dec. Gabe Vanderwall, Montoursville, 7-`. CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS 107: Branden Eisenhour, Montoursville, pinned Colton Kratzer, Selinsgrove, 0:30; Kale Majcher, WR, tech fall Collin Roman, Mifflinburg, 20-4, 2:00. 114: Rowen Humphrey, Southern, pinned Coltyn Wagner, Montoursville, 2;43; Jordan Piselli, Williamsport, tech fall Max Hallman, Shikellamy, 20-2, 4:58. 121: Griffin Walls, Mifflinburg, dec. Anthony Snook, Selisngrove, 5-2; Gabriel Fisher, Jersey Shore, tech fall Collin Bauman, CM, 20-5, 3:23. 127: Jack Gramly, Mifflinburg, pinned Exeriah Tobias, Danville, 0:49; Gavin Heverly, CM, dec. Collin Nasdeo, Williamsport, 4-0. 133: Bradley Wagner, Mifflinburg, tech fall Chase Wirnsberger, WR, 20-4, 1:49; Patrick Tarantella, CM, maj. dec. Teli Bobotas, Montoursville, 16-3. 139: Benjamin Straub, Mifflinburg, tech fall Hayes Donley, CM, 15-0, 4:22; Alex KAdryna, Selinsgrove, maj. dec. Lauger Waldman, Williamsport, 11-2. 145: Aiden Kunes, CM, tech fall Gavin Richard, Southern, 17-1, 3:59; Ivan Baker, Loyalsock, dec. Ryan Harpster, Selinsgrove, 5-2. 152: Landen Wagner, Lewisburg, dec. Louden Spotts, Jersey Shore, 10-3; Brayden Andrews, Southern, dec. Lane Kenamond, Mifflinburg, 7-3. 160: Reagan Milheim, WR, tech fall Wesley Smith, Mifflinburg, 17-2, 1:44; Kile Hartman, Hughesville, maj. dec. Tobias MOrgret, Jersey Shore, 11-3. 172: Max Wirnsberger, WR, tech fall Oliver Patte, Mifflinburg, 17-2, 2:00; Gage Wentzel, Montoursville, pinned caius Morrow, Southern, 0:55. 189: Hayden Harvey, Montoursville, pinned Hunter Collett, Bloomsburg, 1;24; Tyler Ulrich, WR< dec. Christian Boetsch, Shikellamy, 8-4. 215: Landon Tucker, Mifflinburg, pinned Owen Hoffman, Selinsgrove, 1;22; Todd Caris, Central Mountain, pinned John Quinton, Southern, 1:25. 285: Brody Rebuck, Shikellamy, pinned Clayton Whitenight, Central Columbia, 2:45; Jack Peters, SElinsgrove, dec. Braylen Smith, Southern, 4-1 SV. CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS 107: Colton Kratzer, Selinsgrove, pinned Hunter Nace, CM, 1:48; Ashton Hughes, Shamokin, pinned Collin Roman, Mifflinburg, 3:09. 114: Coltyn Wagner, Montoursville, tech fall Joey Laubacher, Hughesville, 18-3, 1:17; Max Hallman, Shikellamy, pinned Angelo Tarantella, CM, 2:12. 121: Liam Gray, Southern, maj. dec. Anthony Snook, Selinsgrove, 9-0; Collin Bauman, CM, pinned Jake HEndricks, Shikellamy, 2:14. 127: Brody Bower, Montoursville, dec. Ezeriah Tobias, Danville, 10-3; Collin Nasdeo, Williamsprot, tech fall Gavin Rebuck, Selinsgrove, 17-2, 3:50. 133: Chase Wirnsberger, WR, dec. EThan Wodrig, Hughesville, 10-4; Teli Bobotas, Montoursville, maj. dec. Landon Michaels, Lewisburg, 13-2. 139: Hayes Donley, CM, dec. Ryder Borich,Shikellamy, 7-4; Lauger Waldman, Williamsprot, dec. Nolan Altoft, Lewisburg, 6-1. 145: Gavin Richard, Southern, pinned Gradyn Shuck, Mifflinburg, 2:31; Westley Harvey, Hughesville, dec. Ryan Harpster, Selinsgrove, 14-7. 152: Louden Spotts, Jersey Shore, def. Blake Fry, Montoursville by forfeit; Lane Kenamond, Mifflinburg, pinned Luke Garman, CM, 2:31. 160: Dalton McDermott, CM, dec. Wesley Smith, Mifflinburg, 8-4; Tobias Morgret, Jersey Shore, maj. dec. Ethan Long, Lewisburg, 8-0. 172: Oliver Patte, Mifflinburg, dec. Mario Serafini, CM, 7-4 SV; Caius Morrow, Southern, pinned JOnathan Dincher, Jersey Shore, 2:29. 189: Hunter Donley, CM, pinned Hunter Collett, Bloomsburg, 2:05; Christian Boetsch, Shikellamy, dec. Chance Swatski, Mount Carmel, 12-8. 215: Colton Woolever, Hughesville, dec. Owen Hoffman, Selinsgrove, 2-1; John Quinton, Southern, pinned Blake Parker, WR, 2:25. 285: Clayton Whitenight, Central Columbia, dec. Landon Moser, Mifflinburg, 7-3; Noah JOhnson, WR< pinned Braylen Smith, Southern, 4:51.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Todd Caris wrestles Mifflinburg's Landon Tucker at 215 during the final rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Jersey Shore's Gabriel Davis wrestles Central Mountain's Collin Bauman at 121 during the semifinal rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Jersey Shore's Gabriel Fisher wrestles Mifflinburg's Griffin Walls at 121 during the final rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Jersey Shore's Tobias Morgret wrestles Hughesville's Kile Hartman at 160 during the semifinal rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Montoursville's Teli Bobotas wrestles Central Mountain's Patrick Tarantella at 133 during the semifinal rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Central Mountain's Todd Caris wrestles Mifflinburg's Landon Tucker at 215 during the final rounds of the PHAC wrestling championships at Bloomsburg University on Saturday.