HERSHEY – You could say that the Clearfield Bisons went 1-1-1 during the first day of the PIAA Class AAA State Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center. One left in the championship round, one in the consolation round, and one done.
Defending state champ Sean Owen was the only Bison to survive the championship round of the five hour first session. Sean only used nine seconds of that five hour marathon as he head locked LaSalle College High School senior Kyle DiGacobbe (40-7) right to his back to earn the fall.
119 pound Andrew Spicer ran in to a buzz saw his first match in the form of Council Rock North’s Zac Haynes (36-9). Haynes built up a 6-0 lead at the end of the first period and never looked back logging a 13-3 major decision over Spicer.
Spicer did survive day one by beating Elizabeth Forward’s Jake Diana 10-3 in the first round of consolations. Spicer scored the opening take down to be up 2-0 at the end of the first period over Diana. The margin was the same as the third period began 4-2 Spicer. The Bison senior was able to keep his career going by escaping, then getting a takedown and back points to outscore Diana 6-1 in the final period.
Spicer (27-15) will face the loser of the quarter final match between returning state champion Shane Young (39-1) of Penn Trafford and Easton’s Mitchell Minotti (32-8) in the second round of consies, which begin at approximately 2:45 p.m. Friday
Bison Head Coach Jeff Aveni said,”… that Spicer wrestled very well his second match. The nerves were gone and he’s looking forward to trying to get one more win and be on the medal stand.”
If Spicer can pick up a win in the second round of consies, he would be assured of at least 8th, with the possibility of coming all the way back for 3rd place.
Senior Holden Lowe also found himself in a hole after the first period of his first match against Unionville sophomore Mason Popham (29-5). Popham used the opening takedown and three near fall points to lead 5-0 at the end of one period. Heading to the last period, Lowe found himself on the short end of a 6-0 score, but escaped and took Popham down to close the gap to 6-3. Unfortunately, that was as close as Lowe would get.
Lowe had the misfortune of facing a returning state champion in his first round consy match. Blue Mountain’s Cort Choate was upset 4-2 in an overtime tie-breaker to Canon McMillan’s Nicholas Catalano.
Lowe faced Choate earlier this season in the PIAA state dual championships. The results were basically the same as Choate won 9-1 back in February and 8-1 in March.
Lowe ends his senior season with a 36-8 record. Lowe spent four solid seasons in the Bison line up and finishes his career with an 84-49 mark.
Aveni said that he was, “proud of Holden’s accomplishments this year. He wrestled hard in the first match, just couldn’t overcome that five point move in the first period. The second match was just a tough draw having a state champ in the first round of wrestle backs.”
Owen will face Hampton High School’s Joe Raimondi (31-3) in Friday’s quarter final round, which begins at 1:00 p.m. Raimondi decisioned Kennard Dale’s Nick Page 5-2 in his opening round match.
40-0 Owen’s collision course with last year’s silver medalist is on track as Evan Craig (38-0) scored a 17-1 tech fall over Hempfield’s Matt Ruhl in 5:50 in his preliminary bout.
Despite the challenge that potentially looms ahead against Craig, Aveni assured that, “Sean just took care of business. We’re going to prepare for Friday’s match and that match only. No looking ahead.”
NOTES: District 9 wrestlers went 3-5 in the opening round. Joining Owen in the quarter finals were 152 pounder Mark Havers from Bradford, and DuBois’ 160 pounder Billy Morrison. Still alive in the consy bracket along with Spicer were Punxsutawney’s Kody Young at 125 and St. Marys’ Sean Sadosky at 215.
The North West Region advanced 16 of 42 wrestlers to the quarter finals, while 17 went “two and through”.
District 3’s Central Dauphin sits atop the team standings with 21.5 points. Central Mountain, the District 6 and North West Region team champions, is in third place with 16 points.