This season was a memorable success for wrestlers, coaches, fans and family. The team made school history and individual wrestlers achieved high goals for themselves. The team ended their season with a winning record of 24-3, placing them 6-0 in their league.
The team competed in two large-scale tournaments this season. They placed first in the King of the Mountain Tournament, which was held at Central Mountain High School on Dec. 20 and 21. On Dec. 27 and 28 the Warriors placed 37th at the Powerade Tournament which was held at Canon-McMillian High School.
The Warriors won all five rounds of the PHAC Division Two Duals on Jan. 4 at Milton HS. They faced challenging teams such as Milton and Midd-West, and they won the PHAC Championship which was also at Milton.
On Jan. 18 they travelled to Clearfield High School to compete in the Bison Duals, in which they took first place. They won all three of their matches in the District 4 AA duals.
They then took a weekend trip Feb. 4, 7, and 8 to Altoona to compete in the PIAA Class AA duals, in which they had a neutral record of 2-2. The Warriors faced their toughest match-up in Altoona, which was against Bishop McDevitt.
“[The Duals] are used to keep scoring points throughout every step of the postseason, and the differences between each dual is that there are all types of different wrestlers with different strengths and weaknesses at each one,” said junior Karter Stone.
The Warriors then competed in the District 4 AA Sectional Central at Hughesville, which is where they began their individual journeys to the state competition. As a team they placed 1st, and they had several wrestlers place.
Stone wrestles in the 139 pound weight class and placed third at this match, and this was the highlight of his season.
The Warriors then continued their post-season by competing at the 4 AA Districts at Williamsport High School on Feb. 21 and 22 where they took first place, and then they continued on to the North East AA Regional competition also hosted at Williamsport on Feb. 28 and March 8. For the first time in program history the Warriors placed first at regionals, and all their wrestlers were very successful.
The following is a list of each Warrior Wrestler’s Individual achievements at regionals:
- Senior David Kennedy placed 3rd in the 127 lb weight class
- Senior Blaize Vogel placed 2nd in the 133 lb weight class
- Senior Owen Kleinman placed 5th in the 189 lb weight class
- Senior Landon Morehart placed 2nd in the 285 lb weight class
- Junior Teli Bobotas placed 2nd in the 121 lb weight class
- Junior Karter Stone placed 6th in the 139 lb weight class
- Junior Gage Wentzel placed 2nd in the 172 lb weight class
- Sophomore Hayden Harvey placed 3rd in the 160 lb weight class
- Freshman Braden Esienhour placed 2nd in the 107 lb weight class
“[My] toughest match was the ¾ place match at sectionals and [the team’s was] Bishop McDevitt because they are 25th in the US,” said Stone when asked about the toughest matches he’s faced this season.
Stone said his favorite match was his match at PHAC where he placed 3rd and he also beat one of his buddies from Jersey Shore. His best match that he competed in was when he beat a state ranked opponent to win one of his duals.
Stone did not qualify for the PIAA AA championships, but he is already preparing for his senior season.
“[I] need to work on getting out of the bottom position, and mat conditioning going into next season,” said Stone.
Wrestlers who qualified for the PIAA AA Championship took a trip to Giant Center in Hershey, PA on March 6, 7 and 8.
The following is a list of indivual achievements at the PIAA AA Championship:
- Kennedy placed 5th in the 127 lb weight class
- Vogel went from 13th to 16th place in the 133 lb weight class
- Morehart also went from 13th to 16th place in the 285 lb weight clas
- Bobotas went from 9th to 12th place in the 121 lb weight class
- Harvey also went from 9th to 12th place in the 160 lb weight class
- Eisenhour went from 9th to 12th place in the 107 lb weight class
Wentzel made it to the 172 lb weight class finals, and he placed second, and the Warriors placed sixth as a team at Hershey.
Stone had words that summed up this year’s wrestling season.
“I heard this quote from my friend which says ‘Your job isn’t to avoid the hard parts, its to show up for them.”
Featured Photo (at top): Warriors huddle together for their team huddle on the mat. They do this before every match to prepare themselves for the evening. This photo was taken at Montour’s home gym during the first round of the PIAA AA duals on Feb.7. Photo by Lillian McCulloch
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