Donegal wrestlers Ruben Mumper and Owen Champ competed in the Class 3A District Three/South Central Regional championships Saturday, February 26, at Spring Grove High School. Mumper, who competed at the 145-pound weight class, had qualified for the districts with a third place finish the previous week at the sectionals. Champ was a fourth-place finisher at the 215-weight class.

Mumper opened with a pin, taking down Jared Porter of Central Dauphin East at the 4:58 mark of the first round.

"In that first match, he was losing 7-1," Donegal coach Nick Evans pointed out. "He hit a single leg takedown and pulled the guy back in and pinned him."

Evans gave a great deal of praise to the sophomore wrestler staging such a turnaround at a districts match.

"That was exciting to show that he could overcome a 7-1 deficit and get a district win under his belt as a sophomore," the coach remarked. "That was pretty special - to be that young and to get that come-from-behind win in districts. He never gives up; he is always attacking. That's the wrestling style I want to continue to have at Donegal."

Facing York Suburban senior Noah Rice, the sectional champ at Class 3A Section Four, Mumper lost by a technical fall. Rice came in with a 32-4 record and was the eventual fifth-place finisher on Saturday.

In the consolations, Mumper lost in a major decision to Waynesboro senior Kaden Rouzer.

Mumper is one of the returning athletes Evens hopes will lead the Indians next season.

"He's a very good football player," he said. "Now that he has had a taste of districts in wrestling, we, the coaching staff are looking to see how the work he puts in during the off-season helps him as a junior. It will not surprise me if he becomes one of our team captains next year or as a senior."

In the 215 brackets, Champ opened competition against the eventual champion Samuel Rodriguez of Gettysburg. Rodriguez improved on his 32-2 mark with a second-period pin and registered one more pin and a major decision on his way to earning gold.

"We were hoping he would have some success at districts," said Evans. "He wound up losing to the kid from Gettysburg. Facing Rodriguez his back was against the wall."

Qualifying for districts is an accomplishment in its own. However, for a wrestler who only came out as a senior to join the wrestling team for the first time, it speaks volumes to the athlete's talents.

"His work ethic is great," said the coach. "At districts, the talent level of the kids he was wrestling, and their experience made it tough. But he was definitely talented enough to become a district qualifier. We were hoping he could get a win or two."

Along with Mumper's continued improvements, Evans looks for a nucleus of returning wrestlers to help the program next season

"We're looking for Noah Hinkle to rebound from being sidelined," Evans said. "He will only be a junior. Even with being hurt, he reached 20-plus wins."

Mark Overlander, who wrestled at 120 pounds in sectionals, is also expected to be back.

"Overlander should continue to improve," Evans said. "He was at 120, so we will see where he is next year."

In addition, Nicholai Brontzman should be the anchor in the heavyweight class.

"He is our senior heavyweight for next year," Evans said. "He will have some hefty goals for himself."