MORRISDALE — Mifflin County Husky Andrew Alexander is certainly an ultimate warrior, as Saturday he wrestled his way to a prestigious title.

The Huskies’ 107-pounder capped a banner day with a 4-1 decision over Central York’s Harris Keares in the championship match to take home top honors at this year’s Ultimate Warrior Tournament at West Branch High School.

Alexander opened the championship round with a 20-4 technical fall over Garnet Valley’s Caleb Ayala in 4:00. He followed that up by pinning Bradford’s Carson Hollock in 1:24 and picking up a 15-1 major decision over Port Allegany’s Collin Furgeson. In the championship semifinals, Alexander blanked Wilson Area’s Western Slingland 8-0 for a major decision.

There was certainly a local flavor to this year’s Ultimate Warrior Tournament as the Huskies, Juniata Indians and Mount Union Trojans each took their turns on the wrestling mats.

Mifflin County: Besides Alexander, Mifflin County had fourth other wrestlers place as Peyton Kearns was third at 285, Reese Christine took fifth at 172 and Kamden Everly and Avery Aurand ended up sixth at 139 and 189.

Overall, the Huskies finished fifth in the 46-team field. Derry Area won the team title with 166.5 points, edging Central Mountain with 165. Rounding out the top five were Hickory (146), Reynolds (144) and Mifflin County (142.5).

Kearns edged Armstrong’s Philup Rearick 2-0 in the third-place bout. Kearns opened the championship round with a 24-8 tech fall over Juniata’s Kelton Bonnell in 5:33 then dispatched Bald Eagle Area’s Gage Gardner 6-2 in the championship quarterfinals.

In the semis, Kearns dropped a 3-0 decision to Towanda’s Mason Higley but rebounded to hand Richland’s Ryvan Audi a 10-1 loss via major decision.

Christine scored an 11-0 major decision over Indiana’s Dominic Fanella to take fifth. He opened the championship round by pinning Peters Township’s Parker Nave in 5:42 but lost by disqualification in 4:30 to Amstrong’s Kaleb Kinzey in the quarterfinals. Christine bounced back to pin Garnet Valley’s Wyatt Panarello in 2:36 in the fifth round of consys. He also flattened Tyrone’s Kyler Suhoney in 1:11 before falling to Moshannon Valley’s Rocco Reifer 3-1 in the consy semis.

Everly lost a tough 1-0 decision to Central Clarion’s Logan Powell in his fifth-place bout. He started off with a 21-6 tech fall over Indiana’s Sean Parks in 3:13 then added a 12-3 major decision over Oswayo Valley’s Travis Coriaty. Everly then suffered a 4-1 setback to BEA’s Dawson Lomison before shutting out Mount Union’s Jacik Hess in a 12-0 major in the consys fifth round. Everly then pinned Wyalusing’s Cole Patrick in 2:53 before losing a 15-0 tech fall in 2:56 to Pen Argyl’s Collin Ramsey.

Aurand lost by injury default in his fifth-place bout to Reynolds’ Emery Johnson. He won his opener over Philipsburg-Osceola’s Conner Eichenlaub 21-6 with a tech fall in 1:52 and another 19-3 tech fall over Pen Argyl’s Nuallan King in 2:18. Aurand was pinned by Port Allegany’s Aiden Bliss in 5:50 but came back to pin Central Clarion’s Jacob Henry in 55 seconds. Aurand then stopped Garnet Valley’s Paxton Hunt 2-1 before losing by injury default to Derry Area’s Brady Brown by injury default.

At 121, Mifflin County’s Paxton Shawver bowed out in the fifth round of consys as did Layten Bowersox at 127, Jake Knable at 133, Colby Seiler at 152 and Brayan Aurand at 160.

Shawver won a 15-0 tech fall in 1:14 over Cambria Heights’ Levi Link and an 8-5 decision over Towanda’s Curtis Maynard before getting pinned by Reynolds’ Waylon Waite in 36 seconds in the championship quarters. Shawver was eliminated after losing by forfeit to Derry Area’s Dylan Bateman.

