Wingate — Despite a 46-18 loss to Bald Eagle Area, the Bisons wrestled better than head coach Jeff Aveni expected.
\”I\’m really proud of my kids and I\’m going to tell them that,\” said Aveni.\”We really stood toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the state. Thematch was 46-18, but, at one point, it was 18-15 and then we got into the studs of that line-up against some of our young guys and they opened it up a bit. I thought we battled and scrapped our way through the line-up and I\’m proud of all the kids.\”
The match started at heavyweight where Sean Owen got the Bisons on the board. After a scoreless first period, Owen went to work in the second and third periods to secure a 5-1 win over Watson.
\”Sean Owen came out and was aggressive in the first period,\” said Aveni. \”He kept the pressure until he broke the kid. He got a solid win.\”
At 103,Trevor Foresman received a forfeit. The Bald Eagles regained the lead, but were in for a fight as the Bisons came ready to scrap.
Holden Lowe matched Wes Peters\’ intensity level at 112 and proved to be too much for his opponent to handle. Lowe picked up bonus points as time expired to post a 15-0 technical fall.
At 119, Cory Gates answered and only needed 2:38 to pin the Bison\’s Andrew Spicer.
Clearfield would bounce back with victories from Jeff Smallwood and Anthony Schultz at 125 and 130, respectively. Smallwood notched a 6-2 decision over Sam Peters while Schultz came up with a 16-5 major decision over BEA\’s John
Decker.
\”That was a huge win from Anthony Schultz,\” said Aveni. \”I mean the kid has the potential and ability to win and he hasn\’t been able to get a win for himself. He gets one over a tough opponent from Bald Eagle Area tonight, which is great.\”
At 135, Jake Shirk jumped out to a 13-4 lead and managed to avoid a near third period fall by Clearfield\’s Anthony Moore to pull out a 15-10 win.
Although Moore lost, Aveni was impressed with his efforts when he said, \”He was wrestling one of the better kids in that line up and he really battled and scrapped. [He] had him on his back and even though we didn\’t get the win, we were right there with him.\”
The Bisons got their final win of the night at 140 from Shawn Hall who battled in overtime to pick up a takedown and three near fall points to defeat Rusty Fetzer 7-2.
Clearfield led 18-15 with six bouts remaining. However, the young Bisons were meeting the studs of the BEA line-up.
BEA received back-to-back major decisions from Shawn Switzer (145) and Caleb Hoffman (152) before getting falls in three of their last four bouts.
Quentin Wright (160), Ryan McNamara (171) and Kevin Struble (215) recorded pins. Brian Kochik posted a 19-3 technical fall at 189 pounds.
The Bisons are back in action Dec. 28-29 at Brockway for the Big Dog Tournament.
Clearfield 18 – Bald Eagle Area 46
275 – Sean Owen (C) WBD Tim Watson (BEA), 5-1, (0-3)
103 – Trevor Foresman (BEA) WBFF, (3-6)
112 – Holden Lowe (C) WBTF Wes Peters (BEA), 6:00, 15-0, (8-6)
119 – Andrew Spicer (C) LBF Cory Gates (BEA), 2:38, (8-12)
125 – Jeff Smallwood (C) WBD Sam Peters (BEA), 6-2 (11-12)
130 – Anthony Schultz (C) WBMD John Decker (BEA), 16-5, (15-12)
135 – Anthony Moore (C) LBD Jake Shirk (BEA), 10-15, (15-15)
140 – Shawn Hall (C) WBD Rusty Fetzer (BEA), 7-2 OT, (18-15)
145 – Richie Queen (C) LBMD Shawn Switzer (BEA), 5-16, (18-19)
152 – Doug Gisewhitie (C) LBMD Caleb Hoffman (BEA), 0-8, (18-23)
160 – Kasey Casher (C) LBF Quentin Wright (BEA), :14, (18-29)
171 – Lee Zalno (C) LBF Ryan MacNamara (BEA), 1:38, (18-35)
189 – Jacob Riglin (C) LBTF Brian Kochik (BEA), 4:58, (3-19), (18-40)
215 – Nick Redden (C) LBF Kevin Struble (BEA), 2:27, (18-46)