PIAA Wrestling: Dixon, Mahanoy Area look toward bright future
Mahanoy Area's Rory Dixon scrambles with Central Clarion's Mason Gourley during a Class AA 160-pound consolation bout at the PIAA Wrestling Championships on Friday at the Giant Center in Hershey. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
HERSHEY — Mahanoy Area’s wrestling program took several steps forward this season.
The Golden Bears, who struggled for years with low numbers, are turning things around under head coach Nathan Fegley and a dedicated staff of varsity, junior high and elementary coaches.
The 2024-25 chapter of Mahanoy Area wrestling came to an end Friday morning when Rory Dixon bowed out in a Class AA 160-pound consolation at the PIAA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Dixon attacked well on his feet, but came out on the short end of a few scrambles against Central Clarion’s Mason Gourley. Those scrambles produced two takedowns in Gourley’s 7-0 decision.
Dixon, who has battled knee troubles in each of the past two seasons, finishes among the top 16 in the state. He went 1-2 in his first trip to Hershey after taking third at districts and fourth at regionals. Dixon, who finished 32-11 and is 60-18 in his career, is just a sophomore.
“It’s awesome. It shows how much of a bigger pond, how much of a big ocean there is,” Dixon said of the state tournament. “Compared to District 11 and the Southeast Region, all very good wrestlers there, but you come out here, and you see that everybody is at that caliber or higher. It’s a real eye-opener.
“It gives you a lot of motivation, especially losing a close match out here,” Dixon added. “It gives you a lot of motivation to want to come back and not ever get that feeling of losing and going home without anything again. … I’m only going to get better from here.”
