TOWANDA HOLDS OFF ATHENS, 34-29

TOWANDA HOLDS OFF ATHENS, 34-29

January 26, 2022 Chris Manning

ATHENS — Despite having a gauntlet of matches at the end of the season, Towanda had a goal of finishing their NTL schedule strong, and they accomplished that on Wednesday with a 34-29 win over Athens.

The victory pushes the Knights into second place in the league behind Canton, and sees them end the dual meet regular season on a three-match winning streak with victories over Wellsboro, Wyalusing and the Wildcats.


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ATHENS WINS FINAL SIX BOUTS IN 51-18 WIN OVER WAVERLY

ATHENS WINS FINAL SIX BOUTS IN 51-18 WIN OVER WAVERLY

January 25, 2022 Tim Birney

ATHENS — Athens won the final six bouts of the night to top Waverly, 51-18, here Tuesday night in non-league wrestling action.

The Wildcats also picked up key wins early in the match from senior Collin Rosh, and freshmen Caleb Nason, and Keaton Sinsabaugh.

Senior Karter Rude received a forfeit to open the match at 152 pounds to give the Wildcats a quick 6-0 lead.

Junior Braeden Hills tied the bout quickly, scoring a quick five-point move with a headlock in the opening second of his 160-pound bout with freshman Landon Kizer. After Kizer worked his way off his back, Hills turned him again for the fall at 30 seconds.

At 172 pounds, junior Gage Tedesco put the Wolverines ahead 12-6 with a pin of senior Cameron Whitmarsh in the third period.

Tedesco scored a pair of takedowns, and two near-fall points for a 6-1 lead at the end of the first period. He recorded three more takedowns in the second period, and led 12-3 entering the final two minutes.

At 189, Waverly scored the initial takedown for a 2-0 lead over Rosh, but Rosh scored a reversal and three near-fall points for a 5-2 lead, then turned Kimble to his back for a fall at 1:35 to tie the match at 12-12.

At 215 pounds, Waverly junior Ty Beeman built a 6-2 lead with takedown and two near-fall points late in the second period.

Beeman started the third period on the bottom, and scored a reversal with 1:35 remaining to up his lead to 8-2.

Midway through the third period, Nason escaped, then caught Beeman in a headlock moments later, taking him directly to his back for a fall at 5:29 to give the Wildcats an 18-12 lead.

At 285 pounds, Waverly freshman Kam Hills slapped a headlock on Athens sophomore Josh Nittinger, taking him directly to his back near the edge of the circle for a 5-0 lead.

Moments later, Hills returned Nittinger to the mat and directly to his back for a fall at 1:31 to tie the match at 18-18.

Sinsabaugh, who won a pivotal match in the Wildcats’ 32-30 win over Wyalusing last week, gave up takedowns to Waverly 7th-grader Nico Rae in each of the first two period, and trailed 4-0 entering the final two minutes.

Sinsabaugh scored a takedown early in the third period to close the gap to 4-2, but was penalized for a “full nelson” and trailed 5-2.

After the re-start, Sinsabaugh locked in a half and turned Rae for the fall at 5:34 to give the Wildcats a 24-18 lead.

Sophomore Mason Vanderpool extended Athens’ lead to 30-18 with a 46-second pin of freshman Jake Besecker.

Athens senior Gavin Bradley, ranked No. 1 in the state at 113 pounds, pinned freshman Payton Fravel in 43 seconds at 126 pounds to make it 36-18.

In the marquee match-up of the night at 132 pounds, Athens senior Kaden Setzer used a pair of first-period takedowns, and two sets of swipes to take a 9-1 lead on junior Connor Stotler after the first two minutes.

Setzer stretched his lead to 13-2 with a pair of second-period takedowns, but Stotler scored a reversal late in the period to close the gap to 13-4 entering the final two minutes.

Stotler started the third period on bottom, scored an escape, and then used a headlock to take Setzer down to close the deficit to 13-7. Setzer was able to stay off his back, and preserve a 13-7 decision to give the Wildcats an insurmountable to 39-18 lead.

Junior Jake Courtney and senior Lucas Forbes closed out the match with first-period pins at 138 and 145 pounds.

