2011-2012 PIAA STATE QUALIFIERS
David SHEESLEY Sr. 113 lbs. Record: 31-6 7th Place	Cole WALTER Fr. 120 lbs. Record: 39-5 3rd Place	Ty WALTER Jr. 160 lbs. Record: 23-5 Bracket	Aaron SHRAWDER Sr. 182 lbs. Record: 24-15 Bracket	Nazar MIRONENKO So. 285 lbs. Record: 43-2 State Champion

STATES

The Wildcats entered the PIAA state tournament in Hershey, PA with five wrestlers.  This ties the most in school history, dating back to 1979.  In that year, the Wildcats left Hershey with two state medals and a PIAA state second place finish.  Scott Lynch and John Manotti were the schools first and second state champions.  Lynch, a senior was the school's first state champion at 119 pounds followed directly after by then a junior John Manotti in the very next weight class of 126 pounds.  This was the first year that the state tournament was hosted in Chocolatetown but it was then held down the street at the Hersheypark Arena. In 1979 in addition to Manotti and Lynch, you had Chris Garman, Donald Schnure, and Carl Troup but 33 years later the Wildcats were represented by David Sheesley, Cole Walter, Ty Walter, Aaron Shrawder, and Nazar Mironenko.    The tournament was an emotional roller coaster of sorts with ups and downs for the Wildcats but when it was all said and done Mifflinburg left Hershey with three state medals and a team 5th place finish. 

David Sheelsey capped off an amazing career with his third trip to Hershey and finished in 7th place.  Friday morning Sheesley avenged a loss from the state tournament two years ago which allowed him to enter into the medal round and take home his second state medal.  He ended his career currently 4th all time in wins in Mifflinburg school history. 

Cole Walter, just a freshman entered the state tournament on a mission for gold.  He made it to the state semifinals before falling to 3x state champion Nick Roberts.  Despite the heartache, Cole was able to finish like a champion as he wrestled back for third place defeating a very tough opponent in past state runner-up Brad Farley for the bronze.

At the start of the season, Nazar Mironenko had one goal in mind - state title.  He worked every day and every match trying to improve to reach the ultimate goal of each high school wrestler and on Saturday, Nazar Mironenko made history as he will forever be remembered in Hershey as the 2012 PIAA AA state champion!  He was unstoppable as he marched to the finals.   In the first round, Nazar literally made his opponent quit wrestling in the match as he worked for a fall in his first appearance at the state tournament.  He followed this win up with a dominating major decison in the quarterfinals.  In the semifinals, Nazar faced a very tough opponent in Corey Garry, the then #1 ranked wrestler in the state at his weight class.  Nazar controlled the entire match but had a tough time scoring as it went to overtime.  In overtime and in dramatic fashion, Nazar hit a beautiful takedown to earn himself a birth in the state finals.  In the finals Nazar faced a tough opponent in senior, Nate Grandelis from Chartiers-Houston.  Nazar was fully confident as he defeated Grandelis earlier in the season at the Powerade.  With just 18 seconds remaining on the clock, Nazar once again hit a beautiful takedown and was able to hold on for a 3-2 victory.  Nazar became the school's sixth state champion with this victory.  The last state champion for Mifflinburg was 29 years ago in 1983 when then senior, Kurt Rudy brought home the gold at the 132 pound weight class.  A sophomore with two years to go, Nazar Mironenko, already a legend has helped put Mifflinburg back on the map for wrestling fans across the state of Pennsylvania.  He left Hershey just as Scott Lynch, John Manotti, Chris Foster, and Kurt Rudy did years before him - a champion!

PIAA AA STATE 5th Place

NAZAR MIRONENKO - STATE CHAMPION

REGIONALS

The Wildcats won the Northeast Regional title at Williamsport High School.  Wrestlers who placed in the top 3 earned a trip to the state tournament at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA.  Mifflinburg had five wrestlers qualify for the state tournament!  Cole Walter and Nazar Mironenko were Regional Champions, David Sheesley and Ty Walter each finished 2nd, and Aaron Shrawder finished third to advance to the state tournament.  Aaron Shrawder, a senior, lost his first match of the tournament and then battled all the way back to finish 3rd and earn his first trip to the state tournament.  Cole Walter (freshman) was dominate and won by a fall in the final while Nazar Mironenko (sophomore) earned an impressive 17-6 major decision victory in the finals to each earn their first trip to the state tournament.  In addition to the five wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament, Noah Kuba came one win shy of the state tournament, finishing in fourth place and Alan Miller was two wins away from making the trip.  All seven regional qualifiers wrestled well and picked up important wins helping the Wildcats to run away with the team title.

NORTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!

DISTRICTS

The Wildcats won the District IV title.  Wrestlers who placed in the top 5 earned a trip to the Northeast Regional Tournament.  David Sheesley, Cole Walter, and Nazar Mironenko all brought home the gold medal while Noah Kuba and Ty Walter finished second.  Alan Miller finished 4th and Aaron Shrawder finished 5th.  The Wildcats led throughout the tournament and had five wrestlers in the finals. It was a very impressive showing and the seven wrestlers who medaled will be compete at the Regional Tournament in Williamsport.  The top 3 wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the state tournament in Hershey.

DISTRICT IV CHAMPIONS!

SECTIONALS

The Wildcats won the Southern Sectional Tournament for the second consecutive year.  Nine wrestlers finished in the top three for the Wildcats and moved on to the District IV tournament at Williamsport.  Noah Kuba, David Sheesley, Cole Walter, Ty Walter, Aaron Shrawder, and Nazar Mironenko all won their weight class and started the district tournament with a bye in the first round.  Clark Wagner and Alan Miller both finished in 2nd place and John Punako finished in 3rd Place.  Ryan Gessner and Eric Dock both finished in 4th place.

SOUTHERN SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS!

	2011-2012 PHAC-I Champions
Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference

2012 SENIOR CLASS

David Sheesley  113 lbs.	Alan Miller  138 lbs.
Aaron Shrawder  182 lbs.	Gaven Girton  195 lbs.

	December 29 & 30, 2011 Cannon McMillan HS http://poweradewrestling.com/
Mifflinburg finished 20th out of 44 teams.  They were the highest placing Pennsylvania AA school in the tournament! Congratulations to Nazar Mironenko for finishing 4th place at 285 and David Sheesley for finishing 7th at 113 pounds.  David recorded his 100th career win during the tournament!
David Sheesley 113 lbs. 7th PLACE	Nazar Mironenko 285 lbs. 4th Place
The toughest tournament in PA and the 3rd Best Tournament in the USA by WrestlingReport

2011 King of the Mountain Wrestling Tournament Schedule

Central Mountain High School

Dec. 16-17, 2011

Mifflinburg finishes 11th in the team standings at King of the Mountain!
David Sheesley 113 lbs. CHAMPION	Nazar Mironenko HWT CHAMPION	Cole Walter 120 lbs. THIRD PLACE

http://org.centralmountainwrestling.org/kom2011.htm

If you would like to receive team updates and news from Coach Murray please email your name, cell, and email address to mifflinburgwrestling@gmail.com