By Kenny Varner

STATE COLLEGE- Two legendary wrestling teams met up Thursday night in a Prime Time match up as Mifflin County traveled up the Seven Mountains to compete against State College.

You can throw away the records when these two match up as both teams bring the best out of the other team.

Thursday was no exception.

In a back-and-forth battle early on it would be Huskies that came out victorious in a nail biter 33-31.

“I always tell our kids that these are the fun matches. It could e have went either way it depends on bonus points also if you team is healthy or not,” said Mifflin County coach Kirby Martin. “This was a great match for the fans. It was close. It was back-and-forth. There were a lot of matches that were evenly matched.”

With the match going into its final two bouts at 172-pounds and 189, the Huskies held a slim 27-25 advantage.

But the match would be decided at 172, when Reese Christine picked up a crucial pin over Alijah Al – Sulaimani at the 3:43 mark, icing it for the Purple and Black attack at 33-25 with the main event happening at 189.

“It feels good. Coming up as a JV the last two years and then finally being able to impress all these varsity guys and get the win,” said Christine when asked how it felt to put the match on ice for the Huskies. “It was good to help the team out.”

In the final bout, State College’s Asher Cunningham defeated Avery Aurand by pin fall at 4:24.

Starting out at 215 pounds, the Little Lions jumped out the quick 6-0 lead.

State College 215 -pounder, Izaiah Zeruth pinned MIfflin County’s Alonso Torres by fall at 3:52.

Torres started off strong picking up a first period takedown to lead 3-0. He added a point when Zeruth was called for an illegal move, making it a 4-0 advantage. Zeruth would battle back, take advantage of the top position and pick up the pin.

But the Huskies rallied back at 285.

Peyton Kearns continued his winning ways as he pinned Mike Troupe by a fall at 4:41. Troupe was working hard to try to take Kearns down and in the second period, Kearns shifted his weight into Troupe and putting him down to the mat. The move would help results in a pin, knotting things at six.

Heading into the lightweight division, MIfflin County got back into the win column as 107 -pounder Andrew Alexander was able to pin State’s Nico Diaz in a second period fall at 3:32.

At 114, State College was able to tie things up once again when Noah Young won by a forfeit.

State College took back the lead at 121. The Little Lions Jon Whitbred notched a take down in the first and in the third to hold onto a 6-0 decision over Paxton Shawver.

Mifflin County continued to notch bonus points. At 127, Jake Knable was able to also pick up a pin as he came back from an early deficit to scratch his way to a late pin over Luke Young by fall at 3:58.

Back rallied the Little Lions at 133, Jonathan Coates muscled out a hard fought victory over Layton Bowersox by a slim 7-4 margin.

139 – Kamden Everly picked up a crucial decision over Nick Berrena 5-0, giving the Huskies a 21-18 advantage.

the match was tied again at 145 Brady Bucher won an action packed match against Brian Albert 10-7.

Like two fighters in a prize fight, the Huskies put themselves back ahead

thanks to a pin by the Huskies 152 – pounder Colby Seiler. Seiler pinned Carson Grande early in the second period to win the fall at the 2:42 mark.

With the matches starting to dwindle down, State College kept their hopes alive when 160 -pounder Xavier Zeruth won by a major decision over Brayan Aurand 9-1.

At 172, Christine clinched the team win for the Huskies as he dominated Al – Sulaimani the entire match and ending it with a fall at 3:43.

Cunningham made it close with his pin but the Huskies were able to start the new year on a positive note, winning 33-31.

“Reese (Christine) has been wrestling really well for us. This is the first year he is full time with us in the starting line up,” said Martin. “It’s rewarding for him to go out and have an opportunity to get us the win with a pin.”