Athens, now 8-2, returns to action when it hosts Towanda Wednesday night, while Waverly (8-11) hosts Owego Thursday.

——————

IN PHOTO 1: Waverly junior Ty Beeman and Athens freshman Caleb Nason. … PHOTOS BY DAVID ALLIGER — TRAVELING PORTRAITS.

——————

ATHENS 51, WAVERLY 18
152: Karter Rude (A) by forfeit;
160: Braeden Hills (W) by fall over Landen Kizer (A), 0:55;
172: Gage Tedesco  (W) by fall over Cameron Whitmarsh (A), 5:20;
189: Colin Rosh (A) by fall over Andrew Kimble  (W), 1:35;
215: Caleb Nason (A) by fall over Troy Beeman  (W), 5:29;
285: Kam Hills (W) by fall over Joshua Nittinger (A), 1:31;
106: Keaton Sinsabaugh (A) by fall over Nico Rae (W), 5:34;
113: No Match;
120: Mason Vanderpool (A) by fall over Jake Besecker (W), 0:46;
126: Gavin Bradley (A) by fall over Payton  Fravel  (W), 0:43;
132: Kaden Setzer (A) dec. Connor Stotler (W), 13-7;
138: Jacob  Courtney (A) by fall over Seth Noto (W), 0:52;
145: Lucas Forbes (A) by fall over Braeden Nichols  (W), 1:11.

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ATHNES EDGES WYALUSING, 32-30

ATHNES EDGES WYALUSING, 32-30

January 21, 2022 Tim Birney

ATHENS — There are two keys to winning dual meets: unheralded wrestlers stepping up with big wins, and those same wrestlers avoiding giving up bonus points if they don’t win.

Athens checked both those boxes Friday night in a 32-30 win over Wyalusing in NTL wrestling action.

“It was a great team effort. We wrestled well today,” said Athens coach Shawn Bradley. “We beat a really good team that has a really good record.

“We had to move around a lot today, so we had a lot of guys step up.

“Lucas Forbes and Cameron Whitmarsh came up big, and Keaton Sinsabaugh won the darn match,” added Bradley. “Those kids don’t get a lot of the accolades or the glory, but the bottom line is to win dual meets everyone has to perform.”

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 7-2.

“We’re trying to get to Milton (District 4 Duals semifinals) for the first time,” said Bradley. “In order to do that, we have to win some dual meets.”

Senior Kaden Setzer opened the match with a 36-second pin of Isaac Shaffer at 132 pounds, and junior Jacob Courtney locked up Cade McMicken in a cradle at 4:35 in their 138-pound match to put the Wildcats up 12-0.

“Two of our hammers (Kaden Setzer and Jake Courtney) got us started,” said Bradley.

Skyler Manahan won by fall at 145 pounds to put the Rams on the board, then Hunter Manahan topped Lucas Forbes, 7-2, at 152 pounds, to close the gap to 12-9.

Senior Karter Rude put Wildcats back up by nine, at 18-9, with a pin of Jordan Lamb at 160 pounds.

Alex Hunsinger triggered a mini run for the Rams with a 5-1 decision over Whitmarsh at 172, and Brian Arnold followed with a 56-second fall at 189 to tie the match at 18-18.

Nicholas Woodruff received a forfeit at 215 pounds to give Wyalusing a 24-18 lead, but sophomore Josh Nittinger tied it at 24-24 with a 61-second fall over Zach Fenton at 285 pounds, setting the stage for Sinsabaugh.

Evan Johnson scored the first takedown in the 106-pound bout, but Sinsabaugh battled back. In the closing seconds of the third period, Sinsabaugh went head-hunting and flipped Johnson, who was riding top, off his back for a reversal to win an 8-6 decision, giving the Wildcats a 27-24 lead.

Wyalusing had an opportunity to send Clayton Carr out to receive a forfeit at 113 pounds, but chose to bump him up to face senior Gavin Bradley at 120 pounds.

The unbeaten Bradley put on a takedown clinic, scoring 11 takedowns in a 23-8 technical fall in 5:18 to sew up the win for the Wildcats.

Wyalusing’s Ayden Hunsinger closed out the match with a third-period pin of sophomore Mason Vanderpool to provide the final margin.

