At 15-2, the Golden Eagle wrestling team has equaled the schools’ best mark in the programs’ history. With one more duel win, they will be atop the most wins in one season category. Here’s a look at that 1984-85 schedule which previously held the record; then you can see, with the competition Tyrone seeks out every year, why the mark has stood for 20 years.
1984-85 Tyrone Golden Eagles
Tyrone Opponent
22 Clearfield 24
51 Baldwin 12
37 Penn Trafford 5
30 Greensburg-Salem 25
57 Bellwood-Antis 3
38 Mount Union 13
44 Penns Valley 9
24 State College 23
39 Bellefonte 21
27 Lock Haven 17
23 Philipsburg 27
33 Huntingdon 24
41 Hollidaysburg 14
54 West Branch 8
28 Bald Eagle Area 23
28 Altoona 21
34 Westmont 18
The 1984-85 team won their third district team title in five years, had four district champs (Ken Myers, LV Haupt, Mike Woodring, and Tom Lannen), qualified 10 of the 12 wrestlers for Regionals, and 1985 was our last state champ, Kenny Myers won the title at 98 lbs.
Members of that team were Adam Campbell, Ken Myers, Chris Dutrow, Chris Fink, Lance Miller, Terry Albright, Dave Fink, Rich Kustenbauder, Leroy Haupt, Tim Elder, Harvey Norris, Pat O’Brien, Brian Long, Mike Woodring, Tom Lannen, and Kerry Cowher.
The 2004-05 Golden Eagle squad dropped their first dual to Indian Valley 40-35, then ran off 12 straight wins before being slowed down by District VI-AA Team Champ Bald Eagle Area. Tyrone stepped over that bump in the road to come back strong with three wins on Saturday to claim their second straight District Team Duals title, something the 1984-85 team didn’t have the chance to do, since the district team duals didn’t began until 1995.
The Eagles host Altoona (0-11) tonight in their final home dual of the season with the opportunity to break the record set by the 1984-85 squad. The starting lineup for the current edition of the Golden Eagles include with their class and record:
103 – Anthony Romano (freshman) 11-7
112 – T. J. Albright (sophomore) 26-5
119 – Robert Waite (junior) 20-4)
125 – Shayne Tate (freshman) 5-21
130 – Josh Hunter (junior) 11-20)
135 – David Miller (senior) 31-3
140 – Sam McCloskey (junior) 12-16
145 – Jacob Smerekar (sophomore) 15-12
152 – Justin Schopp (sophomore) 13-15), Eric Sweet (sophomore) 0-2
160 – *Brice Mertiff (senior) 27-6, Matt Lauder (junior) 2-5)
171 – *Heath Walk (junior) 22-6, James Updike (sophomore) 7-12
189 – Donnie Conrad (sophomore) 9-12, John Markel (sophomore) 0-2
215 – Johnny Miller (sophomore) 5-13
275 – Terry Tate (senior) 30-0.
* Mertiff and Walk are injured and will not wrestle this week.
Tyrone will wrestle Northwestern Lehigh at 8 a.m. on Friday to begin their quest for the PIAA Team Duals Championship at the Giant Center in Hershey. Northwestern Lehigh downed Lewisburg 41-22 on Tuesday night to earn the spot. The District VI-AA number two team, Forest Hills won their first round match also on Tuesday, defeating Port Allegany 34-31 to advance to the second round at Hershey on Friday morning where they will wrestle Upper Perkiomen, the District I champion.
