WEST LAWN, Pa. | The way Northampton Area High
Schools Austin Sommer figured it, the crowd at
Wilson-West Lawns gym got its moneys worth
Tuesday night in the District 3-District 11 all-star
wrestling match.
The match was won by District 11, 29-26, with some high
drama in the final match, when Blue Mountains Oklahoma
State-bound two-time PIAA Class AAA champion, Josh Kindig,
edged Schuylkill Valleys Northwestern-bound two-time
PIAA Class AA champion Colin Shober 3-1 on a takedown with
17 seconds left in the 140-pound match.
That was a pretty exciting match to sit and
watch, said Sommer, who dominated Wilsons Kyle
Pych 4-0 in his match at 152. People expected a close
match, and they got one. I guess people got what they came
to see.
There was no doubt the Kindig-Shober showdown overshadowed
every other bout on the program. The gym only came alive
fitfully before the feature attraction; with the affair
coming just three days after the state tournament, not every
athlete was at his best, quite understandably.
One who was, was Sommer, who had been very impressive
during a run to third place at states and continued his run
of fine form with a crushingly complete win over Pych, who
was utterly smothered on bottom most of the match.
It was kind of weird wrestling in an all-star match;
I am not used to it, Sommer said. I havent
been in an all-star match since I was in the (Easton) Lions
Classic three or four times as a midget.
Sommer again will be in the Lions Classic on Thursday, this
time in the feature attraction. Hell be a tough foe
for anybody from New Jersey. In many other years, Sommer
would be wrestling in these matches as a state champ. He
looked good enough in Hershey to win most years, but he had
Central Mountains Dylan Alton in his bracket.
Sommers 10-6 loss to Alton was the closest match the
three-time state champ had in the tournament.
I knew most people thought hed tear me up, but
I gave him a run for his money. I knew I could keep it
close.
Kindig turned a good shot on a single leg into a double-leg
takedown to edge Shober late in a thriller of a match that
featured some dazzling, athletic flurries and a lot more
action than the score indicated.
Id practiced with him but never wrestled
him, said Kindig, who will compete in the Dapper Dan
Classic in Pittsburgh this weekend. I knew hed
give me a good match. I love that all the people got
excited; I thrive off the atmosphere in these big matches.
I think I had him tired out by the third period. I
took advantage of the opening I had seen in the first
period, and when he did it again in the third I exploded
right then to get the takedown.
Eastons Mark Hartenstine gave the D-11 cause a huge
boost with a thorough beating of PIAA Class AAA 135-pound
runner-up Shawn Greevy of Cumberland Valley at 135. The
Maryland-bound Red Rover tilted Greevy three times en route
to a 10-2 win.
Saucon Valleys Adam Phillipi used his ability to get
out from bottom to win a 6-4 decision over Milton
Hersheys Nick Lamoreaux in one of the two 112-pound
bouts.
DISTRICT-11 29, DISTRICT-3 26
285 -- Brook Gosch (Blue Mountain) d. Zach Freet
(Susquehannock), 5-4
112 -- Adam Phillipi (Saucon Valley) d. Nick Lamoreaux
(Milton Hershey), 6-4
215 -- Curtis Garner (Catasauqua) d. Travis Friend
(Cumberland Valley), 5-2
112 -- Brandon Davis (Parkland) md. Colton Keck (Big
Spring), 13-5
189 -- Antonio Giorgio (Warwick) p. Chris Pintado
(Liberty), 4:33
119 -- Dylan Nguyen (Red Lion) p. Anthony Marino (Liberty),
1:16
171 -- Tristan Warner (Cumberland Valley) md. Luke DeLuise
(Pius X), 12-3
125 -- Tim Ravel (Wilson-West Lawn) d. Jordan Glykas
(Northampton), 3-1 (OT)
160 -- Wade Rivera (Parkland) p. Jeff Mohn (Schuykill
Valley), 5:51
130 -- Tyler Buckman (Cumberland Valley) d. Tyler Rauenzahn
(Blue Mountain), 6-4
152 -- Austin Sommer (Northampton) d. Kyle Pych
(Wilson-West Lawn), 4-0
135 -- Mark Hartenstine (Easton) md. Shawn Greevy
(Cumberland Valley), 10-2
145 -- Bo Candelaria (Middletown) md. Phil Racciato (Pen
Argyl), 12-2
140 -- Josh Kindig (Blue Mountain) d. Colin Shober
(Schuylkill Valley), 3-1
Brad Wilson can be reached at 800-360-3601 or
bwilson@express-times.com. Talk about sports in the region
at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.