Athens returns to action Tuesday at Waverly.

——————

IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Gavin Bradley. … PHOTOS BY DAVID ALLIGER — TRAVELING PORTRAITS.

——————

ATHENS 32, WYALUSING 30
132: Kaden Setzer (A) by fall over Isaac Shaffer (W), 0:36;
138: Jacob  Courtney (A) by fall over Cade McMicken (W), 4:35;
145: Skyler Manahan (W) by fall over Gavin McGrath (A), 3:12;
152: Hunter Manahan (W) dec. Lucas Forbes (A), 7-2;
160: Karter Rude (A) by fall over Jordan Lamb (W), 3:13;
172: Alex Hunsinger (W) dec. Cameron Whitmarsh (A), 5-1;
189: Brian Arnold (W) by fall over Landen Kizer (A), 0:56;
215: Nicholas Woodruff (W) by forfeit;
285: Joshua Nittinger (A) by fall over Zachary Fenton (W), 1:01;
106: Keaton Sinsabaugh (A) dec. Evan Johnson (W). 8-6;
113: No Match;
120: Gavin Bradley (A) tech. fall Clayton Carr (W), 23-8 @ 5:18;
126: Ayden Hunsinger (W) by fall over Mason Vanderpool (A), 4:46.

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ATHENS EARNS PAIR OF WINS; SHUTS OUT NEB, SAYRE

ATHENS EARNS PAIR OF WINS; SHUTS OUT NEB, SAYRE

January 20, 2022 Tim Birney

SAYRE — Athens needed little time in disposing of Northeast Bradford and Sayre Thursday night, beating both NTL wrestling rivals, 66-0.

Athens 66, NEB 0
In their first match of the night, the Wildcats won all six contested weight classes by first-period falls against Northeast Bradford. They also collected five forfeits from the Panthers.

Sophomore 285-pounder Josh Nittinger scored a quick takedown of Kamden Ricci, then locked him in a quick cradle near the boundary for two near-fall points. Less than a minute later, NIttinger finished off the fall at 1:24 to put the Wildcats up 18-0.

Freshman Keaton Sinsabaugh followed with a 59 second fall at 106 pounds to make it 24-0.

At 120 pounds, sophomore Mason Vanderpool built a 6-0 lead on Brock Fenton with a takedown and two sets of swipes, then finished off the bout with a power-half for a fall at 1:58.

Moments later, senior Gavin Bradley scored a quick takedown in his 126-pound bout against Tyler Russell, then locked in a power half for a 40-second fall.

At 138 pounds, senior Kaden Setzer used the arm bar for a pin of Noah Billings at 33 seconds to make it 42-0.

Senior Cameron Whitmarsh finished off the match with a 69-second fall of Dom Clark at 172 pounds.

Athens 66, Sayre 0
The Wildcats collected nine forfeits from the Redskins, and won both contested weight classes by fall.

At 132 pounds, Setzer locked Cam McCutcheon in a cradle for a takedown and fall in 13 seconds.

At 189 pounds, Athens senior Collin Rosh and Sayre senior Josh Rosh traded takedowns and escapes for the first two periods.

Rosh’s escape off the whistle to start the third tied the bout at 4-4. Moments later, Rosh hooked a leg for a takedown directly into a cradle for a fall at 4:40.

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BRADLEY, SETZER EARN TITLES; FIVE WILDCATS MEDAL AT NEW OXFORD — BRADLEY NAMED ‘MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER’

BRADLEY, SETZER EARN TITLES; FIVE WILDCATS MEDAL AT NEW OXFORD — BRADLEY NAMED ‘MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER’

January 15, 2022 Tim Birney

NEW OXFORD, Pa. — Seniors Gavin Bradley and Kaden Setzer won their weight classes in dominant fashion, and senior Karter Rude was a runner-up here Saturday at the two-day New Oxford Tournament.

Sophomore Josh Nittinger placed sixth for the Wildcats, and freshman Caleb Nason earned a seventh-place medal.

