UPDATED Tuesday night recap 1/17

It was a big night of action on the local mats. I was at what was probably the biggest match in the area - Somerset's 35-18 victory over Westmont Hilltop. I covered it for The Tribune-Democrat and shot video. (By the way, I handed the video off to someone who is great at editing but doesn't know much about wrestling, so don't go too hard on us if it's pretty generic).
I managed to get all of the results posted, but I'm not sure if I'll get to do analysis, as I have a meeting in Pittsburgh during the day.
The Altoona Mirror has a roundup of stuff that's mostly out of my coverage area, including the box score for Mount Union's thumping of Huntingdon. Also, Todd Irwin did a nice piece on Chestnut Ridge and how the Lions are dealing with the offseason death of Brian Corle.

Somerset 106-pounder Garret Foster hits a switch against Westmont Hilltop's
Drake Dorian during their bout on Tuesday night. Foster won 10-2.
See more photos from the match at TKO Photos.

Somerset 35, Westmont Hilltop 18

145-Ian Helsel, WH, dec. Landon Lohr, 4-3.

152-Josh Darr, S, dec. Tanner Patton, 6-2.

160-Michael Sutton, S, pinned Colin Barron, 1:25.

170-Logan Eller, S, dec. Jonah Cramer, 5-1.

182-Ryan Burnheimer, WH, dec. Jacob Nickelson, 5-2.

195-Jon Baer, S, dec. Eric Kowalewski, 6-5.

220-Jake Hayman, S, dec. Don Shovestull, 10-5.

285-Josh Duplin, WH, forfeit.

106-Garret Foster, S, maj. dec. Drake Dorian, 10-2.

113-Logan Blackburn, WH, dec. Damian Jano, 9-3.

120-Sheldon Walker, S, pinned Nick Mical, 2:36.

126-Stephen Zipf, WH, dec. Tyler Walker, 9-8.

132-Jon Fabian, S, dec. Mike Walsh, 3-1.

138-Mike Laue, S, maj. dec. Andrew Garrison, 15-4.

Records: Somerset 7-1. Westmont Hilltop 5-2.  

Analysis: I expected Somerset to win, but after Ian Helsel knocked off Landon Lohr in the first match and Tanner Patton scored the opening takedown over Josh Darr at 152, I wasn't so sure. But Darr and the Golden Eagles quickly righted the ship.
I was surprised at how close Ryan Burnheimer's match with Jacob Nickelson was at 182 pounds. The final score was 5-2, but it was 3-2 until the final seconds, when Nickelson nearly came up with a potentially match-winning headlock. Burnheimer was able to pop his head out for a takedown with 14 seconds remaining. Westmont coach Matt Beaujon said that Nickelson is "going to do some damage in the postseason," and after watching this match, I believe him.
Jon Baer did a good job of playing the edge against Eric Kowalewski. I'm pretty sure that Baer got hit with a very low-key stalling call in the second period and that a third-period call would tie the match, but it never came.
Jake Hayman had a good win over Don Shovestull at 220 and Jon Fabian got a good victory over Mike Walsh at 132 pounds.

Bedford 55, Richland 22

106-Jake Warren, B, dec. Adam George, 7-5.
113-Ryan Easter, B, pinned Stephen Rosuer, :41.
120-Garret Thomas, B, pinned Jordan Cinko, 1:11.
126-Toby Brett, B, pinned Marcus McKool, :52.
132-Nick Naglic, R, maj. dec. Caleb Grimes, 11-0.
138-Zach Dudek, B, pinned John Li, 3:13.
145-Dan Devan, R, pinned Jesse Martin, 1:16.
152-Tanner Williams, B, maj. dec. Mario Rizzo, 12-4.
160-Josiah Koontz, B, pinned Marco Pecora, 1:22.
170-Dylan Evans, B, pinned Elijah Metzger, 1:37.
182-Cody Yingling, B, pinned Mike Merriman, 3:07.
195-Michael Brett, B, pinned Killian Snopko, 1:59.
220-John Rizzo, R, pinned Jacob Krupa, 1:33.
285-Matt Moose, R, pinned Justin Easter, :58.
Records: Bedford 10-0. Richland 4-3.