Tyler Buckman vs. Steve Spearman was the event's top match

-

(JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, The Patriot-News)

1.  WILDCATS REVENGE: After falling short in the team championships, it only seems fitting that Central Mountain win the team title in the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships. The Wildcats were led by Andrew and Dylan Alton, who won titles at 145 and 152, but also had two other placers to break Central Dauphin’s streak of six straight team titles.

2.  CRAIG IS KING HOSS: When you look at Abington Heights’ Evan Craig, you see a big guy who looks like he doesn’t have much athletic ability. Ah, that is the first mistake. Craig has that and more, proving it by pinning every one of his opponents on the way to a second straight state title at 285.

3.  BEST IN SHOW: If the Class AAA and Class AA finals were the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the match between Central Dauphin’s Tyler Buckman and McDowell’s Steve Spearman was the top entry — by far. It had twists, turns, suspense and drama all wrapped into one, and the crowd showed appreciation with a postmatch ovation.

4.  NICE GUYS FINISH FIRST: Boiling Springs’ Joe Spisak is a friendly and respectful kid that keeps his nose clean and works hard. He is the poster child for what this sport is really about, and it was good to see him get rewarded for his four years of tireless work with a state title.

5.  LEGACY CEMENTED: It isn’t often that you catch a glimpse of someone so developed and so accomplished at their craft that they are in a class of their own. But Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman getting his arm raised after a pin in the finals for a third straight state title seemed like an appropriate ending.

Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman won his third straight PIAA title with a pin against West Allegheny's Troy Reaghard.

-

(JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, The Patriot-News)

Results and quick recaps from each match of the PIAA Class AAA championship finals.

103 POUNDS
In an ultimate tie breaker fourth overtime, Canon McMillan's Conner Schram burst out of the grasp of Hempfield's Austin Miller to win a, let's say, 'tentative' 103-pound final. The wrestlers exchanged escapes in the first and second periods and did little from their feet on their way to a four-overtime marathon.

112 POUNDS
Derry Area's Jimmy Gulibon won his second PIAA title in as many years, putting on a clinic from his feet in a 12-5 decision over Blue Mountain's Corey Keener. Gulibon struck twice in the first period and never trailed to finish his season with a 36-1 record and state gold.

119 POUNDS
Franklin Regional's Nico Megaludis out-lasted Liberty's Anthony Marino, using constant pressure in the final period to win an 8-4 decision. Megaludis, the state champ at 112 pounds last season, scored a late takedown to put the finishing touches on the victory.

125 POUNDS
Bellefonte's Mitchell Port and Nazareth's Zachary Horan went back and forth in a match jam-packed with action. Port got the better end of some wild flurries and came away with a 6-3 win.

130 POUNDS
A wild ride from start to finish, McDowell's Steve Spearman scored an emphatic late takedown to topple Central Dauphin's Tyler Buckman 7-6 in rideout time. Buckman escaped to take a 6-5 lead, but surrendered the winning takedown and just missed turning Spearman for back points in the final seconds.

135 POUNDS
Council Rock South's Josh Dziewa finished his dominant run through the 135 bracket, making short work of Cumberland Valley's Shawn Greevy with a first-period pin. Dziewa won two matches by fall and out-scored his other two opponents 7-0 in capturing the gold.

