Braves, Seals look to top Wildcats in HAC-I

If you’ve paid any attention to the local high school wrestling scene, you probably know that Central Mountain has been one of the most dominant teams in the state during the past few years.

The Wildcats have finished in the top 12 in the PIAA Class 3A state tournament in three of the past four years. However, the Wildcats come into this season a bit younger and less experienced compared to recent years.

That might help Shikellamy and Selinsgrove get the upper hand against the Wildcats in the Heartland Athletic Conference-Division I this season.

The Braves graduated twin brothers and state qualifiers Connor and Cole Wetzel. Connor Wetzel ended his career with two fourth-place medals at states and fifth on the Braves’ all-time wins list with 133. Connor Wetzel is currently wrestling at Division I Lock Haven.

The Braves will bring back Brody Rebuck at 215 pounds. Rebuck, who also committed to Lock Haven, finished eighth at states last year for his first career state medal.

Aside from Rebuck, the Braves will return most of their starting lineup that helped the program to dual and individual tournament titles in District 4 Class 3A. Jake Hendricks (107), Max Hallman (114), Ryder Borich (121), Keatin Lattimore (139) and Christian Boetsch (189) each ended their seasons at regionals, and will all return for the Braves this season.

The Braves finished 16-6 in duals last season, and two of those losses came to Central Mountain. Shikellamy lost to the Wildcats 35-30 in the regular season before a 29-28 setback in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A dual tournament. The Braves led each match before the final bout.

The Wildcats graduated state champion and three-time state finalist Dalton Perry, who currently wrestles at Penn State. Gavin Heverly and Air Force pledge Aiden Kunes are the only Central Mountain wrestlers who have state tournament experience.

As for Selinsgrove, it has two returning state qualifiers in Jack Peters (285) and Alex Kadryna (133). Both wrestlers finished 0-2 in Hershey last season. Peters, a two-time qualifier, hasn’t won in the Giant Center since his first match as a sophomore in 2024.

Aside from Peters and Kadryna, Selinsgrove will bring back regional qualifiers Anthony Snook (121), Cael Badman (127), Ryan Harpster (139) and Owen Hoffman (215). The Seals will have to replace Ethan Miller, a four-time regional qualifier who ended his career with 108 wins.

“We want to wrestle without fear of what may happen, and instead focus on having fun and giving our best effort,” Selinsgrove coach Seth Martin said. “We obviously want to win, but if at the end of the match, our best is not enough to win, that’s O.K. because we’ve nothing more to give.”

Jersey Shore and Williamsport will also contend for the HAC-I title after both schools didn’t have any wrestlers qualify for states last season. Bulldogs football standout Bo Sechrist will take to the mats for the first time in two seasons.

The Millionaires return a few regional qualifiers, including Collin Nasdeo at 127.