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ATHENS ADVANCES THREE TO SEMIFINALS AT NEW OXFORD; TWO ALIVE IN WRESTLEBACKS

ATHENS ADVANCES THREE TO SEMIFINALS AT NEW OXFORD; TWO ALIVE IN WRESTLEBACKS

January 14, 2022 Tim Birney

NEW OXFORD, Pa. — Athens seniors Gavin Bradley, Kaden Setzer, and Karter Rude advanced to the semifinals of the New Oxford Tournament here Friday, while sophomore Josh Nittinger and freshman Caleb Nason are alive in wrestlebacks.

Athens is in 15th place in the 23-team field with 47 points. Bishop McDevitt leads the pack with 104 points, while Carlisle is second with 93.5, and Canton is third with 91. Troy is in seventh place with 60 points.

Top-seeded Bradley, who received a bye into the 113-pound quarterfinals, needed just 55 seconds to pin Troy’s Caleb Schwenk in his only match of the day.

Bradley will face Bishop McDevitt’s Michael Beutler in the semifinals.

Setzer, the second seed at 132 pounds, advanced to the semifinals with a pair of quick pins.

After receiving a bye in the round-of-16, Setzer pinned Carlisle’s Chase Brenneman in 33 seconds.

In the quarterfinals, Setzer needed just 29 seconds to flatten Greencastle-Antim’s Garrett Keener.

Setzer will face York Suburban’s Bryson Neidigh in the semifinals.

Rude, the fifth seed at 152 pounds, decked Delone Catholic’s Domonic Giraffa in 4:13 in the round-of-16.

In the quarterfinals, Rude used a five-point move midway through the first period to take a 7-1 lead, on his way to a 9-2 win over fourth-seeded Jarrett Wilson of Carlisle.

Rude will face ninth-seeded Tyler Bard of West York in the semifinals. Bard upset top-seeded Gage Bishop of Biglerville, 3-2, in the quarterfinals.

At 285 pounds, junior Josh Nittinger decked Hanover’s Evan Fiorello in 2:34 in the round-of-16.

In the quarterfinals, Nittinger lost via fall to Carlisle’s Layton Schmick.

At 215 pounds, freshman Caleb Nason lost via fall in 3:01 to Canton’s Gage Pepper in the round-of-16, but bounced back with a pin of LaSalle’s Matt Sorge in 2:55 in his only wrestleback match.

Freshman Keaton Sinsabaugh was 1-2 on the day, his win a 52-second fall over Northeaster’s Tyler Wales in his first wrestleback match.

Freshman Keegan Congdon was 1-2 in the 145-pound weight class. He won his first wrestleback match by fall in 2:45 over Greencastle-Antim’s Mason Booze.

Senior Gavin McGrath was 0-2 at 132 pounds, and senior Cameron Whitmarsh went 0-2 at 172 pounds.

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RUDE LIFTS ATHENS TO 38-36 WIN OVER NORTH PENN-LIBERTY

RUDE LIFTS ATHENS TO 38-36 WIN OVER NORTH PENN-LIBERTY

January 13, 2022 Tim Birney

BLOSSBURG — Senior Karter Rude moved up two weight classes, and upended state-ranked Kohen Lehman to secure Athens’ 38-36 win over North Penn-Liberty here Thursday night in NTL wrestling action.

There were just six contested weight classes, with both teams winning three.

The Wildcats, wrestling without four starters due to illness, fell behind right off the bat as NP-L’s George Valentine pinned freshman Caleb Nason in 3:42 at 215 pounds.

After a forfeit to Athens sophomore Josh Nittinger at 285 pounds tied the match, NP-L received a forfeit at 106 pounds, and Brayden Pequingot scored a fall at 113 pounds to to give the Mountaineers an 18-6 lead.

At 120 pounds, sophomore Mason Vanderpool built an 8-4 lead in the second period, and eventually won via injury default over Riley Oakes.

Senior Gavin Bradley, also wrestling up two weight classes, put on a takedown clinic in a 20-4 technical fall over Cole Wagner.

Bradley scored three takedowns and three near-fall points to take a 9-2 lead after the first two minutes. He added three takedowns and two near-fall points in the second period to extend the lead to 17-4 entering the final two minutes.

Bradley closed out the bout with an escape and quick takedown to finish off the technical fall at 4:38 to trim the Athens deficit to 18-17.

The next five weight classes were decided by forfeits, with Athens receiving three to take a 35-30 lead.