140 POUNDS
Blue Mountain's Josh Kindig led from start to finish, disposing of Pittsburgh Central Catholic's Lorenzo Thomas in an 8-3 victory in the finals. Kindig was the gold medal winner at 135 last season and repeated at 140 with two pins and two decisions.

145 POUNDS
Central Mountain's Andrew Alton won his second straight PIAA title with a 23-8 technicall fall over West Allegheny's Aaron McKinney. Alton tore through the 145 bracket with two pins and two technicall falls, in which he totaled 50 combined points.

152 POUNDS
Dylan Alton used a quick flurry to grab an early lead and cruise to an 11-4 victory over Lasalle's Shane Springer. Dylan Alton one-upped twin brother Andrew with his third straight PIAA gold medal.

160 POUNDS
Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman used his signature tilt to put West Allegheny's Troy Reaghard on his back, then sunk in a deep half nelson to flatten him out in a second-period pin. The win sent Peppelman to his third straight state title.

171 POUNDS
Familiar rivals squared off in the state finals as Central Dauphin's Kenny Courts won a third straight matchup against Cumberland Valley's Tristan Warner, this time for state gold. Courts took an early 4-0 lead when he dumped Warner to his back and held on for a 6-4 win.

189 POUNDS
A second caution stall against Council Rock North's Jamie Callender gave Springfield's Andre Petroski the tying point, and after taking a 5-4 lead on an escape, Petroski re-paid the favor with a couple of stalling calls in the final minute. Callender cashed in 33 seconds into overtime, wrapping up a clean double leg and securing a 7-5 win.

215 POUNDS
Selinsgrove's Spencer Myers controlled East Pennsboro's Zach Nye from the neutral position and handed Nye his first loss of the season, 5-3. Nye was aiming to become East Penn's first gold medalist since 1978.

285 POUNDS
Abington Heights' Evan Craig battered and bruised Central Mountain's Zack Corl on his way to defending his state title with a second-period pin. Craig led 4-0 when he cranked Corl to his back with an arm bar and finished the pin at the 2:45 mark.

Big Spring's Dereck Enders controls Delaware Valley's C.J. Singer in their 112 lb. bout in the quarterfinal round of AAA State wrestling finals at Giant Center.

-

(SEAN SIMMERS, The Patriot-News)

• PIAA Class AAA wrestling photo gallery

If you were one of the other 15 wrestlers positioned in the Class AAA 112-pound bracket, you had a tough time scouting Dereck Enders 112 matches.
   
There just weren’t many.
   
Throughout the season, the Big Spring junior predominantly competed at 119 and had a smattering of bouts at 125 and 112. So unless the rest of the field visited the District 3 Championships, the Enders-file at 112 was small.
   
They all know him now.
   
Enders used the skills he gained at the heavier weights to his advantage and blew into today’s Class AAA semifinal round by scoring a rough-and-tumble 4-2 quarterfinal decision over Delaware Valley’s C.J. Palmer.
   
“I think [112] fits me better,” Enders said. “Everyone at 119 is a head taller than me. Being at 119 has made me stronger and quicker.
   
“It feels so good, real good to make the semifinals. It still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
   
Enders (32-4) showed his speed early in the first period when he took down Palmer to sprint out to a 2-0 lead. But there was no extending the advantage in the first period.
   
The lanky Palmer used his height and reach to his benefit. He wiggled free early in the second to cut the gap in half and went on the offensive, trying to score on the much shorter and stockier Enders.
   
Enders chose down to start the third and ripped his arms and hips through, turning a reversal to take a 4-1 lead. But Palmer followed up with an escape and went on the attack.
   
“He was long and was able to get in on me, he just didn’t finish,” Enders said. “Coach [Kemal Pegram] always tells me that the best offense is a good defense and that if you have good offense, you have good defense.”
   
Enders needed all of it.
   
Down by two, Palmer picked up the pace and tied Enders up with 10 seconds left. But before he could gain total control for a takedown, the buzzer sounded and another local wrestler was in the semifinals.
   
