NTL WRESTLING: ROCKWELL CLAIMS A TITLE, CANTON SENDS SEVEN THROUGH FROM NORTH SECTION (February 15, 2026)

Northern Tier Sports Report
WELLSBORO — Canton took third at the North Section Tournament, crowning one champion in Carson Rockwell, while a total of seven wrestlers advanced to districts on Saturday.

“I think we wrestled really well as a team,” said Canton coach Garrett Wesneski. “Overall, the main message coming into this week was just be relaxed and trust your training - believe in yourself, wrestle hard, and it leave it all out there. I feel like our young guys, our older guys, they did that, and they were battle tested all year after some tough tournaments so they were ready for this. I’m really proud of how we did as a team.”

Rockwell (160) went 2-0 to take the title, getting a fall in the semifinals, then holding on to beat Towanda’s Reese Sluyter 2-0 in the finals.

Blane Wesneski (172), Tommy Preston (145), and Levi Vermilya (107) all took home silvers as Leland Pepper (189) came in third.

Carson Castle (121) and Gavin Sharp (133) also qualified for regionals with fourth place finishes.

Wesneski went 2-1 with a fall, then getting a come from behind 9-8 win in the semifinals.

In the finals he lost to Sayre’s Jordan Brown, 10-1, to take second.

Vermilya also went 2-1 with a fall, and a tech fall to reach the finals. There he lost 15-6 to NPL’s Bodhi Nickerson.

Preston finished 2-1 with a tech fall, and a fall to reach the finals. There he lost 2-0 to Towanda’s Gage Evans.

Pepper went 3-1 on the day opening with a fall. He lost 4-3 in the semifinals, then scored a fall, followed by an 11-6 decision in the third place match over Williamson’s Steven Olson.

Sharp went 2-2 on the day with a fall, and a tech fall. He lost 8-0 to Towanda’s Bryghton Yale in the third place match.

Castle went 2-2 with a major decision to open things up, followed by a 3-0 decision in the blood round.

In the third place match he lost by fall to Williamson’s Walker Hyde in 1:16.

Manny Halbfoerster (152), and Owen Moore (139) both took fifth, with Trapper Burr (215) in sixth.

Halbfoerster and Moore both went 2-2 with Burr going 1-3.

Henry Proseus (127) went 1-2, as well.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING



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