By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – Down to the wire.

Thursday night, the MIfflin County wrestling team hosted State College in a rivalry match that would not de be used until the last match.

Tied at 33 going into the final match at the 285-pound weight class the Little Lions went to third-place state ranked Nicholas Pavlechko. He picked up the pin, clinching the victory.

In the end, State College notched a 39-33 win.

“We knew they were going to be strong at certain weight classes,” said MIfflin County head coach Kirby Martin. “In these matches there are a lot of pins so the goal was to give up as many. That was the difference maker.”

The match started at 107, State College took the first match as Mason Sanderson picked up a forfeit.

State College took 114-weight class Nicholas Berrena picked up a pin over Styers Oden at 3:36.

However, the Huskies battled right back at 121. Hunter Johnson battled Johnathan Coates. Johnson opened the first with a quick takedown. He was able to pick up three back points after almost pinning Coates. As the first period Johnson was able to put him in a pinning combination. He got the pin call at 1:58, cutting it to a 12-6 State College advantage.

Kamden Everly tied the contest after as he was able to pull a second period of pin over Thomas Hill.

In the first period, Everly took the early lead at 127 taking Hill down and was able to control his opponent, picking up three back points in the process. Starting in the down position, Everly smoothly picked up a reversal and took his momentum and hooked Hall and put him on his back, picking up the Fall at 2:47.

State College took back the advantage when state-ranked Hayden Cunningham. He found himself in an early battle with Blake Aumiller in the 133-pound weight class.

In the first, Cunningham took down Aumiller early on. Aumiller was able to work his way lose, cutting it to a 2-1 contest.

Cunningham went for a takedown and took a 4-1 advantage going into the second period.

But in the second, Cunningham was able to pick up the pin at 2:28.

At 139, MIfflin County cut into the State College lead when Colby Seiler notched an exciting decision over Eric Weaver 6-4.

Trailing 4-3 going into the third, Seiler was able to pick up an escape from the down position, tying it at four. With time running out and both wrestlers were looking for the takedown. It would be Seiler that would turn the stalemate and notching a takedown in the last seconds, making it a 18-15 contest.

State College went to its state ranked wrestlers in the middle of the order, upping its lead

145-pounder Pierson Manville picked up the fall over Lucas Sheetz at 1:20.

It was a battle of Cunningham versus Cunningham at 152.

State College’s Asher Cunningham  posted a second period fall over Jacob Cunningham at 2:52.

Trailing 30-15 going into the 160-pound weight class, MIfflin County’s Parker Kearns was able to flip the switch for the Huskies pinning Rudy Skucek at 1:49.

It was a marathon contest at 172, Carter Weaverling took a hard fought thriller over Deakon Schaeffer in an ultimate tie breaker, 3-2.

With the Huskies trailing going into the 189-pound weight class, the Huskies got a lift from Avery Aurand as he picked up a first period fall over Adam Bell, 0:53.

At 215, MIfflin County tied the match at 33 when Truitt Davis won by pinfall over Taylor Sunday 1:49.

With things tied at 285, Nicholas Pavlechko gave the Lions the win as he pinned over Peyton Kearns.

Mifflin County will have a quick turnaround and be heading Friday to compete in the Ultimate Warrior Tournament.