NTL WRESTLING: CANTON SEES FIVE THROUGH TO REGIONALS FROM DISTRICTS, LED BY ROCKWELL'S BRONZE (February 22, 2026)

Northern Tier Sports Report
WILLIAMSPORT — Five Canton wrestlers got on the District IV podium while punching their tickets to the Northeast Regional Tournament Saturday. 

Carson Rockwell (160), Tommy Preston (145), Levi Vermilya (107), Blane Wesneski (172), and Leland Pepper (189) all placed at the District IV Wrestling Championships.

“Overall as a staff we are extremely proud of our performance this weekend,” said Canton coach Garrett Wesneski. “We talk all the time about wrestling the tough tournament, and being battle tested for this part of the season. I believe all seven wrestlers showed that this weekend.”

Rockwell went 2-1 to take home bronze on Saturday. He opened with an 8-5 loss to MIdd-West’s Evan Maneval in the semifinals, but rebounded with a 17-3 win over Montoursville’s Blake Fry in the consolation semifinals.

In the third place match he pulled away for a 9-0 win over Hughesville Kile Hartman to take third.

“Carson lost a heart breaker in the semifinals,” remarked coach Wesneski. “I am most proud of how he responded by dominating two tough kids to finish the day. That’s grit.”

Preston, Vermilya, and Wesneski all took home fifth place finishes.

Preston went 3-1 on Saturday, opening the consolation bracket with a 17-1 win over Milton’s Brody Locke. He then got a 7-3 victory over Southern Columbia’s Gavin Richard to get into the consolation semifinals.

He would get pinned by Towanda’s Gage Evans, but rebounded with a 5-4 decision over Loyalsock’s Ivan Baker to take fifth.

Wesneski also went 3-1 on Saturday, opening the consolations with a 3:14 fall over Central Columbia’s Logan Miller.

He followed that up with a 7-3 decision victory against Montgomery’s Raiden Felix, before falling 18-3 to Line Mountain’s Nolan Savage in the consolation semifinals.

In the fifth place bout he avenged his North Section finals loss to Sayre’s Jordan Brown with a 7-3 win.

Vermilya lost 17-0 to Montoursville’s Branden Eisenhour in the semifinals, then was pinned in the consolation semifinals by Muncy’s Gannon Swank.

In the fifth place match he won 21-3 over Troy’s Garret Parks.

Pepper would advance with a sixth place finish as he went 2-2.

He opened with a 4:31 fall over Williamson’s Steven Olson, then scored a 5-0 decision on Milton’s Michael Runkle to get into the consolation semifinals.

Southern Columbia’s Greg Fulmer pinned him there, then Wyalusing’s Ethan Vanderpool eked out a 9-8 win during the fifth place match.

“Levi, Tommy, Blane, and Leland all showed grit to make the top six,” coach Wesneski remarked. “I thought we did a good job just grinding out some matches, and wrestling the entire five or six minutes, or whatever it may be.”

The Warriors were the highest finishing NTL team at districts, coming in eighth.

Carson Castle (121) and Gavin Sharp (133) both went 0-2 in the tournament.

“Moving forward we know next week is a brand new week,” said Wesneski. “A chance to get back to work, fine tune some things, and be ready to go next week. Everyone is 0-0 again so this weekend is over. Our focus now is being at our very best come Friday and Saturday. We are just excited to go compete and have fun.”

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PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY



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