The AA District 6 wrestling tournament was held on  February 19th and 20th at Altoona Field House. Wrestlers from all over the district competed for the hardware and a spot at the regional round. Tyrone had eight wrestlers compete and two wrestlers placed; Devon Brown (120 lbs) placed sixth and Sage Dixon (145 lbs) placed 5th and will move onto regionals.

Junior Sage Dixon at 145 lbs. went 4-2. Dixon won by decision 12-8 over Noah Sleasman of Blairsville. He then lost by fall fifty-two seconds in by Seth Baney of Huningdon. Dixon then faced Logan Marko of Central and won by major decision 9-0. He won by decision 2-0 in overtime over Jon Dale of Moshannon Valley. Dixon lost his following match by decision 5-3 from Jared Hurd of Penns Valley in the semi-finals for consolations. He won by decision 3-2 over Jarred Stoy of Penn Cambria and finished in 5th place moving onto regionals.

Junior Devon Brown at 120 lbs. went 4-3. He won by fall a minute and twenty-one seconds into his match over brad Casper from Central Cambria. He then faced Tyler Wileman of Juniata and lost by fall four minutes and fifty-one seconds into his match. The following day,  Brown won by decision 2-0 over Noah Walls from United.  He then won by decision 5-1 over Tyler Zapach of Marion Center. Wrestling for third, Brown lost by fall two minutes and fourteen seconds into his match to Clayton Dorian from Westmont Hilltop.  In his final match, he lost by decision 5-1 from Logan Shaffer of Portage. Brown finished in sixth place.

Junior Mike Cherry at 106 lbs. went 1-2. He lost his first match by decision 7-0 to Tyler Tinsman of Marion Center. He bounced back with a  major decision of 13-0 over Brandon Hollsinger of Central. He then lost his final match by decision 6-1 to Tyler Denochick from West Branch.

Sophomore Jamal Hicks  at 126 lbs. went 2-2. Hicks lost by fall in his first match fifty-two seconds in by Ethan Kelly of Westmont Hilltop. He went on to win by fall two minutes and twenty-four seconds into the match over Warren Shope from Huningdon. He won by fall three minutes and fifty-four seconds in over Nick Huskey from Ligonier Valley. Hicks lost his last match by decision 2-0 to Cole Sossong of Portage.

Senior Aaron Lewis at 138 lbs went 1-2. He lost by fall in fifty-two seconds from Robbie Steel of Mount Union. He then won by fall in fifty-seven seconds over Noah Zarkowich of Juniata. Lewis lost his last match by fall a minute and fifty-seven seconds in by Hunter Kish of Central Cambria.

Senior Lance Loose at 152 lbs. went 1-2. He lost by fall in forty-eight seconds from Derek Brown of Penn Cambria. He then faced Tristan Love from Southern Huningdon and won by fall in two minutes and thirty-eight seconds. Loose lost his last match by fall a minute and fifty-five seconds in by Caleb Bracken of United.

Senior Phoenix Farias at 170 lbs. went 1-2. He won his first match by fall in three minutes and thirty-seven seconds over Brendan Marino from United. Farias then faced Brenton Troutman from Juniata Valley and lost in over time 6-4.  He lost his last match by decision 3-1 against Braydon Kylor of Mount Union.

Junior Steve Colyer at 220 lbs. went 1-1. He won his first match by fall in thirty-nine seconds over Treyson Sutton of Ligonier Valley. Colyer lost by fall in a minute and thirty-two seconds to Dj Bookwalter of Mount Union. Colyer was then disqualified because of impetigo on his neck.

The Tyrone finished the season with a 5-11 record. Overall the team was pleased with their accomplishments.

“The team did what we had to do. We knew that we were outnumbered but we still put our hearts into it. Next year we hope to have more difficult practices and a greater turnout” said sophomore Jamal Hicks.

Season continues for some

Even though the season is over with, there are still individual tournaments that the wrestlers want to compete in. Many wrestlers are considering going to MAWA’s (Middle Atlantic Wrestling Association) held in Maryland and the Penn State Wrestling Tournament held in State College.  Tyrone’s wrestlers are beginning their preparations for these tournaments.

“For the tournament I plan on working to get better off the bottom and defend against leg riders” said Junior Steve Colyer.

The team hopes to get stronger by creating a lifting plan.

“To prepare for the next season, I’m going to lift, wrestle in tournament, and keep a good diet” said Junior Devon Brown.

Senior Phoenix Farias advises future wrestlers, “Focus more on wrestling live and give it all you got. Leave it on the mat and have no regrets.”