By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – supporting the seniors. The Bellefonte wrestling team sent their seniors out in style on senior night, topping Jersey Shore in a 53-18 contest.

Cam Garcia led off the charge with a clutch pin in a sudden victory period to get things off and running for his team.

“Being senior night and him being a senior momentum is an interesting thing so had that match went their way who knows what the next few might have went,” said Bellefonte coach Michael Maney. “Credit to Cam he has been a varsity starter for us for four years. It’s always nice when you can go out on senior night with a win.  He kept battling and was able to get the win in overtime.”

At 139, Garcia went up against Louden Spotts.

Garcia opened with a first period takedown. He was able to keep Spotts in check until the second period. However, Spotts was able to get a last second escape, making it a 3-1 contest.

Starting in the down position in the second, Spotts was able to pick up a reversal, tying things at three.

With the third period starting with Garcia in the down position, Spotts was able to ride out the period, keeping Garcia from picking up an escape point.

With the match going into an extra period, Garcia was able to get Spotts down off a neutral position. He was able to put Spotts down and onto his back for the pin with two seconds left at the 6:58 mark.

The Red Raiders continued to pick up another pin at 145. Andrew Gall pinned Blake Murphy in the second period, winning by fall at 3:09.

Ezra Swisher made it three-in-row as he pinned 152-pounder Tobias Morgret at 3:16.

160-pounder Noah Weaver continued the Red Raiders winning ways as he picked up a tech fall Ayden Murphy 15-0 at 1:59.

Bellefonte also got into the bonus at 172. Jackson Long pinned Garrett Barner at :39.

Luke Hockenberry took the win for Bellefonte at 189. Hockenberry. pinned Zeke Sechrist by fall at 3:01.

At 215, Slate Sechrist pinned Ian Valimont 3:25.

Sechrist led off with a first period takedown, picking up three back points in the process.

In the second, Sechrist was able to escape and then take control with a takedown and a pinning combination to pick up the pinfall.

“He’s come a long way,” said Jersey Shore coach Anthony Owens when asked about the pin by Slate Sechrist. “He’s good and healthy. He’s been healthy lately. So we are working toward working up for him up for the end of the year.”

Bellefonte got an easy victory at 285 with Logan Rarrick winning by a forfeit.

The Bulldogs got back on the board at 107. Travis Merrill notched the forfeit win. He was followed by teammate 114-pounder Bradley Derr as he also notched the forfeit.

There was no match at 121 pounds.

Bellefonte continued to add bonus points at 127. Wyatt Long pinned the Bulldogs’ Camden Baker at 1:09.

Rounding out the match at 133, Bellefonte’s Jacob Horn won by forfeit, ending the match with the 53-18 victory.

Editors note: Bellefonte honored seniors Jon Rojas, Noah Weaver, Cam Garcia, Mgr. Sydney Fletcher and Mgr. Sadie Ripka.