Bellefonte matmen ends Penns Valley’s unbeaten streak

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 9, 2019

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE -Two of Centre County’s premier wrestling teams matched up in an instant classic Tuesday night as Bellefonte hosted the undefeated Penns Valley Rams.

Fittingly, the match came down to the last match with the Red Raiders leading 34-30 going into 152-pound weight class.

Just needing to not get pinned or a tech fall, Bellefonte’s Logan Simpson not only avoided those scenarios but clinched the match with a hard fought victory over Cole Felker, 6-3, giving Bellefonte the 37-30 victory.

Both teams battled tooth and nail from beginning to end with the Red Raiders improving to 8-1 while the Rams fall to 10-1.

“Overall it was a great dual meet. It’s great for high school wrestling. It brings out the best. Both sides were filled. It was a great atmosphere, “ Bellefonte coach Mike Maney said. “Credit to our guys. I told them before the match they would have to claw and fight for every point. They gave a really good team. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys.”

With the match starting at 160 pounds, Bellefonte took an early 6-0 lead when Dristen Wolfe was pinned by Bellefonte’s Ethan Renninger, with 16 ticks left in the first period.

Penns Valley got on the scoreboard at 170, when the Rams’ Zach Royer outlasted Andrew Howe, 1-0. Royer picked up an escape in the third period to pick up the win.

At 182, Penns Valley took a 9-6 lead when Abraham Allebach pinned Bellefonte’s Tyler Benner at :42.

The Red Raiders took back the lead at 195 when Ethan Rossman won by forfiet.

Kyle Myers took the 220-pound weight class as he pinned Penns Valley’s Carter Felker at the 4:30 mark in the match.

In the lightweight division, Bellefonte took both the 106-and 113-pound weight class.

Aidan O’Shea dominated Hayden Yearick, picking up the 10-2 major decision, upping the Red Raider lead to 22-15.

Aaron Little pinned Penns Valley 113-pounder Justin Darlington :58 into the match, solidifying the Bellefonte lead to 28-22.

Nate Long, wrestling at 120 pounds, cut the Bellefonte lead to seven when he pinned Red Raider Alec Bossert.

Things got a little closer at 126, Bailor Shunk took control of his match against Alex Coppolo, winning 7-1 to cut the lead to 28-24.

Penns Valley was on a roll and eventually cut the match to one point as Clayton Royer won a close 8-6 contest with a late takedown of Ryan Smith.

Bellefonte gained some breathing room as Penns Valley forfeited the 138-pound weight class, giving Brady Martin the win.

But the Rams refused to go away without a fight as 145-pounder Malachi Duvall topped Cole Stewart, 6-1 to set up the drama of the last match.

With all the pressure on Logan Simpson to pick up the victory, he was up for the challenge.

After a scoreless first period, Simpson was up top and Cole Felker took the down position.

Felker escaped for the first point but Simpson went right to Felker and muscled him down for the takedown. Felker then escaped to tie things as the second period went under thirty seconds.

But with seconds left, Simpson got another takedown to go into the final period holding a 4-2 advantage. But another escape by Felker, made it 4-3 going into the third.

Starting out at the neutral position, Simpson added one last takedown before it was all over securing his team the victory, 37-30.

As the fans left the gym, most realized that they had just saw a match that will be remembered for a long time.