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Bellefonte’s Swisher, CM’s Heverly look to overcome biggest obstacles at regionals

By HENRY HUBER 7 min read

In individual-based sports like swimming, tennis and wrestling, specific matchups can often mold into immovable barriers. A couple losses to the same opponent may lead to that opponent being labelled the other's 'kryptonite' or 'Achilles heel', a term referring to that athlete's biggest weakness or obstacle.

Whether it’s a discrepancy in talent, athleticism, grit or mental, or simply a found out tell or weak point, there are plenty of reasons a matchup can consistently go one way. It's a scenario that's obviously frustrating to deal with, as time and time again, endless hours of game-planning and preparation prove to be in vain.

Two local athletes - Bellefonte senior Ezra Swisher and Central Mountain junior Gavin Heverly - are currently dealing with that situation firsthand. Over the past two seasons, two State College counterparts have held both back through postseason, most recently at this year's rendition of the District 6 Class AAA wrestling championships.

With the Little Lions competing at this weekend's West Regional alongside Bellefonte and Central Mountain, there's a chance both athletes run into that obstacle again on Saturday. Were that to be the case, each hopes to finally move past that barrier.

DIFFERENCE IN STYLES

Despite ranking similarly, Swisher has struggled immensely when facing State College junior James Whitbred through the last two seasons.

Swisher beat Whitbred at King of the Mountain in both 2023 and 2024 - once in sudden victory and once by forfeit. But since then, it's been all Whitbred, with the Little Lion winning the last four matchups - three by major decision - starting at last year's district tournament.

It's a head scratcher given how even the matchup is on paper.

Entering Saturday's 152-pound District 6 Class AAA final, which ended in a 13-2 major decision Whitbred's way, one slot separated them in the state rankings, with Whitbred at No. 4 and Swisher at No. 5. And at states last season, both wrestlers medaled, Whitbred taking sixth and Swisher taking eighth.

When discussing the matchup on Saturday, Swisher had a good idea of what's holding him back in the matchup. With the other wrestlers Whitbred's faced and the fact they train together at M2, he believes his style is one Whitbred is used to. He also feels that Whitbred's athleticism trumps his own.

"He's a little more athletic than I am and has his own set of skills," said Swisher on Whitbred. "My style is very much textbook, M2 technique. Most of the things that I'm doing is stuff that he feels from a lot of other guys."

Despite Whitbred preventing Swisher from securing his first district title in back-to-back runs, including his last, there wasn't a semblance of disappointment or bitterness following the most recent loss. Swisher was happy with the way he wrestled and looks forward to what lies ahead.

On top of vying for his third straight regional medal and PIAA bid, Swisher is chasing history heading into the closing stretch of what's been a decorated career.

With eight more wins, a tough but possible goal, the senior could cement himself as Bellefonte’s career wins leader. The Penn commit stands just one win away from 150, with Mitchell Port currently holding the record at 156. It's something he sees as a secondary goal, but it's still exciting to think about.

"It was something that we realized after last season that I was on pace for," said Swisher. "I thought that would be a cool goal since I'm not going to get the most medals or championships, but I could get my name on the wall."

In regard to Whitbred, Swisher does have the benefit of being on the opposite side of the bracket as him for regionals, with their only chance of facing off in winners being in the championship final.

He didn't give away his game plan when discussing a potential rematch with Whitbred and either way, it isn't a matchup that fazes him too much moving forward. The senior is simply excited to compete and give his all through his last hoorah.

"I'm really just excited to see how far I can go," said Swisher. "It's nice. It's my last season, and I don't have anything to prove. Already going to college, so it's really just a capstone year, and I really just want to enjoy it."

GETTING CLOSER

When discussing Gavin Heverly's five consecutive losses to State College sophomore Kael Davis, you'd have a hard time picking out which one was more demoralizing. Four have come by one or two points, two have come in overtime and three have occurred during individual postseason - two preventing district titles and one ending a run at states.

However, despite the brutal nature of the matchup, Heverly has approached it with optimism and confidence. And following Saturday's most recent loss, he mentioned a silver lining that came from their latest affair.

"I'm getting closer to Davis," said Heverly. "I'm catching up on ground, so I'm proud that it was closer. I could have taken him down; I was in on a couple of deep shots."

After falling to Davis by major decision in their previous matchup, Heverly re-established the competitive nature of it on Saturday, battling the State College sophomore all the way to a second tiebreaker period before Davis finally broke away.

His coaches worked him through the weeks leading up to districts, and it seems the Central Mountain junior bought in. It's a barrier - both mental and physical - that he feels he can overcome soon.

"It's all a mindset," said Heverly. "I think my mindset has been better working out with Patrick (Tarantella), Angelo (Tarantella) and them in the room. They're pushing me; Coach has been really pushing me this week. I'm getting there."

When asked what's held him back in the matchup, he was quick to credit Davis's defense. Through five matchups, Heverly has scored just nine points and landed just one takedown, the latter which he was close to adding to on multiple occasions on Saturday.

"His stance is really low, so it's hard to score on him," said Heverly. "I've just got to keep shooting. I got into deep shots (on Saturday). I just couldn't finish, so I'm going to work on that this week and get to where I need to be."

Unlike Swisher and Whitbred, Heverly and Davis do fall on the same side of the bracket for regionals. They could meet in the championship semifinals if both wrestlers win their first two bouts, though that outcome would likely require upsets on both ends.

Either way, Heverly is looking forward to being back at regionals and hopes to right the wrongs of last year's run. On top of pursuing his second PIAA bid in three seasons, he also stands just three career wins away from 100, giving him multiple goals to chase throughout the weekend.

"I want to make it to states," said Heverly when discussing his goals. "I didn't last year. Came up short to Kael Davis on a controversial call by the ref, but that happens. I just want to qualify, get my 100 wins and then, I want to place in the state tournament."

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