“It was a close call,” Enders said. “It was close, but I kept the whizzer and was able to hold on the last 10 seconds. It felt like a long time.“
   
Up next, returning state champion Jimmy Guilbon, of Derry, in this morning‘s 8 a.m. semifinal round.
   
“He’s just another wrestler,” Enders said. “I’m going to go after him. There have been a lot of upsets, and I’m going to go out and give it my all.”
   
Middletown’s Bo Candelaria gave it his all and came out with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory over Nazareth’s Ryan Krecker, who beat Candelaria earlier this year 7-2.
   
This time was different. Candelaria showed great defense and kept his opponent off balance with each wrestler scoring an escape to end regulation tied at one.
   
After a scoreless first two overtime periods, Krecker let the stronger Candelaria up in the third and couldn’t manage a takedown to drop the decision and send Candelaria into a semifinal tilt with Central Mountain stud Andrew Alton.
   
“I’m satisfied with the win, but I’m not finished yet,” Candelaria (31-3) said. “I have Alton tomorrow and that is my prize.
   
“I haven’t seen him wrestle, so I’m going to wrestle my game and do what I’ve done well all year.”
   
East Pennsboro’s Zachary Nye (215) and Susquehanna Twp.’s Averee Robinson (285) also cracked the semifinals.
   
Nye (38-0) racked up the 100th win of his career in beating Methacton’s Brandan Clark 3-0. Meanwhile, Robinson (36-2) earned a semifinal bout with Central Mountain’s Zach Corl (38-5) by decking Clearfield’s Andre Buck 7-4.
   
Still alive for medals in the consolation bracket are Cedar Cliff’s Christopher Vassar (103), Carlisle’s Jayshon Wilson (152) and Cumberland Valley’s Travis Friend (215).

The PIAA Class AAA 152-pound draw didn't do Carlisle district champ Jayshon Wilson any favors.

Wilson ran into returning state champion Dylan Alton (43-0) of Central Mountain in Friday's quarterfinal round. And in the battle from neutral, Alton was a decisive victor, putting away Wilson 17-7.

“I think I could have wrestled him better,'' said Wilson (34-2), a junior and a three-time state qualifier.

“[Alton] was more on the defensive than me. He was always in better position than me so he kind of had the upper hand. I just wanted to go out there and give it my all because nobody else was pushing him.''

Wilson bounced back to win his first consolation bout, 7-5 over Spring Grove's Dylan Wisner. Wilson sprained his right ankle in the victory over Wisner but said he will be able to continue tomorrow.

"I was kind of disappointed [against Alton]," Wilson said.

"I thought I could have given him a better match. I tried.

"I just looked at as you only get so many chances to wrestle the best kid in the nation," added Wilson, referring to Dylan Alton's No. 1 ranking via InterMat.

"I got to wrestle him. I thought of it that way, and I was able to keep going."

Whether it is the regular season, the District 3 Championships or the PIAA Wrestling Championships, Bo knows one thing.

Winning.

Bo Candelaria wasted little time in showing that he isn’t about to lay over for Central Mountain’s Andrew Alton or anyone else in the 145-pound weight class for that matter, when he carved out a picture-perfect 16-1 over Council Rock South’s Tim Riley in the first round of Class AAA competition.

“Everything is working for me right now,” Candelaria said. “There are always some pre-state butterflies coming in; your eyes get big but once you blink and get that first match in, you are into it.

“This is my time to feel strong. I’m not going to back down now.”/p

The Blue Raiders senior (30-3) rests in the top-heavy side of the 145-bracket, with weight favorite Alton and Nazareth’s Ryan Krecker (34-4), who Candelaria will face in the quarterfinals, which start at 1 p.m.

It should be noted that Krecker decisioned Candelaria 7-2 at Beast of the East in mid-December. But he can expect to see a different wrestler this time around.

“I’m in better shape, and I’m more aggressive than when we wrestled the first time,” Candelaria said. “The last time, I wrestled his way. This time, I’m going show him the way I wrestle.”

