NTL WRESTLING: TOWANDA'S EVANS FINISHES 7TH AT THE PIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (March 7, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
HERSHEY — Towanda’s Gage Evans ended his season with a win, holding off Conwell-Egan’s Colin Walther 1-0 in the seventh place match during the PIAA, Class AA Wrestling Championships Saturday.

“It feels amazing,” Evans (145) said about getting the victory. “It’s been my dream to place here. Finally, this year I did it, and it feels great.”

It was a scoreless first period as the two grapplers sized each other up.

“I want to get a feel on his feet, and just see what he likes to do,” Evans explained. “His setups, his fakes, his shots, everything that he tried to do. I got a good feel of him, and then tried to capitalize on it.”

Evans was on top to start the second and stayed there for the whole two minutes. Walther worked hard to get out the first half of the period, but Evans rode him hard, and even got his arm barred up in the final 10 seconds.

“He was fighting hard,” said Evans. “He tried to break wrists, catch my wrist and get out, but I had a tight ride. After I felt him break I knew he was mine.”

Walther let Evans up to start the third as the match was going to be decided on their feet.

Whatever Walther threw at Evans he had a counter to shut out Walther for the 1-0 win.

“I had to watch those big moves, the throws,” he said. “I know likes to do double so I had to stay low, keep my hands in. I listened to my coach, he said, ‘stay low, stay in my stance, and just watch every throw.”

Evans went 0-2 at states as a freshman, and comes away with a seventh place medal as a sophomore, which gives me extra motivation going into his junior year.

“I just want to do better than I did this year, and just get high on the podium,” he said.

— — 

PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

Print Friendly Version