Bowersox dominated Johnsonburg’s Mario Casilio 8-0 and doubled up Garnet Valley’s Ryan Vance 10-5 before getting pinned by Central Mountain’s Aiden Kunes in 3:21. Bowersox came back to beat Southern Columbia’s Caiden Gray 10-5 but lost an 11-3 major to Indiana’s Carter Putt.

Knable pinned Wilson Area’s Christian Torres-Ochoa in 3:13 in his championship opener and topped Central Clarion’s Grayson Aaron 7-5 before suffering an 8-2 loss to Hughesville’s Chase Shaner. Knable pinned Garnet Valley’s Jacob Dadario in 1:56 but lost to Towana’s Gage Evans 3-0.

Seiler started off with a 12-4 major over Port Allegany’s Alden Ferguson and a 17-1 tech fall over Tyrone’s Mason vanAllman in 1:20 before falling to Southern Columbia’s Brayden Andrews 8-5. Seiler battled back to beat Wyalusing’s Jonathan Earle 7-2 but was eliminated after a 7-2 loss to Johnsonburg’s Rocco Allegretto.

Aurand was on the losing end of a 19-4 tech fall to Mount Union’s Micah Atherton in 2:48 but came back to pin Hollidaysburg’s Blake Kennedy in 3:24 and Marion Center’s Noah Filipovich in 4:54. After a 7-0 win over Juniata Valley’s Zack Dick, Aurand was pinned by Hughesville’s Mason Mordan in 58 seconds.

At 215, Mifflin County’s Alonso Torres dropped both of his matches, getting pinned by Moshannon Valley’s Tyler Lobb in 1:28 and by Westmont Hilltop’s Connor Ward in 1:29.

Mount Union: Josh Ryan stopped Southern Columbia’s Jude Bremigen 4-1 in the third-place bout at 215 pounds for the Trojans’ only place-winner. Mount Union finished 23rd in the team standings with 56 points.

Ryan opened the championship round by pinning Oswayo Valley’s Josh Kusnierz in 1:04 then doing the same to Tyrone’s Kayden Ansman in 59 seconds. Ryan scored a 21-9 major decision over Westmont Hilltop’s Connor Ward before falling 3-2 to Bremigen in the championship quarters. Ryan then rattled off three wins – pinning Central York’s Connor Setler in 2:49 and earning a 4-0 decision over Moshannon Valley’s Tyler Lobb and 6-5 over DuBois’ Kendahl Hoare to earn a rematch with Bremigen.

Two Trojan wrestlers were knocked out in the fifth round of consys as 139-pounder Jacik Hess lost to Mifflin County’s Kamden Everly 12-0 and 152-pounder Rowan McClain-Hartman fell 7-2 to Central Mountain’s Luke Ananea.

Hess lost to Philipsburg-Osceola’s Connor Guenot 6-2 in his opener but stayed alive by pinning Central Mountain’s Hayes Donley in 3:16 and winning a 16-0 tech fall over DuBois’ Evan Dixon in 2:54. He pinned Armstrong’s Alec Formaini in 1:32 before bowing out.

McClain-Hartman started off with a 10-0 major over Central Mountain’s Dakoda Packer and a 4-2 victory over Juniata’s Ryder Smith before losing a 21-3 tech fall in 3:23 to Bradford’s Jordan Thompson. McClain-Hartman picked up a 2-0 win over Armstrong’s Sam Jacobs before getting eliminated.

At 160, Mount Union’s Micah Atherton won two of his four bouts as he opened with a 19-4 tech fall over Mifflin County’s Brayan Aurand in 2:48 then pinned Wilson Area’s Ryan Bonham in 2:33. Atherton then lost 7-0 to Wyalusing’s Ayden Hunsinger and was pinned by Central Mountain’s Dalton McDermott in 3:47.

At 121, the Trojans’ Kamden Beatty lost both of his bouts, getting pinned by Central Mountain’s Collin Bauman in 5:27 and falling 4-1 to DuBois’ Antonio Giambanco.

At 127, Mount Union’s Miriam Shugarts also lost by a pair of falls, getting pinned in 24 seconds by Sullivan County’s Colton Wadein 24 seconds and dropping a 16-0 tech fall to Troy’s Wilder Koch in 1:58.