A win, and Candelaria will likely hit Alton, the state champion at 140 last year, in the semifinals.

“I don’t mind that those guys are on my side of the bracket,’ Candelaria said. “I’m here to win gold and wrestle the best whether it is in the first round or the finals.”

The local Mid-Penn contingent showed its worth on the state stage by advancing 13 of 23 wrestlers into the Class AAA quarterfinals. Five more wrestlers are still alive in the consolations.

Cumberland Valley’s Travis Friend is in his last high school season and is looking to make it count.

He got off to a good start by punishing Ringgold’s Neal Rands and then pinning him in 3:12 to advance to the quarterfinals against St. Marys Sean Sadosky (34-0).

“Districts is done and over with,” said Friend (23-1), who lost to East Pennsboro’s Zachary Nye in the District 3 final. “There is no pressure on me. I like where I am in the bracket and just want to take it one match at a time and make it on the medal stand.

“This is my last time season, and I want to go out on a good note.”

Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman (160) and Kenny Courts (171) are also looking to put an exclamation point on the season.

The two ripped off quick pins, spending a combined 1:31 on the mat in advancing to today’s quarters.

Others local wrestlers remaining in the championship hunt are Cedar Cliff’s Christopher Vassar (103), Big Spring’s Dereck Enders (112), Central Dauphin’s Tyler Buckman (130), Cumberland Valley’s Shawn Greevy (135), Carlisle’s Jayshon Wilson (152), Big Spring’s Luke Etter (160), Cumberland Valley’s Tristan Warner (171), East Pennsboro’s Zachary Nye (215) and Susquehanna Twp.’s Averee Robinson (285).

Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson, center, watches the PIAA AAA preliminary matches from a suite at the Giant Center.

-

(JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-News)

With a week between the Big Ten championships and NCAA championships, Penn State head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson took a break from preparations to observe some of his prized recruits in action at the PIAA wrestling tournament.

Three defending state champs, Central Mountain's Andrew and Dylan Alton and Coudersport's Dirk Cowburn, are Penn State recruits for next season, and Franklin Regional junior 119-pounder Nico Megaludis has verbaled to PSU.

Central Mountain senior wrestlers Andrew and Dylan Alton turned in two of the most dominant performances of the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament. The twins accomplished their feats differently - one with a machine-like technical fall and one with a blink-and-you-missed-it pin.

Andrew Alton squared off with Mechanicsburg senior Rustin Barrick, who, to his credit, spent little time on his back in a 27-9 defeat. But, Barrick was no match for Alton on his feet during a match-long exchange of takedowns and escapes. Late in the second period, Alton put an end to the back-and-forth, sealing the tech fall with a takedown and adding three nearfall points for good measure.

The 27 points by Alton were part of a dominant effort by the big dogs in the top half of the 145-pound bracket. The four winners combined for 76 points, topped by Alton's tournament-best (AA and AAA) 27.

Dylan Alton eliminated the suspense early, countering a double-leg attempt by Neshaminy's Nick Russell with an impressive display of power and leverage. With one burst, Alton sprawled, cranked Russell to his back and got the whistle for a pin just 14 seconds into their preliminary bout.

The midstate is about to get a little more familiar with both of these defending state champs and prized Penn State recruits. Dylan Alton faces Carlisle's Jayshon Wilson, a 5-2 winner over Blue Mountain's Travis Moyer, in tomorrow's quarterfinals. And, if both take care of business tomorrow, Andrew Alton would face Middletown's Bo Candelaria in the semifinals of the 145-pound bracket.

Candelaria has some work ahead of him before meeting Andrew Alton. The senior has a quarterfinal date with Nazareth's Ryan Krecker, who beat Candelaria 7-2 at the Beast of the East tournament earlier this year.

