ALTOONA, Pa. – Central Cambria junior Burke Niebauer collected his 100th career victory Friday during the District 6 Class 2A wrestling tournament.
Niebauer defeated River Valley’s Nathaniel Daugherty with a 15-0 technical fall in 1:16 during the round of 16. The top seed at 139 pounds, Niebauer topped Claysburg-Kimmel’s with a 13-4 major decision in a quarterfinal bout.
Niebauer will face Marion Center’s Tyler Phillips Saturday in a semifinal match.
Bishop McCort Catholic advanced 11 to the semifinals.
The Crimson Crushers lead 27 teams with 143 points. Penns Valley is second with 104.5, and Huntingdon is third with 96.
A total of 20 area wrestlers moved on to the semifinals. The top six wrestlers at each weight class advance to the Southwest Regional Feb. 27-28.
Bishop McCort’s Bo Bassett (145), Keegan Bassett (121), Jackson Butler (152), Austin Carfley (133), Ethan Cotchen (107), Marquez Gordon (215), Emory Gunby (172), Owen McMullen (139), Melvin Miller (160), C.J. Pensiero (189) and Caleb Rodriguez (285) each moved on to the semifinals.
Wrestling resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday.
At 107, Cotchen won by default over Bellwood-Antis’ Nolan Hewitt. Cotchen led 7-4 5:08 into the match, and will face River Valley’s Levi Anthony Saturday.
Forest Hills’ Santino DiPaola earned a 4-2 decision over Philipsburg-Osceola’s Jacob Dugan in a 114 quarterfinal. DiPaola meets Huntingdon’s Gaige Sholly Saturday.
At 121, Keegan Bassett needed 1:11 to tech fall Glendale’s Harrison Snyder 17-2 and advance. Keegan Bassett faces Philipsburg-Osceola’s Caleb Hummel in a semifinal bout.
Forest Hills’ Logan Moss and Westmont Hilltop’s Owen Dluhos each moved to the 127 semifinals.
Moss topped Bishop McCort’s Daelon Britt, and will meet Penns Valley’s Conner Myers Saturday. Dluhos beat Huntingdon’s Carter Weaver 18-12, and faces Central’s Joel Morris in a semifinal match.
At 133, Carfley and Richland’s Brady Kostick each advanced. Carfley won a 10-1 major decision over Central Cambria’s Hadyn Strittmatter, and will oppose Penns Valley’s Erik Carlile Saturday. Kostick collected a 14-5 major decision over Marion Center’s Griffin Tinsman, and will face Bald Eagle Area’s Tanner Guenot in a semifinal bout.
McMullen earned a 15-0 technical fall over Huntingdon’s Christian Taylor in 4:24 at 139.
McMullen faces Penns Valley’s Tripp Watson Saturday.
Bo Bassett needed just 50 seconds to defeat Juniata’s Ty Fahnestock 17-2 in a technical fall at 145. Bo Bassett meets Philipsburg-Osceola’s Averi Gable Saturday. United senior Josef Garshnick pinned Central’s Kaden Horn in 37 seconds, and faces Bald Eagle Area’s Caden Judice Saturday.
At 152, Butler advanced with a 21-6 tech fall that lasted 2:15 over Southern Huntingdon County’s Aaden Cromwell. Butler meets Juniata’s Ryder Smith in a semifinal match.
Miller beat Westmont Hilltop’s A.J. Leiato with a 18-2 tech fall in 3:11 during a 160 quarterfinal. Miller faces Penn Cambria’s Nate Mack, who beat West Branch’s Jaykob Sample with a 17-1 technical fall in 4:18, in a Saturday semifinal.
Gunby pinned River Valley’s Tanner Flickinger in 2:40 during a 172 quarterfinal. Gunby meets Penns Valley’s Brayden Lisowski Saturday.
At 189, Richland junior Grayson Mahla advanced with a 23-6 tech fall that lasted 5:13 over Moshannon Valley’s Evan Krause. Mahla opposes Pensiero, who won a 4-1 decision over Philipsburg-Osceola’s Colton Chapman, Saturday.
Gordon pinned Tyrone’s Kyler Suhoney in 5:56 to advance to the 215 semifinals. Gordon will face United’s Max McConville, who won by fall in 5:01 over Penns Valley’s Robert Martin, Saturday in a semifinal.
Rodriguez pinned Huntingdon’s Noah Metz in 2:23 during a 285 quarterfinal. Rodriguez meets Bald Eagle Area’s Gage Gardner Saturday.