Trojans Stand Tall: Upper Dauphin Pulls Away from Juniata in 37–27 Dual Meet Victory

ELIZABETHVILLE, PA – In a dual meet that saw momentum swing like a pendulum, the Upper Dauphin Trojans used a late-match surge in the upper weight classes to defeat the Juniata Indians, 37–27, on Wednesday night.

The contest was a tale of two halves, but it was a stunning "lightning-strike" moment in the middle of the card and a heavyweight showdown between state-ranked titans that defined the evening.

Zimmerman’s Defensive Miracle

The turning point of the night occurred at 145 lbs. Juniata had just taken a massive lead following back-to-back dominant performances, and the Indians appeared to be in total control. Upper Dauphin’s Leroy Zimmerman took the mat against Ty Fahnestock and quickly found himself in deep trouble.

Trailing early and fighting from his back, Zimmerman looked to be on the verge of giving up crucial team points.

However, in a stunning "flip of the script," Zimmerman caught Fahnestock out of position during a scramble. Executing a perfect defensive pin, Zimmerman shifted his weight and flattened Fahnestock’s shoulders to the mat at the 0:46 mark.

The home crowd erupted as what looked like a certain loss for the Trojans was miraculously transformed into a 6-point win, halting Juniata's momentum just long enough for the Trojans to regroup.

The Middle-Weight Blitz

Despite Zimmerman’s heroics, the middle of the Juniata lineup remained a buzzsaw. Easton Matthews (133 lbs) set a relentless pace with a 20-5 technical fall, and Anthony Maradiaga (139 lbs) recorded a pin in just 1:33.

After the Zimmerman match, the Indians went right back to work:

• Ty Rowles (152 lbs) secured a 13-5 major decision over Jayce Reiner.

• Ryder Smith (160 lbs) delivered an explosive performance, pinning Blake Dyer in a mere 42 seconds.

Trojans Seal the Deal at Heavyweight

With the match hanging in the balance and Juniata leading 27–18, Upper Dauphin’s upper weights took over. Peyton Ratcliffe (172 lbs) and Wyatt Troutman (189 lbs) sparked the comeback with back-to-back pins, putting the Trojans back in front. Axel Pacheco Panchi (215 lbs) then added insurance with a 12-3 major decision.

The final exclamation point came at 285 lbs in a clash featuring two of the state's premier heavyweights. Upper

Dauphin’s Eoghan Savage, currently ranked 6th in the state, met Juniata’s Kelton Bonnell, ranked 24th.

In a tactical, heavyweight chess match, Savage showcased why he is considered a state-medal contender. He managed to neutralize Bonnell’s power, grinding out a gritty 4–0 decision to cap off the 10-point team victory.