In the decisive 172-pound weight class, Rude scored an early takedown and led 2-0 after the first period. The duo spent the entire two minutes on their feet in the second period.

Lehman scored an escape in the third period, but Rude was able to fend off takedown attempts to preserve the 2-1 win, giving the Wildcats an insurmountable 38-30 lead.

NP-L’s Gavin Sexauer’s built a 9-3 lead on his way to a fall over Cameron Whitmarsh in 3:46 to prove the final margin.

Athens returns to action Friday and Saturday at the New Oxford Tournament.

——————

ATHENS 38, NP-LIBERTY 36
215: George Valentine (NP) by fall over Caleb Nason (A), 3:42;
285: Joshua Nittinger (A) by forfeit;
106: Sophia Domenech (NP) by forfeit;
113: Brayden Pequignot (NP) by fall over Keaton Sinsabaugh (A), 1:00;
120: Mason Vanderpool (A) injury def. Riley Oakes (NP);
126: Gavin Bradley (A) tech. fall Cale Wagner (NP), 20-4 @ 4:38;
132: Trinity Robinson (NP) by forfeit;
138: Lilly Galasso (A) by forfeit;
145: Lucas Forbes (A) by forfeit;
152: Keegan Congdon (A) by forfeit;
160: Ryan Mayall (NP) by forfeit;
172: Karter Rude (A) dec. Kohen Lehman (NP), 2-1;
189: Gaven Sexauer (NP) by fall over Cameron Whitmarsh (A), 3:39.

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CANTON PINS ITS WAY PAST ATHENS, 51-21

CANTON PINS ITS WAY PAST ATHENS, 51-21

January 11, 2022 Tim Birney

ATHENS — Canton turned three close bouts into falls, and won five in a row by pin early en route to a 51-21 win over Athens here Tuesday night in NTL wrestling action.

“There’s no other way to put it, we got out-hearted today,” said Athens coach Shawn Bradley. “There were four matches we could have won, and (Canton) won them all.

“Hats off to Canton, their kids wanted it more than ours,” added Bradley. “We have to learn how to gut some things out, that’s part of the process.”

The match started quickly with Canton’s Hayden Ward scoring an 18-second fall at 152 pounds, and Athens senior Karter Rude answering with a 59-second pin of Levi Pepper at 160 pounds to tie the match at 6-6.

The 172-pound bout was a pivotal match in the early-going.

Canton’s Brenen Taylor scored the first takedown of the bout, but senior Cameron Whitmarsh escaped, and countered with a double-leg takedown for a 3-2 lead.

After Taylor scored an escape late in the first period to tie the bout at 3-3, Whitmarsh cut him loose to start the second period. The duo remained on their feet the entire two minutes, and Taylor led 4-3 heading into the final two minutes.

Taylor rode top to start the second period, but was penalized about 30 seconds in for a stiff forearm to the back of Whitmarsh’s head to tie the score at 4-4. Moments later, Whitmarsh escaped for a 5-4 lead, but just 20 seconds later, Taylor scored a takedown, and ran a quick arm bar for the fall at 5:28 to give the Warriors a 12-6 lead.

At 189 pounds, Canton’s Riley Parker built a 7-0 lead before turning senior Collin Rosh for the fall at 3:16 to make it 18-6.

The 215-pound match-up proved to be another tough loss for the Wildcats.

Canton’s Connor Davis scored an early takedown and had freshman Caleb Nason on his back for more than 30 seconds, but Nason reversed Davis and had him on his back at the first-period buzzer to trim the deficit to 5-4.

Davis was on top to start the second period, and quickly locked in an arm bar for a fall at 2:22 to give the Warriors a 24-6 lead.

The Warriors turned another 1-point lead into a fall at 285 pounds.

After a scoreless first period, Mason Nelson scored an escape in the second period for a 1-0 lead, and the heavyweights spent the remainder of the period on their feet.

Nelson rode top for more than a minute before locking in an arm bar and turning Nittinger for the fall at 5:22 to up the Warrior lead to 30-6.

At 106, Lyle Vermilya built a 9-0 lead before finishing off freshman Keaton Sinsabaugh at 3:26 to give the Warriors a 36-6 lead.