Analysis: Lopsided victories by Bedford shouldn't surprise me anymore, but some still do. Tanner Williams and Josiah Koontz each picked up bonus points over solid Richland wrestlers.
But the biggest thing about this match is just how dominant John Rizzo is. Facing a very good 220-pounder in Jacob Krupa, it would be understandable if Rizzo was "only" able to come up with a major decision or even a 6-0-, 7-1-type match. Instead, he delivers a fall in a minute and a half. Looks like 220 is fitting the two-time heavyweight state champion just fine.

CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS: 45, Greater Johnstown HS: 25

106: Dautlick, Michael (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) DEC lima-tanaka, madison(Greater Johnstown) 6-5
113: Dupas, Ryan (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) For (Greater Johnstown HS) -
120: Brahim, Jeff (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) DEC walker, malik(Greater Johnstown HS) 6-4
126: Thomas, Brad (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) FALL Stephens, Dustin(Greater Johnstown HS) :26
132: Davis, Joseph (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) TF hall, rodney(Greater Johnstown HS) 5:45
138: Harris, Malcolm (Greater Johnstown HS) MD Niebauer, Levi(CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) 18-10
145: Leeth, William (Greater Johnstown HS) FALL Legros, Richard(CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) 3:20
152: Yahner, Travis (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) MD wilson, jesaiah(Greater Johnstown HS) 13-4
160: Edwards, Devine (Greater Johnstown HS) FALL Waksmunski, Dalton(CAMBRIA HEIGHTS) :39
170: Inzana, Ross (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) For (Greater Johnstown HS) -
182: Crawford, Tyler (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) For (Greater Johnstown HS) -
195: butcher, kawan (Greater Johnstown HS) For (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) -
220: Beach, Jake (CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) FALL white, richard(Greater Johnstown HS) :44
285: Mitchell, Jeremiah (Greater Johnstown HS) DEC Gill, Aaron(CAMBRIA HEIGHTS HS) 2-0

Analysis: A good dual meet win for Cambria Heights, although it might have been a lot closer if Johnstown could get a healthy Gervon Simon back in the lineup.
The Trojans got another nice win out of Malcolm Harris, who majored Levi Niebauer.
Not sure where this one started, so I can't criticize the three straight forfeits in the upper weights - if it started somewhere in the previous few weights you have to take the points - but I'd have like to have seen Tyler Crawford vs. Kawan Butcher.

Conemaugh Township 45, Portage 21

132-Chase Fox, P, pinned Kris Knotts, 2:40.
138-Shane Baker, P, dec. Taylor Cahill, 4-2.
145-Tanner Cahill, CT, pinned Caleb Kephart, 1:17.
152-Cory Berchick, CT, pinned Galen Nelson, :29.
160-Ryan Schifflett, CT, dec. Paul Husar, 5-3.
170-Donny Waters, P, pinned Jusdan Griffith, 2:36.
182-Randy Gleason, P, pinned Andrew Gowarty, 1:43.
195-Kyle Drenner, CT, pinned Cameron Neel, 1:06.
220-Luke Gindlesperger, CT, dec. Tyler Strong, 1-0.
285-Nick Holsopple, CT, forfeit.
106-Ryan Smolk, CT, forfeit.
113-Kody Ofsanko, CT, forfeit.
120-Mickey Sanders, CT, dec. Nick Lutz, 4-2.
126-Casey Berchick, CT, forfeit.
Records: Conemaugh Township 5-1. Portage 2-4.

Analysis: The only thing that really jumped out at me here is the 138-pound match. I wouldn't have expected Shane Baker to beat Taylor Cahill, but that's exactly what happened.

Berlin Brothersvalley HS: 51 SHADE HS: 15

106: Pakstis, Joseph (SHADE HS) FALL DeArmitt, Thomas(Berlin Brothersvalley HS) 1:09

113: DeArmitt, Tyler (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) FALL MANGES, MIKE(SHADE HS) 4:32

120: Miller, Chris (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) FALL Reynolds, Jonathan(SHADE HS) 2:44

126: Custer, Edward (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) FALL DIETZ, DAVID(SHADE HS) 1:55

138: Kostick, James (SHADE HS) SV Butler, Cole(Berlin Brothersvalley HS) 8-6

145: Miller, Blake (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) For (SHADE HS) -

