WILLIAMSPORT – Clearfield heavyweight Sean Owen won his first Top Hat Invitational crown Saturday night.
“He pretty much dominated his opponents and was never really tested. He was just better than everyone down there, and it was a just go out and take care of business kind of weekend for him,” said head coach Jeff Aveni.
The Bisons’ returning state champion defeated Alex Kirchner (Elizabethtown) by an 11-3 major decision to kick off a perfect start to his senior season.
“He worked a little more on his feet. He didn’t work that much on top, or it would have probably been another fall for him there in the finals,” Aveni said, adding that his heavyweight looked sharp throughout the tournament.
Owen pinned his way to the championship bout, with falls over Noah Confer (Canton, 1:13), Dillon Hockensmith (Cumberland Valley, 3:30) and Josh Albert (Montoursville, 5:52).
Bison Derek Danver (152) and Shawn Hall (171) bounced back from semi-final losses to Marshall Peppelman (Central Dauphin) and Nick Milano (Erie Cathedral Prep), respectively to finish fourth for the tournament.
Danver landed himself a spot in the consolation final, with a 5-3 decision over Dylan Huffman (Titusville). But Joey Wildasin (South Western) pinned the Bison sophomore in 3:56 in his medal bout.
“I thought he wrestled real well for all the longer that he’s been in room with us,” Aveni said. “I thought he opened the season with a real good tournament.”
In the semis, Danver was a victim of Peppelman – a returning state champion – in an 18-2 tech fall loss in 5:51. Peppelman was the tournament’s top seed and eventual champion at 152 pounds.
At 171, Hall redeemed his semi-final loss with a fall, pinning Dylan Scheidt (Schuylkill Valley) in 4:44 before coming up short 4-1 to fellow district opponent Logan Shirey (Redbank Valley) in the consolation final.
Hall ran into Milano, who was last year’s state fourth placewinner, in his semi-final bout. Milano pinned the Bison senior in 1:25 and later finished second.
“We were probably about a 160-pounder and up against one of the best 171-pounders,” Aveni said.
Aveni said Danver and Hall were both outgunned in their semi-final match-ups.
“They were just outgunned and outwrestled there, but they didn’t go out and lie down for their opponents either. I thought that both of those guys wrestled well throughout the tournament,” he said.
Three other Bison also reached the medal stand, as Kodie Lowder finished fifth at 112 pounds, Holden Lowe sixth at 135 pounds and Shane Peters seventh at 103 pounds.
Overall, Aveni said the team had a disappointing weekend on the mat.
“We weren’t going out there and getting after people. I didn’t think that we showed a lot of hunger. We had kids who were wrestling not to lose, and it cost us some matches,” he said.
“I thought we lost some matches that we were very capable of winning. We have to score points. It’s wrestling. We probably had eight or nine kids who could have placed.”
Aveni said the tournament opened some eyes and gave the team a good read of where they stand heading into the upcoming dual meets.
“We’ll go back to work Monday in the room. We have some adjustments to make in order to finish better. Hopefully, it woke us up, and we’ll come back with more hunger,” he said.
The Bison return to action at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at home against Punxsutawney.
Final Team Standings
1. Central Dauphin 270.5
2. Cumberland Valley 200
3. Schuylkill Valley 132
4. Line Mountain 128
5. Erie Cathedral Prep 127.5
6. Indian Valley 126
7. Canon McMillan 111
8. Montoursville 107.5
9. Clearfield 103.5
10. South Western 97.5
11. Elizabethtown 93
12. Mifflinburg 92.5
13. Red Lion 90
14. Redbank Valley 74
15. Williamsport 53
16. Hughesville 35