Canton’s Cohen Landis received a forfeit at 113 pounds to extend Canton’s lead to an insurmountable 42-6 lead.

Sophomore Mason Vanderpool put the Wildcats back on the board again at 120 pounds. He led 5-0 after the first period, then scored a reversal early in the second period, into a headlock for a fall at 2:25.

Senior Gavin Bradley, wrestling up two weight classes, scored an impressive 19-3 technical fall over freshman Holden Ward at 126 pounds.

Bradley scored an early takedown, then racked up two sets of near-fall points to take an 8-0 lead after the first period.

Bradley scored three takedowns to build a 14-3 lead midway through the second period, then closed out the match with a takedown directly to Ward’s back for the 19-3 win.

In what may have been the “match of the night,” Canton’s Brayden Wesneski scored a 10-7 decision over senior Gavin McGrath.

McGrath scored a first-period takedown for a 2-0 lead. Wesneski started on top in the second period, and with 40 seconds remaining sat out in arm bar for three near-fall points and a 3-2 lead entering the final two minutes.

The duo started neutral, and McGrath came out on top in a scramble for a takedown, and three near-fall points to take a 7-3 lead early in the third period.

McGrath tried to turn his advantage into a cradle, but Wesneski was able to reverse and put McGrath on his back briefly to tie the bout at 7-7 with 40 seconds remaining.

About 30 seconds later, Wesneski scored three near-fall points on a tilt for the 10-7 win.

At 138 pounds, Athens senior Kaden Setzer took down Hudson Ward on a throw and picked up a pair of near-fall points in the process for a 4-0 lead, which he carried into the second period.

Ward escaped early in the second period, and Setzer recorded another takedown to take a 6-2 lead into he final two minutes.

After Ward registered another escape, a Setzer throw resulted in five points and an 11-3 lead. Ward escaped again, but Setzer closed out the 13- 4 major decision with another takedown in the closing seconds.

Canton’s Bailey Ferguson closed out the match with a fall late in the second period at 145 pounds.

Athens, now 3-2, returns to action Thursday at North Penn-Liberty.

——————

CANTON 51, ATHENS 21
152: Hayden Ward (C) by fall over Keegan Congdon (A), 0:18;
160: Karter Rude (A) by fall over Levi Pepper (C), 0:59;
172: Brenen Taylor (C) by fall over Cameron Whitmarsh (A), 5:28;
189: Riley Parker (C) by fall over Colin Rosh (A), 3:16;
215: Conner Davis (C) by fall over Caleb Nason (A), 2:22;
285: Mason Nelson (C) by fall over Joshua Nittinger (A), 5:23;
106: Lyle Vermilya (C) by fall over Keaton Sinsabaugh (A), 3:26;
113: Cohen Landis (C) by forfeit;
120: Mason Vanderpool (A) by fall over Cayden Miller (C), 2:25;
126: Gavin Bradley (A) tech. fall Holden Ward (C), 19-3;
132: Brayden Wesneski (C) dec. Gavin McGrath (A), 10-7;
138: Kaden Setzer (A) major dec. Hudson Ward (C), 13-4;
145: Bailey Ferguson (C) by fall over Lucas Forbes (A), 3:48.

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BRADLEY WINS TITLE AT MID-WINTER MAYHEM; SETZER, COURTNEY PLACE

BRADLEY WINS TITLE AT MID-WINTER MAYHEM; SETZER, COURTNEY PLACE

January 8, 2022 Tim Birney

INDIANA, Pa. — Senior Gavin Bradley continues to wrestle like a man on a mission, winning the 113-pound title here at the Mid-Winter Mayhem Tournament in convincing fashion.

Senior Kaden Setzer finished fifth for the Wildcats at 132 pounds, and junior Jake Courtney was seventh at 138 pounds.

Bradley, who opened the tournament with a technical fall and a pin on Friday, opened Saturday with a 22-6 technical fall win over fourth-seeded Jared Popson of Brookville in the semifinals.

Bradley scored a quick takedown to start the match for a 2-0 lead. Thirty seconds later, Popson escaped to close the gap to 2-1,, but Bradley hit a five-point move to take a 7-1 lead after the opening two minutes.