The 2010 Dream Team is full of talented wrestlers in one of the deepest talent pools of recent memory. Anchored by Northwestern bound Heavyweight Phenom Michael McMullen of Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania this team also sports the Alton brothers from Central Mountain, PA and throw in Marshall Peppleman at 160 to round out the Pennsylvania prospects taking part in the event.

112 Blake Thomas, Brentwood, TN
College: Unsigned
2x State Champion
Fargo Junior FS All-American

119 #1 Ryak Finch, Safford, AZ
College: Iowa State
4x State Champion
Double Fargo National Champion
NHSCA Junior National Champion

125 #3 Devin Carter, Christiansburg, VA
College: Virginia Tech
3x State Champion
Fargo Runner-Up
Super32 Champ
Ironman Champ
Beast of the East Champ

130 Jamie Clark, Lakewood, OH
College: Illinois
2x State Champ
Ironman Champ
Fargo All-American

135 #3 Ryan Nieman, Bullock Creek, MI
College: Indiana
2x State Champ
Fargo 3rd

140 #1 Chris Villalonga, Blair Academy, NJ
College: Cornell
3x Ironman Champ
3x Beast Champ
3x Fargo AA

145 #1 Andrew Alton, Central Mountain, PA
College: Penn State
State Champion
5x Fargo National Champion
2 x Ironman Champion

152 #1 Dylan Alton, Central Mountain, PA
College: Penn State
2x State Champion
4x Fargo National Champion
2 x Ironman Champion

160 #1 Marshall Peppelman, Central Dauphin, PA
College: Cornell
2x State Champion
Fargo Champ
4x Powerade Champ
3x Beast Champ

171 #1 Derek Garcia, Sedro-Wooley, WA
College: Ohio State
4x WA State Champ
Fargo National FS Champ

189 #1 Mike Evans, Blair Academy, NJ
College: Iowa
Fargo Double AA
2x Beast Champ
2x Manheim Champ
Ironman Champ
Bethlehem Champ

215 #1 Trevor Rupp, Pocatello, ID
College: Unsigned
2x State Champion
Double Fargo AA

285 #1 Michael McMullen, Wyoming Seminary, PA
College: Northwestern
National Prep Champ
Beast Champ
Ironman Champ

Past Dream Team Classic Dual Results
2009 Team Oklahoma 24, Team USA 23
2008 Team USA 40, Team Iowa 15
2007 Team USA 27, Team Ohio 16
2006 Team USA 37, Team New Jersey 12
2005 Team USA 63, Team Texas 12
2004 Team USA 42, Team California 12
2003 Team USA 60, Team Iowa 0
2002 Team USA 36, Team Wisconsin 9
2001 Team USA 39, Team Iowa 21
2000 Team USA 32, Team Minnesota 18
1999 Team USA 49, Team Virginia 3
1998 Team USA 44, Team Iowa 10
1997 Team USA 40, Team Iowa 12

Central Dauphin head coach Jeff Sweigard didn’t have his head in his hands. There were no anxious moments.

The most successful head coach of the most successful team in Pennsylvania Class AAA wrestling didn’t have to show much emotion in the state championship match against Parkland.

Good thing, because he probably had very little left in his 50-year-old body after the Rams’ 35-34 semifinal win over Central Mountain.

No worries. His kids had a firm grip on the title match.

The Rams showed no signs of a letdown and took care of business swiftly in blasting the District 11 Trojans 41-28 to capture their third straight PIAA Class AAA Team Wrestling Championships crown at Giant Center.

“That was OK with me,” Sweigard said. “After that semifinal, it was fine.”

What is fine is the way this senior class, led by Tyler Buckman (130), Marshall Peppelman (160), Kyle Wolfe (215) and Nick Stewart (285), closed out their dual meet careers.

In four years, this group has helped the Rams amass a 65-3 mark and its current 49-match winning streak. In that time, they also were instrumental in the Rams winning six straight state team titles, three of which came during the state individual tournament.

“This group, which is led by Marshall, is a special group,” said Sweigard, who has been coaching wrestling for 26 years. “You look at this group and what they accomplished, and it is pretty unbelievable.

