By Todd Irwin

sports@altoonamirror.com

HUNTINGDON — With a combined 21 wins between Altoona and Huntingdon, the dual meet on Tuesday night before a large crowd figured to be a good one.

It didn’t disappoint.

The Bearcats charged out to 13-point lead after first five weights, but a major decision from Altoona’s Liam Chirdon at 114 and a pin from teammate Tabor Baker in his season debut at 121 kickstarted the Mountain Lions to a 36-30 victory.

“It was back and forth, and Huntingdon’s always a good team,” Altoona coach Joel Gilbert said, “so you never know what you’re going to get. We had to move our guys around to try to get our guys in the best positions. I think that made the difference in the match.

“It’s good for our kids to get out her and get these types of matches. This is the first win we’ve had over them in close to 20 years.”

“It was a great high school wrestling match,” Huntingdon coach Jon Mykut said. “Altoona has a very good team. My hat’s off to them. We just came up a bout short. I thought the 114-pound bout was critical, and they were able to pick up that win. That was the difference.”

Altoona improved to 7-2, while Huntingdon fell to 15-3.

Gilbert shifted his lineup right off the bat, moving Luke Sipes up to 172, where he rang up a 19-4 technical fall over Grady Clark in 3:56.

Altoona’s Tykear Davis got the opening takedown of Dom Peruso at 189, but the Bearcat trailed by only one, 3-2, entering the third. Peruso scored a takedown 40 seconds in to take the lead. Davis escaped, but Peruso won, 6-4.

First-period pins by Huntingdon’s Landon Erdman and Noah Metz at 215 and 285, respectively, made the score 15-5.

“We started at a good spot for us,” Mykut said. “We thought they’d kick Sipes up and insert the kid down below. We made some adjustments to that as well. We made a good run up top after 172.”

It appeared Bearcat 107-pounder Gaige Sholly was on his way to bonus points with a 13- 2 lead over Dom Nardozza in the third. But Nardozza scored four nearfall points and held Sholly to a 13-6 decision.

Chirdon overcame a first-period takedown by Gavin Bilich to win, 11-3, getting a takedown of his own to earn the major decision.

“That was a huge swing in that match,” Gilbert said. “That kid was a senior. We had a freshman out there who is undersized a little bit. He got bonus out of that.”

Baker, who weighed in a 121 with Braiden Weaver, pinned Dekon Runk in 1:20 in his first varsity action of the season.

“Those two guys work hard every day and come to practice every day,” Gilbert said of Chirdon and Baker. “They had their opportunity and they took advantage of it. We’re just happy that they’re on our team.”

Weaver moved up to 127 got the fall in 120. Deklan Barr bumped to 133 and recorded a pin 1:03 to give the Mountain Lions a 27-18 lead.

Huntingdon’s Chris Gibson stopped Altoona’s momentum briefly with a pin in 43 seconds at 139.

But Altoona’s Phillip Sarbo got the momentum back with a 12-3 major decision over Christian Taylor at 145. Sarbo had a 6-2 lead in the third, when he got a takedown, gave up an escape and took Taylor down with 4 seconds left to earn a 12-3 major decision.

“Sarbo looked good out there also tonight against a quality opponent,” Gilbert said. “He’s coming along. He had a rough beginning to the season, but you can see him progressing as the season goes on.”

Altoona sophomore star Gavin Ciampoli moved up to 152 and secured the dual meet win with a fall in 1:41, giving the Mountain Lions a 37-24 lead.

Referee Tyler Morder deducted a team point from Altoona at 160 when the coaches objected to a second interlocking call on Luke Geishauser. Gilbert met with Morder at the scorer’s table about the interlocking, but the call was upheld.

“The official said that we can’t yell at him,” Gilbert said laughing. “Maybe he doesn’t like being yelled at.”

Locked in a 6-6 tie with Geishauser, Huntingdon’s Reese Hughes got the fall in 5:18 to close the meet.

The dual meet was preceded by the junior high match, a girls match and five junior varsity bouts. Huntingdon had nearly a full girls lineup.

“This whole night was a great night,” Mykut said. “We have 17 girls wrestling. We’re pleased with the numbers. They’re in there working just as hard as the boys.”

172–Sipes, A, tech fall Clark, 19-4, 3:56; 189–Peruso, H, dec. Davis, 6-4; 215–Erdman, H, pinned Colyer, :14; 285–Metz, H, pinned Thompkins, 1:15; 107–Sholly, H, dec. Nardozza, 13-6; 114–Chirdon, A, maj. dec. Bilich, 11-3; 121–Baker, A, pinned Runk, 1:41

127–Weaver, A, pinned Morningstar, 1:20; 133–Barr, A, pinned Schneider, 1:03; 139–Gibson, H, pinned Wible, :43; 145–Sarbo, A, maj. dec. Taylor, 12-3; 152–Ciampoli, A, pinned Wallen, 1:41; *160–Hughes, H, pinned Geishauser, 5:18.

*One team deducted from Altoona during 160.

Records: Altoona (7-2), Huntingdon (15-3)

JV winners: Share, H; Gill, H; Motija, H; Eutzy, H; Ulicne, H

Girls Dual Meet score: Huntingdon 42-18. Altoona winners: Veloz, 124; Denen, 155

Referee: Tyler Morder