Leading 8-2, Bradley scored four takedowns, the last coming with 3 seconds remaining, to increase his lead to 16-5 heading into the final two minutes.

After Popson was banged for stalling early in the third period, Bradley hit another five-point move to close out the match at 4:38.

In the finals, Bradley took control early and forged a 9-4 win over second-seed Weston Pisarchick of Brockway.

Bradley scored a takedown 21 seconds into the bout. After Pisarchick escaped with 49 seconds left, Bradley registered another takedown about 20 seconds later to take a 4-1 lead.

After spending the majority of the second period on their feet, Bradley scored a takedown and three near-fall points in the final 20 seconds to take a 9-1 lead.

Bradley cut Pisarchick loose to start the third period, and Pisarchick closed out the scoring with a takedown with 20 seconds remaining.

Bradley is now 13-0 on the season.

At 132 pounds, top-seeded Owen Reinsel of Brookville, who went on to win the title, scored a 7-1 win over Setzer, who was the fourth seed..

Reinsel took control early with a five-point move in the first 20 seconds of the bout. He added a reversal in the third period.

In his first wrestleback match, Setzer dropped a 4-0 decision to Commodore Perry’s Wyatt Lazzar, the 10th seed,

In the fifth-place match, Setzer scored a pair of third-period takedowns to rally for a 6-5 win over fifth-seeded Todd McGann of Quakertown.

Setzer beat McGann, 7-5, Friday in the quarterfinals.

At 138 pounds, Courtney, who was 4-1 on Friday, dropped a 7-4 decision to Marion Canter’s Liam Cornetto in the consolation bracket round-of-4.

In the seventh-place match, Courtney scored a takedown early in the third period to pull out a 2-0 decision over Benton’s Caden Temple.

Athens hosts Canton Tuesday, and travels to North Penn-Liberty Thursday.

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BRADLEY, SETZER ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS AT MID-WINTER MAYHEM; COURTNEY ALIVE IN WRESTLEBACKS

BRADLEY, SETZER ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS AT MID-WINTER MAYHEM; COURTNEY ALIVE IN WRESTLEBACKS

January 7, 2022 Tim Birney

INDIANA, Pa. — Athens seniors Gavin Bradley and Kaden Setzer both advanced to the semifinals of the Mid-Winter Mayhem tournament here Friday, and junior Jake Courtney is alive in wrestlebacks.

Bradley, the top seed at 113 pounds, opened with a 21-3 technical fall over General McLane’s Ethan Snyder in 3:05.

Bradley scored a quick takedown and two sets of near-fall points for an 8-0 lead after the first period.

He scored a quick takedown to start the second period for a 10-0 lead. After cutting Snyder loose, Bradley recorded another takedown and a tilt for a 14-1 lead.

Bradley cut Snyder loose again, then added another takedown to make it 16-2. After cutting Snyder loose for a third time, Bradley registered a quick five-point move to close out the bout.

In the quarterfinals, Bradley decked eighth-seeded Leyton Zechary of Commodore Perry in just 22 seconds.

Bradley will face fourth-seeded Jared Popson of Brookville in the semifinals Saturday morning.

Setzer, the fourth seed at 132 pounds, was 3-0 on the day to advance to the semifinals.

He opened the day with 57-second fall over T.J. Carroll of Forest Hills in the round-of-32.

Setzer followed it up with a 16-1 technical fall over Mikey Hollar of Pocono Mountain East. He scored a takedown and three near-fall points for a 5-0 lead after the first period.

Setzer scored a five-point move early int he second period for a 10-1 lead. After an escape by Hollar, Setzer scored a takedown and a two-point tilt for a 14-1 lead heading into the final two minutes.

Setzer clinched the win with a takedown at 4:18.

In the quarterfinals, Setzer forged a 7-5 decision over Todd McGann of Quakertown.

Setzer scored a five-point move midway through the first period for a 5-0 lead, but McGann escaped at the buzzer to close the gap to 5-1after the first two minutes.

McGann opened the second period with a reversal to close the gap to 5-3, but Setzer escaped to make it 6-3.

McGann scored a takedown with 22 seconds remaining in the second period to pull within one point, at 6-5.

