The two met Tuesday to a large crowd ready to be a part of the festivities cheering on their favorite squad. This year, the scene was at the Bellefonte gym.

Fans were not disappointed as the dual meet was back-and-forth through the night before the Red Raiders’ heavyweights put it out of reach, as Bellefonte won the rivalry bout, 46-23, in Laurel Highland Conference action.

“It’s always fun to have a good environment when you wrestle Centre County teams. We were fortunate to have matches here against Penns Valley and Bald Eagle,” said Bellefonte coach Michael Maney. “Regardless of records, they are going to show up. We played as a team. The lightweights got us going there and built us a lead.”

Starting at 107, Bellefonte’s Colin Harter was able to come out and pick up a first-period takedown and eventually pin Mitchell Wesley at 1:31 to get Bellefonte out and starting on the right foot.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Colin Harter gets his hand raised during a dual wrestling match against Bald Eagle Area on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 46-23.

At 114, would be the first forfeit of three for the Red Raiders as they captured the early forfeit. Rylan Lucas picked up the win via the forfeit, making it a 12-0 contest.

Bellefonte continued to take care of the lighter-weight categories as they also took the 121-weight class. There, Blake Glace picked up major decision over Tyler Corey, 11-1.

After a first-period stalemate, Glace was able to keep Corey in check for the entire second from top, sending it to the third period scoreless. And in the third, he’d produce a scoring explosion after two takedowns and four back points and an escape to take the 11-1 major victory.

The tide started to change at 127 when Bald Eagle’s Liam Purcell was able to pin Austin Broder at 1:22. But back battled the Red Raiders at 133, as Jacob Horn gave his team six more points, pinning Logan Burns in just under a minute.

At 139, the Eagles’ Tanner Guenot picked up some last second back points to earn him the tech fall over Wyatt Long 15-0, at the buzzer to help narrow the gap.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Liam Purcell wrestles Bellefonte's Austin Broder at 127 pounds during a dual wrestling match on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 46-23.

Things continued strongly for the Eagles at 145 when Dawson Lomison picked up a hard-fought decision over Andrew Gall, 4-0.

At 152, Kayson Tice brought his Eagles’ team to within two points after pinning Tanner Clarkson, making it a 22-20 Bellefonte lead.

Bald Eagle’s momentum then helped put them in the lead as 160-pounder Caden Judice took a nail biting 7-5 decision over Ezra Swisher, putting the Eagles up 23-22.

“I thought we had a good effort tonight overall and throughout the lineup,” said Bald Eagle coach Ron Guenot on his team’s performance.

“We won some of the toss-up matches there through the middle. Bellefonte’s a good team with a solid line up, and I thought we put forth a lot of heart and some fight. We are not disappointed with that.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Tanner Guenot works for back points against Bellefonte's Wyatt Long during a dual wrestling match on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 46-23.

When the Bellefonte squad needed to retake the momentum, 172-pounder Jack McHail knew just what to do, pinning Brody Gardner at 1:36. Then, at 189, Jackson Long would extend the Bellefonte lead as he pinned Malakai Palashnyuk at 1:43.

At 215, the Red Red Raiders continued extending its lead and moved closer to the victory as Carson Crawford notched a win by forfeit.

Rounding out the night at 285, Bellefonte’s Luke Hockenberry was also able to walk out on the mat and get his hand raised via the forfeit. With the win, the Red Raiders notched to 46-23 victory in front of their home crowd.

Bellefonte 46, Bald Eagle Area 23

107: Colin Harter (BEL) pinned Michael Wesley (BEA), 1:31.. 114: Rylan Lucas (BEL) won by forfeit. 121: Blake Glace (BEL) maj. dec. Tyler Corey (BEA). 127: Liam Purcell (BEA) pinned Austin Broder (BEL) 1:22. 133: Jacob Horn (BEL) pinned Logan Burns (BEA) :58. 139: Tanner Guenot (BEA) tech fall over Wyatt Long (BEL) 15-0 (6:00). 145: Dawson Lomison (BEA) dec. Andrew Gall (BEL), 4-0. 152: Kayson Tice (BEA) pinned Tanner Clarkson (BEL). 160: Caden Judice (BEA) dec. Ezra Swisher (BEL) 7-5. 172: Jack McHail (BEL) pinned Brody Gardner (BEA), 1:36. 189: Jackson Long (BEL) pinned Malakai Palashnyuk 1:43. 215: Carson Crawford (BEL) won by forfeit. 285: Luke Hockenberry (BEL) won by forfeit.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Ezra Swisher wrestles against Bald Eagle's Caden Judice at 152 pounds during a dual wrestling match on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 46-23.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Jacob Horn wrestles Bald Eagle's Logan Burns during a dual wrestling match on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 46-23.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Jack McHail wrestles against Bald Eagle's Brody Gardner at 172 pounds during a dual wrestling match on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 46-23.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle's Dawson Lomison wrestles against Bellefonte's Andrew Gall at 145 pounds during a dual wrestling match on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 46-23.