Good start for winter sports

The winter sports season started Thursday at Columbia High School.

Thursday, the bowling team opened its season with a 5-2 win over Elco.
David Wissler was the top roller for the Tide with a three-game series of 228-182-227, followed by Zach Jones with a three-game series totalling 628.

Friday, the first event in the renovated Elmer Kreiser Gym was a wrestling match between the Tide and Hanover.
The match came down to the last bout involving the Tide's Nate Warner. Columbia led the match 42-36 entering Warner's bout at 171, The Tide grappler needed overtime and scored a 6-4 victory getting a takedown with 29 seconds left in overtime.
Scoring pins for the Tide were Josh Elliot, Marcus Fischer, Byron Germer and Bryan Flory. Derek Zercher and Jordan Halter won by forfeit.
Prior to the match, the wrestling program honored the late Jerry McCauley from the Columbia Foresters and recognized former PIAA runner-up Jerry Afari as honorary captain.
The Tide will host Donegal on Wednesday.

In boys' basketball, the Tide split its games at the Hanover Tournament. Friday, the Tide lost to Delone Catholic, 61-49. Michael Burke led the Tide with 15 points.
Saturday, the Tide rallied in the second half to beat Somerset from District 5, 67-53. Tre Simms and Nick Nobile scored 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Tuesday, the Tide plays its first home game of the season against Mount Calvary before traveling to L-S on Friday and Eastern on Saturday.

In girls' basketball, the two-year plus losing streak for the Tide is over. The Tide won for the first time since the end of the 2008-09 season Saturday, beating Donegal, 56-31 in the consolation game of the Elizabethtown Tournament. Soph Jenna Plastino had 31 points.
Friday, the Tide lost to Brandywine Heights, 60-22.