“There was a lot of pressure this year. We lost some kids, and there were new challenges for us. I told the younger guys to stop riding the coat tails of the seniors and set the tone for your own accolades. Everyone really stepped up.”

Challenging is an understatement when classifying the Rams’ semifinal match against a powerful Central Mountain club — easily the best match of the tournament — that had state title aspirations and enough hammers and depth to get it done.

Everything set up perfect for the Wildcats. They got the starting weight they wanted at 145 and took a quick 12-0 lead with pins by Andrew Alton and Tyler Buckwalter (152).

CM head coach Doug Buckwalter bumped defending 145-pound champion Dylan Alton up to face Peppelman at 160. Sweigard countered by sending Justin Wolfe on to the mat under a chorus of boos by the Wildcats faithful. Alton pinned Wolfe in a semifinal-record 23 seconds and increased the advantage to 18-0.

Peppelman moved and got a pin at 171, and Kenny Courts followed it up with a 11-3 major at 189 to make it 18-10. But the Wildcats showed their strength at 215 and 285, when Cody Dolan decisioned Kyle Wolfe 7-4 and Zach Corl decked Nick Stewart 4-1 to make it 24-10.

An upset was brewing.

“It was exciting,” freshman Tyson Dippery said. “The atmosphere was crazy. I didn’t wrestle well at New Oxford, and I knew I needed to step it up for the state team tournament.”

Dippery got the Rams on a roll by pinning Logan Bechdel at 103. Sophomore Shyheim Brown cradled Cole Hanley at 112 and injured Nick Varndell (119) gave CD a narrow 25-24 lead after his 4-0 one-legged decision over Joey Miller at 119.

Kevin Gooding (125) and Tyler Buckman capped the five-match Rams sweep. Gooding scored a major, and Buckman planted Dillon Gavlock in 1:24 to give the Rams a 35-24 advantage.

But no lead was safe.

Jordan Rich dominated Colton Peppelman at 135 and got a fall in 5:27. That put the match in the hands of A.J. Sweigard and the Wildcats’ Brian Brill, who needed a tech fall to help his team win on criteria or a pin to win outright.

He got neither, although there was some doubt.

In the second period, Brill nailed a headlock and dropped A.J. Sweigard to his back. But before he could get the pin, he readjusted and gave the Rams junior enough time to shift and keep his right shoulder inches off the mat for the next minute.

“I was queasy,” said Jeff Sweigard, who left the side of the mat and went to the other end of Giant Center. “I couldn’t take it. I was going to be sick.”

A.J. Sweigard wiggled enough to make Brill break the hold and was only down 7-0 after two periods. In the third, Brill only managed three more points and settled for a 10-1 major, sending the Rams’ bench swarming around A.J. Sweigard after their victory.

“It was tight,” A.J. Sweigard said of Brill’s headlock. “For the first few seconds, I didn’t think I would get out. But once I readjusted, I was able to keep that shoulder up.

“I was just thinking about the team and winning for the seniors. The team and everybody rooting for me was great.”

Said Jeff Sweigard, “That took guts to be in that for a minute and not give up the pin. That was heart. He must get that from his mother.”

Some teams would have a letdown after exuding such effort and emotion into one two-hour match. But not the Rams.

Peppelman got things rolling with a pin at 160, and Courts followed. Wolfe (215), Stewart (285), Dippery (103) and Buckman also had falls, tying Upper Perkiomen’s record of six set in 2006.

“We knew once we got by Central Mountain, we needed to finish strong,” Peppelman said. “We didn’t win states yet. It was just another dual meet. We needed to win one more to get the state title.

“Once we got out front 31-0, we knew we were looking pretty good. At that point, we could smile a little.”

Even the head coach.

“We’ve been stressing team, team, team the last two weeks,” Jeff Sweigard said. “Each individual was a piece of the puzzle. I told them that if I put you in, you have a job to do. The kids really stepped up.”