Decades ago, the City of Williamsport conducted a public contest inviting entries seeking to identify a new promotional slogan. Based upon its uniqueness as the Birthplace of Little League and the importance baseball has played in its history, I decided to enter the contest, submitting my suggestion, “The Little League City with a Big League Heart.”
While the slogan “Proud Past and Promising Future” was ultimately selected, there can be no denying baseball is embedded deeply into the community’s roots.
Following conversations with Muncy’s Austin Johnson and Montgomery’s Brandt Harer, preparing the article on their recent state PIAA wrestling championships, it is also quite evident that the achievements of area grapplers are making a name for themselves statewide.
While not a wrestling connoisseur, the many years of success compiled by the athletes dedicated to the one-on-one sport are impressive and a testament to their commitment, perseverance, and self-sacrifices needed to attain their ultimate goals.
Harkening back to my long-ago high school days, I can still vividly recall that early picture burned into my brain about high school wrestling. Basketball players and wrestlers shared the same shower room. I had a friend who was an accomplished 154-pound wrestler. In what became a question of why anyone would want to do that, I would often see him, donning a rubber suit, about to go down to the basement boiler room to shed pounds before his next match.
Today’s wrestlers still maintain concerns about body weight, but the procedures involved are greatly different. Wrestling weight control requirements include body fat testing to determine athletes’ weight, education and, hydration and nutrition, and a minimum weight loss component that prevents weight fluctuations.
While Johnson and Harer achieved personal glory, winning their second PIAA gold medals, the Montgomery girls wrestling team made history. In just the third year of PIAA high school girls’ wrestling, a trio of Red Raider ladies catapulted the school to a state team championship. Zoe Furman (silver), Emily Murphy, and Jenna Houseknecht (both bronze) led the way to a five-point team win over second-place Chestnut Ridge.
Williamsport junior Lillian Rumsey and Central Mountain senior Kendall Wagner left the Giant Center with bronze jewelry around their necks. Ramsey rallied for a 3-2 overtime win over Southern Leigh’s Maj Graham at 118 pounds, while Wagner triumphed 7-1 over Isabella Priano of Central Bucks. For Rumsey, it was her third straight bronze medal, which upped her Millionaire wrestling record to 88-3.
On the boy’s side, Montoursville’s Gage Wentzel achieved a silver medal of 172 pounds, as did Warrior Run’s Reagan Milheim at 160. Colton Wade, Sullivan County, lost to Greyson Music of Bishop McDevitt at 127 pounds in a bronze medal match.
Collegiately, all eyes are on the Penn State Nittany Lions as they are in Philadelphia this weekend for the NCAA National Tournament. The reigning Big Ten Conference and defending National Champions have qualified ten wrestlers for the Philly showdown. Included in the group are four number-one seeds headed by 184-pounder Carter Starocci, undefeated at 21-0 and seeking his unprecedented fifth NCAA title.
The other number one seeds are freshman Luke Lilledahl, 125-pounds; Tyler Kasak, 157; and undefeated (22-0) Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165.
Montoursville’s Gavin Hoffman (285 pounds) is seeded 14th for Lock Haven University, which has six wrestlers headed to the NCAAs. Bucknell University is sending five wrestlers to Philadelphia.
At the Division III level, Warrior Run’s Kaden Majcher (32-4) was the top seed at 125 pounds for Lycoming College in last weekend’s national tournament. Lycoming also had Nolen Zeigler (174) and Kaiden Wagner (165) competing.
141-pounder Noah Hunt of Muncy represented Penn College at the D-III event.
I have no knowledge if Lock Haven ever held a contest to name itself ‘Mat Town USA’, but wrestlers in our local area are letting their achievements speak loud and clear.