At 145, Trojan Izik Copenhaver was pinned by Indiana’s Tuscan Blystone in 17 seconds and suffered a 9-0 major to Central Bucks South’s Hunter Sharp.

At 172, Andrew Ryan lost both of his bouts, losing a 13-2 major to P-O’s Colton Chapman and getting pinned by Wilson Area’s Zeandros Johnson in 3:46.

At 189, Mount Union’s Aydin Grove pinned Southern Columbia’s Greg Fulmer in 3:36 then fell to P-O’s Caleb Close in 37 seconds and again by Central Clarion’s Jacob Henry in 2:06. He also pinned Juniata’s Conrad Long in 3:48.

Juniata: Three Indians made it to the fourth round of consolation bouts before seeing their tournament hopes end. Juniata finished with 21 points to place 40th in the team standings.

At 127 pounds, the Indians’ Anthony Maradiaga was pinned by River Valley’s Wyatt Taubler in 1:48. Maradiaga lost his opener by fall to Central York’s Connor Knight in 2:26 then beat Derry Area’s Giovanni Beatrice 6-4 and Armstrong’s Brayden Stull with an 18-2 tech fall in 2:59.

At 133, Colton Rowles lost to Philipsburg-Osceola’s Ace Foster in 1:45. Rowles pinned Oswayo Valley’s Silas Knepp in 16 seconds and scored a 17-1 tech fall over Central Mountain’s Jaggar Pardoe in 3:18. Rowles dropped a 15-0 tech fall to Derry Area’s Anthony Mucci in 2:43.

At 285, Juniata’s Kelton Bonnell lost 7-0 to Central Mountain’s Hayes Henry but advanced by pinning Derry Area’s Levi Haase in 3:13 and Pen Argyl’s Noah Murcelo in 2:17. Bonnell then lost to Mifflin County’s Peyton Kearns, a 24-8 tech fall in 5:33.

At 145, Ty Fahnestock won one of three bouts, losing a 17-2 tech fall to Armstrong’s Max Formaini in 4:25 and 12-2 major to Hughesville’s Kile Hartman and winning 4-0 over Central Clarion’s James Sprague.

At 152, Ryder Smith also picked up a win in three outings, shutting out Pen Argyl’s Zachary Metzgar 7-0 after falling 6-2 to Troy’s Carter Austin and 4-2 to Mount Union’s Rowan McClain-Hartman.

At 189, Conrad Long was pinned by Canton’s Leland Pepper in 5:09 and by Mount Union’s Aydin Grove in 3:48.

Juniata 139-pounder Cody Nipple was also pinned twice, falling to Hickory’s Dylan O’Brien in 1:30 and to Port Allegany’s Isaac Postlewait in 4:32.

Midd-West 22nd at

Coal Cracker Tourney

LEHIGHTON – Midd-West’s Matthew Smith came away with a third-place finish and teammates Charley Paige and Evan Maneval finished seventh and eighth as the Mustangs ended up 22nd overall in the 58-team Coal Cracker Tournament at Lehighton High School on Saturday.

Smith edged Kennett’s Kane Lengel to win the third-place bout at 145 pounds for the Mustangs. Smith started off by pinning Oxford Area’s Lorenzo Fernandez in 38 seconds and earning a 20-3 tech fall over Salesianum School (Del.)’s Garrett Till in 4:39. Smith then lost 4-1 to Faith Christian Academy’s Shane Wagner but rebounded for a 17-1 tech fall over Salisbury Township’s Nathaniel Tone in 2:47 and 19-3 tech fall over Abington Heights’ Luke Evans in 2:18. Smith won three more bouts, edging Boiling Springs’ Ian Longenberger 9-8, dominating Hazleton Area’s Simon Zamudio with a 19-5 major and topping First Baptist Academy’s Michael Kersey 6-5.

At 139, Paige blanked Salesianum School’s Santino Sianni 7-0 in the seventh-place bout. Paige got there by pinning Tamaqua’s Tyler MacMillan in 16 seconds, Honesdale’s Connor Scanlon in 1:38 and Hatboro Horsham’s Ryan Allgeier in 5;59. Paige lost in the championship quarters to Central Dauphin’s C.J. Ferree in a 16-0 tech fall in 5:37 but came back for a 9-0 major over Abington Heights’ Chace Berry. Paige then lost a 13-5 major to Wyoming Seminary’s Matt Dailey.

