NTL WRESTLING: TOWANDA ROLLS TO NORTH SECTION TITLE (2025-02-16)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportWELLSBORO — It was a dominant day for Towanda wrestling at the North Section Tournament Saturday. They won the team title by nearly 100 points, crowned six champions, and pushed 11 of their 12 kids through to the District IV Championships.
“We had a good day last year at the sectional tournament but this day surpassed it,” said Towanda coach Bill Sexton. “We started off well. Like I just said to the kids, we came here with certain goals, and we got off to a real good start in the opening rounds, basically had the team title put away by the time we got to the finals, and then built on that. I was real pleased with the way we wrestled today.”
It was an extra special day for Towanda’s Riley Vanderpool (145), who became just the second 4-time North Section Champion in Black Knight history. He also earned his 150th career win in his first win, and his 100th career fall in his final win.
“What a big day for him,” said Sexton. “He starts off the tournament with his 150th win, then he finishes the tournament with his 100th pin. On top of that, it’s his fourth sectional title. I mean, he’s had just a great career to this point, and hopefully there’s a bit more.”
Joining Vanderpool on top of the podium were Curtis Maynard (121), Gage Evans (133), Mason Higley (285), Reese Sluyter (139), and Sawyer Robinson (215).
Chase Geurin (172), Rylee Sluyter (152), and Zack Lantz (189) all took home silver, as Jace Gunther (160), and Tanner Vanderpool (127) both claimed bronze.
Sexton was particularly pleased with his two freshman champions, Evans, and Reese Sluyter.
“I say this to kids all the time, you only get one chance to do certain things,” he said. “You only get one chance to win your first match, and you only get one chance to win your first section title when you’re a freshman. They came through with flying colors. They’ve been wrestling extremely well; a big come from behind win for Reese Sluyter, and a very dominant win out of Gage.”
Riley won with two first period falls, and then a second period fall over Canton’s Carson Rockwell in the finals.
Robinson got a 15-0 tech fall in the semifinals, then won with a fall in the finals, while Maynard got a fist period fall in the semifinals, followed by a 19-2 tech fall in the finals.
Evans won 18-1 in the semifinals, followed by a 22-3 win in the finals, with Higley getting two first period falls in the first two rounds, then securing the title with an 11-0 major decision in the finals.
Reese opened with two falls in the first two rounds, then rallied for an 8-4 win over Wyalusing’s Cole Patrick in the finals.
Geurin won his first two matches with tech falls of 22-6, and 19-3, but then lost 7-2 in the finals.
Rylee opened up the tournament with a fall, then won 4-3 in the semifinals, before falling 5-3 in the title match.
Lantz pulled out an 8-6 win in the semifinals, before falling 10-3 in the finals.
Gunther opened with a 6-5 loss, but then won three straight matches after that. The first was a fall, followed by an 8-7 win in the blood round, before ending with a 4-1 win in the third place match.
Tanner opened with a fall, before getting pinned in the semifinals. He rallied with a 16-0 tech fall, then won 14-5 major in the third place match.
Mason Harbst (107) just missed making it to districts, going 1-3 on the day to take sixth.
Towanda will now turn their attention to the District IV Tournament next weekend.
“We’re just making sure that we’re healthy,” Sexton said. “We’ll work on a few things that we saw today. Next week is a grind, District IV is no picnic, and our goal is to try and push kids through from this point on and get to Hershey.”
PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
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