17. South Williamsport 27
18. Titusville 25
19. Canton 23
Clearfield Results
Preliminary Round 1
130 – Andrew Hill, Clearfield LBD Robert Long, Line Mountain, 4-6
140 – Shane Harper, Clearfield LBD Carlos Zrake, Line Mountain, 2-6
189 – Cliff Hill, Clearfield LBF Kyle Sallada, Canton, 2:22
Second Round
103 – Shane Peters, Clearfield LBMD Caleb Pearson, Montoursville, 8-17
112 – Kodie Lowder, Clearfield WBF Sauyer Yashinski, Titusville, 2:23
119 – Max Von Gunden, Clearfield LBMD Carl Seltzer, Central Dauphin, 0-11
125 – Andrew Spicer, Clearfield WBMD Josh Struble, Mifflinburg, 11-2
135 – Holden Lowe, Clearfield LBD Garrett Chase, Erie Cathedral Prep, 1-4 OT
145 – Curtis Owens, Clearfield LBF Emett Koller, Central Dauphin, 0:27
152 – Derek Danver, Clearfield WBF Justin Radaker, Redbank Valley, 3:26
160 – Wil Beauseigneur, Clearfield LBMD David Snook, Mifflinburg, 3-11
171 – Shawn Hall, Clearfield WBF James Wiest, Line Mountain, 4:53
215 – Andre Buck, Clearfield WBF Braden Bowser, Redbank Valley, 2:13
285 – Sean Owen, Clearfield WBF Noah Confer, Canton, 1:13
Quarter-Finals
112 – Kodie Lowder, Clearfield WBD Zane Rowe, Mifflinburg, 8-2
125 – Andrew Spicer, Clearfield LBD Drew Rebling, South Western, 5-10
152 – Derek Danver, Clearfield WBD Josh Nguyen, Line Mountain, 4-3
171 – Shawn Hall, Clearfield WBTF Brad Snyder, Mifflinburg, 17-2, 4:58
215 – Andre Buck, Clearfield LBD Nick Dawson, Montoursville, 1-2 OT
285 – Sean Owen, Clearfield WBF Dillon Hockensmith, Cumberland Valley, 3:30
Semi-Finals
112 – Kodie Lowder, Clearfield LBTF Kevin Gooding, Central Dauphin, 0-16, 3:47
152 – Derek Danver, Clearfield LBTF Marshall Peppelman, Central Dauphin, 2-18, 5:51
171 – Shawn Hall, Clearfield LBF Nick Milano, Erie Cathedral Prep, 1:25
285 – Sean Owen, Clearfield, WBF Josh Albert, Montoursville, 5:52
Finals
285 – Sean Owen, Clearfield WBMD Alex Kirchner, Elizabethtown, 11-3
Consolations Results
103 – Shane Peters, Clearfield WBFF Jake Fry, Hughesville
103 – Shane Peters, Clearfield WBD Colt Shorts, Canon McMillan, 9-5
103 – Shane Peters, Clearfield LBF Kaleb Loht, Indian Valley, 3:24
103 – Shane Peters, Clearfield WBF Garrett Hildebrand, Redbank Valley, 2:28
112 – Kodie Lowder, Clearfield LBD John Agnello, Erie Cathedral Prep, 0-1
112 – Kodie Lowder, Clearfield WBD Zane Rowe, Mifflinburg, 8-2
119 – Max Von Gunden, Clearfield, BYE
119 – Max Von Gunden, Clearfield LBD Joe Short, Indian Valley, 0-5
125 – Andrew Spicer, Clearfield LBD William Page, Montoursville, 3-9
130 – Andrew Hill, Clearfield, BYE
130 – Andrew Hill, Clearfield LBD Kyle Miller, Indian Valley, 0-6
135 – Holden Lowe, Clearfield WBMD DJ Foresman, Hughesville, 9-1
135 – Holden Lowe, Clearfield WBD Jake Kemper, South Western, 3-1
135 – Holden Lowe, Clearfield WBFF Kyle Andrews, Williamsport
135 – Holden Lowe, Clearfield LBD Luke Walker, Cumberland Valley, 5-8
135 – Holden Lowe, Clearfield LBD Mike Giorgio, Schuylkill Valley, 3-5
140 – Shane Harper, Clearfield, BYE
140 – Shane Harper, Clearfield LBTF Tyler Parsons, Erie Cathedral Prep, 1-16, 5:00
145 – Curtis Owens, Clearfield, BYE
145 – Curtis Owens, Clearfield, LBD Noah Horst, Schuylkill Valley, 7-14
152 – Derek Danver, Clearfield WBD Dylan Huffman, Titusville, 5-3
152 – Derek Danver, Clearfield LBF Joey Wildasin, South Western, 3:56
160 – Wil Beauseigneur, Clearfield, BYE
160 – Wil Beauseigneur, Clearfield WBD Dakota May, Hughesville, 4-3
160 – Wil Beauseigneur, Clearfield LBMD Bob Doyle, Red Lion, 1-10
171 – Shawn Hall, Clearfield WBF Dylan Scheidt, Schuylkill Valley, 4:44
171 – Shawn Hall, Clearfield LBD Logan Shirey, Redbank Valley, 1-4
189 – Cliff Hill, Clearfield, BYE
189 – Cliff Hill, Clearfield LBF Jake Heeter, Mifflinburg, 2:15
215 – Andre Buck, Clearfield LBD Cody Klempay, Canon McMillan, 2-3
