TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Conner Myers gets his hand raised during a District 6 Class AA Dual matchup against Glendale on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at Penns Valley. Myers picked up one of the team's five wins in Tuesday's loss at Derry.

DERRY – It’s hard enough battling against the best in the state with a fully healthy roster, but Penns Valley’s challenges exceeded that on Tuesday night. For their opening state tournament bout against No. 5 Derry, the Rams were without multiple top wrestlers due to injury, injuries which proved detrimental in pursuit of extending their campaign.

Penns Valley fought valiantly, winning five bouts and even taking a 23-6 lead early following a string of victories. But a 33-0 run from 145 to 189 on Derry’s end proved too imposing for the Rams to overcome, as they fell at Derry, 44-26, to close out their dual season in the first round of states.

Even with the loss, few would describe Penns Valley’s season as a whole as unsuccessful. For the second straight season, the Rams finished as District 6 Class AA Dual runners-up while making it to states, and this campaign featured the added bonus of the program concluding the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1966.

“Really proud of the guys and the way they competed, not only tonight but throughout the entire season,” said Penns Valley wrestling head coach Joel Brinker when discussing the team. “We were familiar with Derry as we saw them several times this year at tournaments. They’re solid, and we wish them well moving forwards.”

Through the years leading up to 2025, the teams had met on three separate occasions at Babbit Duals.

Penns Valley won all three matchups, but each was closer than the last, reflecting the consistent growth of Derry through the years. In December of 2024, the Rams eked out a 26-25 win, their most recent matchup prior to Tuesday.

In Tuesday’s state tournament matchup, the Rams bounced back swimmingly from an opening fall from Derry.

Trailing 6-0, Evan Lisowski needed just 24 seconds to even the score with a pin of his own, and Conner Myers followed him up with a decisive tech fall to give the Rams an 11-6 lead, using a takedown, two reversals and eight back points to seal the deal in the third period.

From there, Erik Carlile would win by forfeit at 133 before Trip Watson produced the team’s highlight win of the night.

Facing No. 16 Camden Olson at 139, Watson looked off a 4-0 deficit midway through the second, absorbing a single-legged shot attempt, securing a takedown amidst a scramble and tacking on four back points on a near-pin in the ensuing moments. Then, out of bottom in the third, he wouldn’t let go of his second opportunity, quickly posting a reversal before working it into a pin inches away from out of bounds.

That pin would give the Rams a 23-6 lead. However, it wouldn’t take long for the cracks to show in the matches that followed.

In an initially competitive bout at 145, Derry’s Michael McNeil dominated the second period before securing a fall over Penns Valley’s Isaac Harpster at the 2:49 mark. A late escape in the ensuing bout at 152 netted Derry’s William McNeil a 12-4 major decision, and a quick pin from Ewan Olson kept its run alive. Suddenly, Penns Valley’s lead was down to 23-22, and the wins wouldn’t stop pouring in for the Trojans.

The Rams’ injuries at 172 and 189 came into play, as Derry took the lead back with a win by forfeit at 172 before a quick tech fall at 189 expanded it. Brady Brown – ranked No. 4 in the state at 189 – would officially seal the deal at 215, producing a first-period pin that made Derry’s lead insurmountable at 39-23.

Before it was all said and done, Penns Valley senior Robert Martin would ensure his team’s dual season wouldn’t end by way of opposing run. Against Derry’s Justin Papuga at 285, the senior used a second-period escape and late takedown to win by 4-1 decision, giving the Rams one last spark to close out the campaign.

With the loss, Penns Valley finished a historic dual season with a 14-2 record and 5-0 record against Laurel Highlands competition. It now turns its sites towards rest, recovery and preparation for the next step – the individual postseason, which kicks off on Friday, Feb. 13, with districts.

“Individual post season is next, and we look forward to seeing the guys chase their goals,” said Brinker on the team’s next focus.

No. 5 Derry Area 44, No. 14 Penns Valley 26

114: Patrick Bulgar (D) pinned Blake Brumbaugh (PV), 2:31. 121: Evan Lisowski (PV) pinned Matthew Fernell (D), :24. 127: Conner Myers (PV) tech fall Rocco DeCario (D), 15-0 (5:44). 133: Erik Carlile (PV) won by forfeit. 139: Trip Watson (PV) pinned Camden Olson (D), 4:50. 145: Michael McNeil (D) pinned Isaac Harpster (PV), 2:49. 152: William McNeil (D) maj. dec. Sawyer Fetterolf (PV), 12-4. 160: Ewan Olson (D) pinned Seth Fetterolf (PV), 1:13. 172: Evan Kelly (D) won by forfeit. 189: Mason Horwat (D) tech fall Shane Rimmey (PV), 19-4 (2:22). 215: Brady Brown (D) pinned Luke Tannis (PV), 1:18. 285: Robert Martin (PV) dec. Justin Papuga (D), 4-1. 107: Mason Keesecker (D) tech fall Cayden Myers (PV), 19-3 (2:21).