HERSHEY – After a two year absence the Central Mountain wrestling team will be returning to the PIAA Team Dual Championships starting this Thursday evening but it won’t be easy.
First time out, at 8 p.m. Thursday, it’s defending PIAA champion Bethlehem Catholic, a Monday pigtail round winner over Cumberland Valley by a 54-12 score. The Golden Hawks are 14-4 on the year but wrestle the best competition they can find on the East Coast. Coach Jeff Karam’s team was stunned in last Saturday’s District 11 final by Nazareth by a 33-24 score. Becahi had defeated Nazareth 40-20 in the regular season.
The Bethlehem school’s other losses were to Wyoming Seminary, 34-27; Malvern Prep, 36-21; and Lake Highland (FLA), 39-26. Bethlehem Catholic is ranked number two in the state behind number one Nazareth (16-1), this according to this week’s PA Power Wrestling rankings. Central Mountain (14-0) is listed at number 14.
Should the Wildcats upset the Golden Hawks in their Thursday 8 p.m. opener, they would be back at the Giant Center at 2 p.m. Friday, drawing the winner of a first round match between Kiski Area (19-0) and Central Dauphin (18-2). A Wildcat loss Thursday will put them in the consolation round Friday at 10 a.m. against the loser of the CD – Kiski match.
The state team duals continue into Saturday. The event is a double-elimination format. 16 teams will be participating.
The record-online will offer live audio stream of the match and will also broadcast audio on WBPZ AM 1230 with John Lipez and Tom Elling offering up the call to bring you all the action. The stream will go live approximately 15 minutes before the match begins.
