One of Head Coach Terry Tate’s goals for this season is to challenge his wrestlers by competing in tougher tournaments.

His wrestlers met their first big challenge last weekend at the annual Panther Holiday Classic Tournament at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson on December 14th and 15th.

The tournament featured 44 teams, from across Pennsylvania and as far away as Virginia.

Tyrone sophomore Hunter Walk was the highest placing Tyrone wrestler at the tournament.

“I felt pretty good. I still have a little bit to work on but I feel like I did a lot better than last year as I placed sixth this year,” said Walk.

Walk started off the tournament with two pins, pushing his record to 3-0 on the first day.

Walk went 0-3 on day two, but this did not stop him from earning a 6th place title for his weight class.

As a team, Tyrone went 12-16 on the first day with Walk and four other wrestlers eligible to move on to day two of the tournament.

Junior Mason Walls went 2-1, losing to the 9th seed 9-0, and pinned his way to one of his wins.

Senior Brandon Ixtepan and sophomore Alex Weaver went 1-2 on the day, while freshman Ashton Sipes went 1-1.

Sophomore Tommy Hicks went 2-1, winning 9-7 and receiving a forfeit.

Freshman Zack Lash had a back-and-forth third match which resulted in a pin for Lash, making his record 2-1.

“The atmosphere was crowded. It was a new experience.  There was a lot more talent their than in junior high,” said Lash, who got his first taste of competition at a big tournament. “I’m happy that I won more than I lost.”

Seniors Braeden Nevling-Ray and Aric Reader, and sophomores Noah Sprankle and Anthony Dalesio went 0-2.

The five wrestlers that went to the second day of the Panther Holiday Classic did not have a very productive day, having a 2-7 record at the conclusion of the tournament.

Walls, Hicks, and Sipes went 0-1, ending their day at the tournament early.

Lash went 1-1, pinning the 8th seeded wrestler then getting pinned by the 7th seeded wrestler.

In the Junior Varsity tournament, Dalesio only wrestled one match, but he came out with a win.

There were 36 wrestlers from the area that placed at tournament.

Huntingdon had five place winners and finished in third place in the team standings with 146.5 points. Penns Valley, the only other Mountain League team to place, was 15th.  Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy in State College won by 42.5 points, 192.5-150, over Tunkhannock.

The Golden Eagles have back to back matches this week.  They face Penns Valley at home tonight (Tuesday, December 18) at 7 pm and Ligonier Valley, who placed 13th at the Panther tournament,  away at 7 pm on Wednesday, December 19th.

Top 20 Team Standings

1. Saint Joseph’s Academy 192.5; 2. Tunkhannock 150; 3. Huntingdon 146.5; 4. Dallastown 143; 5. Mifflinburg 138; 6. Altoona 123.5; 7. Moshannon Valley 121.5; 8. Mount Union 116.5; 9. Woodbridge, VA 109; 10. Berlin Brothers Valley 105.5; 11. Forest Hills 104; 12. Hollidaysburg 92.5; 13. Ligonier Valley and Penn Cambria 87; 15. Penns Valley 86; 16. Central Cambria 86; 17. Cambria Heights 85.5; 18. Riverbend 79; 19. Hazleton and Shamokin 77