152: Otten, James (SHADE HS) DEC Heffner, Trace(Berlin Brothersvalley HS) 10-6

160: Fochtman, Bryce (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) For (SHADE HS) -

170: Miller, Ben (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) DEC Orner, Mathew(SHADE HS) 5-0

182: Aikey, Phillip (SHADE HS) DEC Dauphinais, Andre(Berlin Brothersvalley HS) 4-2

195: Martin, Kody (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) For (SHADE HS) -

220: Trulick, Stewart (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) For (SHADE HS) -

285: Craig, Jacob (Berlin Brothersvalley HS) FALL Ohler, Michael(SHADE HS) :10

Analysis: I would have liked to have seen Wolf Otten take on Trace Heffner at 152. I haven't seen Otten yet this season, but I'll get to do that this weekend at the Richland Coaches Duals and again next weekend at the Thomas tournament.
It was also a big night for Berlin's Jacob Craig, who needed just 10 seconds to record his 50th career fall. I'd never really thought about 50 falls, but it's actually an impressive mark. Berlin coach Jason Cornell says it ranks 19th all time in Somerset County and is tied for fourth in school history behind Luke Lorson (64), Tyler Crites (58) and Jeremy Broadwater (55). Zach Lee also had 50.
What makes Craig's mark impressive is that he's done it in only three years of varsity wrestling. He wrestled junior high as a freshman, but now has 50 pins in 69 career victories.

Central Cambria 54, Penn Cambria 17

285-Evan Sikora, CC, pinned Seth McLendon, :13.
106-No match.
113-Brad Taylor, CC, pinned Nathan Gates, :41.
120-Cameron Long, CC, forfeit.
126-Coltin Makin, CC, pinned Zack Rhone-Hatch, 3:16.
132-Ben Rager, CC, forfeit.
138-Michael Eckenrode, PC, dec. T.K. Karlinsey, 10-3.
145-Matt Wyland, PC, dec. Kevin Bednar, 9-2.
152-Jon Stoy, PC, tech. fall Tanner Bilonick. 15-0.
160-Tony Risaliti, CC, pinned Henry Spangler, 1:01.
170-Cody Slebodnick, CC, forfeit.
182-Henry Schlosser, PC, pinned Calvin Crow, 1:46.
195-Jordan O'Farrell, CC, forfeit.
220-Luke Zearing, CC, pinned John Wilkinson, 3:42.
Record: Penn Cambria 0-6.

Analysis: The three most interesting parts of this one were over quickly.
1. Nick Szala is out with a back injury and it's unclear when he'll return. That's a huge loss for the Panthers and District 6 as a whole. Szala had been wrestling very well. Hopefully he can make a quick recovery.
2. Penn Cambria inducted its three members in its inaugural Hall of Fame class. Pat Chirdon, Charlie Horton and John Suekinos were honored for the roles their contributions to the school's wrestling program.
3. Evan Sikora stunned Seth McLendon with a headlock 13 seconds into the opening bout of the night. McLendon has been having a very solid season and this should be just a minor setback, but it was definitely an eye-opener.

Northern Cambria 42, Marion Center 30

106-Anthony Yates, NC, forfeit.
113-Isaac Stewart, MC, forfeit.
120-No match.
126-Nolan Paronish, NC, forfeit.
132-Tylor Gaston, NC, forfeit.
138-Gus Yahner, NC, forfeit.
145-Casey Brown, NC, pinned Collin Butterworth.
152-John Krumenacker, NC, forfeit.
160-Phil Crook, MC, forfeit.
170-James Holley, MC, forfeit.
182-Joey Frontino, NC, pinned Kyle McCullough.
195-Collin Rudd, MC, forfeit.
220-No match.
285-Austyn Polisky, MC, forfeit.

Analysis: Thirty-three minutes. That's the estimated drive time between these Heritage Conference foes. Sadly, that's far longer than the dual meet would have taken. There were only two matches wrestled, which is the least I've ever seen, and both ended in falls. No times were listed, but even if both went to the third period, the dual had to have been finished in less than 15 minutes.
In a time when many local teams have seen their numbers rise, it's sad to see something like this. It's not good for either school, the wrestlers, the fans or the sport. Hopefully the two coaches were at least able to work out some exhibition matches between those separated by a weight class to make the long bus ride worth something.