The 2021 wrestling season started out under unusual circumstances with an abbreviated COVID schedule and wrestlers having to wear masks while competing. But that didn’t stop the Golden Eagles from earning its most successful dual meet record in over a decade.

Their 7-4 record is the team’s first winning season since 2010 when they went 11-7.  Tyrone has had a losing dual meet record every year since until this season.  

“I feel like we are making the most of our shortened season and it makes us excited to see how we do post-season,” said Tyrone Head Coach Terry Tate. 

Senior Hunter Walk also hit one of the most significant personal milestones in a wrestler’s career on January 30 by recording his one-hundredth win in a tough match against Marion Center. 

“It felt really good to finally get my hundredth win. After not even knowing if I would have a senior season I’m glad I got to reach this accomplishment,” said Walk. 

The Golden Eagles opened their season against Philipsburg Osceola, a rival with some close ties with the Tyrone team. Tyrone quickly wrapped up four forfeit wins against the Mounties and two pins from Lukas Walk and Reese Wood, resulting in a solid 42-25 Tyrone win.

Next up was a quad meet at Bellefonte Area High School. Tyrone lost in the first round against Clearfield after a bad losing streak near the end of the match. They then lost to Bellefonte 47-16.

But Tyrone brushed themselves off and recorded a big win against Indiana on January 23rd. Tyrone started off slow by losing the first three bouts but quickly regained its strength and won 6 out of the last 7 matches, including pins from Tommy Hicks and Butch Barr to win 45-27.

A few days later Tyrone hit a brick wall against a talented Bald Eagle squad. Tyrone started the match strong with a forfeit for Tommy Hicks, followed by a major decision for Alex Weaver and a pin from Braden Ewing, but the Golden Eagles would lose all but one of the remaining bouts to finish with a 42-19 loss.

However, the Golden Eagles bounced back from the loss to BEA with four straight wins.

On January 28, Tyrone won eight of twelve matches to dominate Hollidaysburg 45-16 with pins from Tommy Hicks, Hunter Walk, Ashton Sipes, and Andrew Weaver. 

A quad match on January 30 also proved successful for Tyrone. In the first round, Tyrone faced Marion Center. During this match, senior Hunter Walk pinned Ethan Ashbaugh for his one hundredth career win. The team also got pins from Ashton Sipes, Zack Lash, Tommy Hicks, and Alex Weaver on its way to a 53-18 win. 

“Hunter works incredibly hard and this is just another accomplishment for him to put on his high school resume. Any wrestler that wins 100 matches separates himself in doing so. You don’t get to this level by accident,” said Tyrone Head Coach Terry Tate.

Tyrone then dominated Blairsville 64-6 before losing to Bellefonte again, 46-15.

The last home match of the season was the Backyard Brawl against rival Bellwood. Tyrone had standout performances from freshman Braden Ewing, sophomore Reese Wood, junior Butch Barr to defeat Bellwood Antis 54-11.

The final dual match of the season was on February 6th at Altoona. Tyrone won a close contest 39-25 with pins from Zack Lash and Tommy Hicks, as well as a major decision from Hunter Walk and a technical fall from Andrew Weaver.  

Tyrone is now getting ready for sectionals on February 16th in Huntingdon. The PIAA state championships are scheduled for Friday, March 12 at the Giant Center in Hershey.