At 152, Maneval suffered an 11-7 setback to Palmerton’s Derek King to place eighth. Maneval won by fall over Selinsgrove’s Hunter Derk in 1:20 then picked up a 14-0 major over Mid Valley’s Wyatt Youngblood. He added a 9-3 win over Boiling Springs’ Sawyer Young before losing a 17-0 tech fall to Faith Christian Academy’s Max Stein in 2:44. Maneval then split his next two decisions, scoring a 13-4 major over Northwestern Lehigh’s Nolan Koehler and losing a 17-2 tech fall to Kennett’s Zack Jaffe in 3:33.

At 107, Mason Kerstetter bowed out in the fifth round of consolations as did the Mustangs’ 160-pounder Graham Yount. Kerstetter opened by pinning Southern Lehigh’s Landon Klien in 41 seconds and winning a 16-0 tech fall over Halifax’s Kamden Schadel in 2:34. After dropping a 7-0 decision to Wilson West Lawn’s Caleb Schaffer, Kerstetter stayed alive by pinning Kennett’s Vincent Wuchter in 3:52 but then was pinned by Hanover Area’s Chase Smith in 2:49.

Yount pinned Executive Education Academy’s Angel Cartagena in 45 seconds and toppled Pocono Mountain East’s Ceejay Serfrass 12-0 before getting pinned by Wyoming Seminary’s Jack Chamberlain in 1:00. Yount split a pair of tech falls, beating Hazleton Area’s Jaxon Johnson 18-3 in 4:56 and losing to Mahanoy’s Rory Dixon 17-1 in 2:17.

At 121, Midd-West’s Michael Viafore won three of his five bouts, getting pinned by Abington Heights’ Jake Schiavone in 3:30 before bouncing back to pin Honesdale’s Reese Dennis in 2:04 and Hanover Area’s Ethan Noe in 57 seconds. After a 17-0 tech fall over Pleasant Valley’s Lorenzo Demaio in 2:07, Viafore was pinned by Halifax’s Jacksin Smith in 2:28.

At 189, Mustang Jared Devine won a pair of bouts after falling to Kennett’s Randall Waybright 7-5 in his opener. Devine pinned Stroudsburg’s Ahmad Albabili in 28 seconds and blanked Hanover Area’s Gregory Vassallo 3-0 before getting pinned by Berwick’s Francis Yosh in 1:26.

At 139, R.J. Wilt also went 2-2 for the Mustangs, getting pinned by Oxford Area’s Jordan Schaible in 2:44, pinning Allentown Central Catholic’s Cooper Gulycz in 46 seconds and Berwick’s Conner Roberts in 2:34 before losing an 18-1 tech fall to Canon-McMillan’s Aidan Finnigan in 3:20.

At 114, Lane Yount went 1-2, getting pinned by Northwestern Lehigh’s Weston Killar in 3:32, pinning EEA’s Nathaniel Cruz in 1:56 and getting pinned by Kennett’s Chase Olintz in 4:45.

The Mustang’s 215-pounder Barry Penepacker dropped both of his bouts, getting pinned by Interboro’s Greg Ferrari in 1:43 and dropping a 15-0 tech fall to Oxford Area’s Stephen Scharadin in 3:14.

At 145, Gavin Aucker also went 0-2, getting decked by Wilson West Lawn’s McKaden Speece in 1:38 and by Salesianum School’s Garrett Till in 1:20.

At 172, Midd-West’s Nolan DeLong was pinned by St. Joseph’s Prep’s Emilio Diaz-Conty Fonseca in 1:06 and Hanover Area’s Camden Kratz in 2:46.

At 127, Witten Carter lost two decisions via true fall in 2:56 to Honesdale’s Justin Scanlon and Palmerton’s Josh Merkel in 1:44.

Faith Christian Academy, which crowned eight champions and had 10 wrestlers in the finals, racked up 344 points to win the team title. Rounding out the top five were Central Dauphin (159.5), Montgomery (152), Wyoming Seminary (141.5) and Wilson West Lawn (137.0). Midd-West had 89 points.