McGann cut Setzer loose to start the third period for a 7-5 lead, and the two spent the entire two minutes on their feet.

Setzer will face top-seeded Owen Reinsel of Brookville, who registered three first-period pins Friday, in the semifinals.

At 138 pounds,
junior Jake Courtney trailed Daniel Boone’s Brett Marciano 7-4 midway through the third period in the round-of-32, but scored a takedown and fall with 34 seconds remaining.

In the round-of-16, Courtney, the ninth seed, trailed 5-0 to eighth-seeded Dave Wenner of Cranberry, but rallied to close the gap to 6-4, but Wenner scored a reversal in the closing seconds to win an 8-4 decision.

In the consolation bracket, Courtney went 3-0 to advance to the consolation round-of-4.

Courtney was awarded a stalling point with 9 seconds remaining in the second overtime period for a 1-0 win over Clearfield’s Ty Aveni in his first wrestleback match, and followed that up with a 3-2 win over Curwensville’s Nik Fegert.

In his final bout of the day, Courtney scored a pair of third-period takedowns to really from a 4-2 deficit for a 6-5 win over sixth-seeded Caden Finck of Montgomery.

At 215 pounds, freshman Caleb Nason, the fifth seed, scored an escape and a takedown early in the second period to take a 5-3 lead over General McLane’s Brady Haskins. He rode Haskins the final 76 seconds of the period, then the two grapplers spent the entire third period on their feet, with Nason preserving the 5-3 win.

In the round-of-16, Nason fell behind early, but scored a reversal and three near-fall points late in the first period to take a 5-2 lead on Richland’s Ryan Audi. He added an escape and a takedown in the second period for an 8-2 lead, on his way to an 11-6 win.

In the quarterfinals, Nason dropped a 7-1 decision to fourth-seed Bradley Leon of Montgomery.

Nason was eliminated in his first wrestleback match, a 9-3 loss to Penn Cambria’s Brandon Oravec.

At 152 pounds, senior Karter Rude, the fifth seed, opened with a pin of Pocono Mountains East’s Camryn Sopko in 1:45.

In the round-of-16, Rude scored a pair of takedowns to take a 4-1 lead early in the first period, but Dubois Area’s Carter Wilson countered with a takedown with 12 seconds remaining to tie the bout, and then secured the pin at 1:55.

In the consolation bracket, Rude received a forfeit from Clearfield’s Karson Kline to advance to the consolation round-of-8, then built a 6-1 lead before registering a fall in 4:05 over Benton’s Evan Brokenshire.

Rude’s tournament came to an end in the second round-of-8 via a second-period fall against second-seeded Travis Stipetich of North Allegheny.

At 285 pounds, sophomore Josh Nittinger, the seventh seed, lost via fall to Canton’s Mason Nelson in 3:37 in the opening round, but bounced back with two wins in the consolation bracket.

In his first wrestleback match, Nittinger scored a takedown 19 seconds into overtime for a 2-0 win over Penn Cambria’s Brandon Yeoman. In his next bout, NIttinger turned a reversal into a fall at 2:15 against Marion Center’s Luke Winters.

In the second round-of-8, NIttinger was eliminated by St. Joe’s Prep’s Maxwell Roy via fall in 4:49.

At 120 pounds, sophomore Mason Vanderpool, the eight seed, led Pennfield’s Ryan Parton, 5-3, in the third period, but Parton turned Vanderpool for a fall at 4:51.

In the consolation bracket, Vanderpool flattened Hollidaysburg’ Noah Horne in 24 seconds, but was eliminated in his next bout — a 7-2 loss to Commodore Perry’s Hunter Gable.

At 189 pounds, senior Collin Rosh scored a fall over Daniel Boone’s Jake
 in 3:43. Pogash led 1-0 after an escape early in the second period, but Rosh answered with a takedown and turn for the fall.

In the round-of-16, Rosh lost via first-period fall to second-seeded Colby Springman of Montoursville.

Rosh also lost via fall in his first wrestleback match to Cranberry’s Branden McFetridge.

Freshman Keaton Sinsabaugh went 0-2 at 106, and senior Lucas Forbes went 0-2 at 145 pounds.

Day 2’s action begins Saturday at 10 a.m.

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