Clearfield Wrestlers Hold On Against BEA, 34-33

There have been many memorable dual meets over the storied 75 years of Clearfield Bison wrestling and Thursday evening’s season opening match against Bald Eagle Area will certainly be one to be remembered for a long time.

The Bisons and Eagles each won seven bouts in the contest, but Clearfield was able to garner more bonus points in defeating BEA by a score of 34-33. “We knew this was going to be a tough opening match for us,” noted head coach Jeff Aveni. “Even though Bald Eagle is rebuilding, they are a very good wrestling team.”

Clearfield wasted no time in jumping out to a big lead as junior Shane Peters used five tilts to dominate Tyler Baney with a 16-0 technical fall at 4:47 in the 103 lb match.

Freshman Christian Stone followed with an exciting 5-4 win over Justin Greidoc at 112. Tied at two going into the third period, Stone escaped and took down Greidoc and then surrendered only a reversal to seal the victory.

At 119, Clearfield’s other highly touted ninth grader, Nolan Barger, used three cradles in a dominating 14-2 major decision over Matt Dillion to increase the Bison lead to 12-0.

Senior Kodie Lowder kept the team points coming at 125 as he battled back from a first period deficit on his way to a 19-7 major decision of Dion Barnard.

At 130, Clearfield’s Max Von Gunden used a double bar arm to make quick work of Vaughn Holderman, pinning the BEA wrestler in 1:30 of the bout.

       
Next it was BEA’s turn to reel of a string of victories. Garren Kunes defeated Clearfield’s Andrew Hill 4-2 at 135 to put the Eagles on the scoreboard.

At 140 Kyle Granite made quick work of Troy Danver, cradling the Bison for a 29 second fall.

The points kept coming for the Eagles as Jake Taylor downed Shane Harper 8-6 in an exciting bout at 145.

Another first period fall, this time by Coleman Hoffman over Clearfield’s Curtis Owens in 52 seconds, brought the Eagles to within four points of the Bisons after the 152 lb bout, 22-18.

      
Clearfield’s Derek Danver, wrestling up a weight class, put a stop to BEA’s momentum by pinning Nick Taylor in the third period and extending the Bison lead to 28-18. “With (Logan) Shadeck not being able to go for us due to an injury, we had a couple options,” said Aveni. “I decided to move Derek and Wil (Beauseigneur) up a weight. Derek’s fall was huge.”

At 171 pounds, BEA juggled their lineup as well, sending Jim Greib out against Beauseigneur and the Eagle wrestler was able to come away with a hard fought 7-4 victory.

The big win for the Bisons came at 189 as junior Cliff Hill matched up against one of BEA’s better wrestlers, Brandon Coakley. Trailing 2-0 in the second period, Hill muscled up and threw Coakley to his back for a 3:52 fall, bringing the home team’s fans to their feet and sealing the dual meet victory for the Bisons. “What can you say? Cliff was the man of the match tonight!” mused an elated Aveni.

      
Bald Eagle Area closed out the dual meet with two pins as state-ranked Jon Gingrich decked Andre Buck in 4:47 at 215 and Caleb Daye flattened Jordan Lancaster in 2:59 at 285.

      
Clearfield will be back in action Monday on the mats as they travel to Punxsutawney to take on their District IX foe, the Chucks.

103      Shane Peters, C, technical fall Tyler Baney, BEA 16-0, 4:47           (6-0)

112      Christian Stone, C, decision Justin Geidroc, BEA, 5-4                     (8-0)

119      Nolan Barger, C, major decision Matt Dillion, BEA, 14-2               (12-0)

125      Kodie Lowder,C, major decision Dion Barnard, BEA, 19-7             (16-0)

130      Max Von Gunden, fall Vaughn Holderman, BEA, 1:30                    (22-0)

135      Garren Kunes, BEA, decision Andrew Hill, C, 4-2                           (22-3)

140      Kyle Granite, BEA, fall Troy Danver, C, :29                                     (22-9)

145      Jake Taylor, BEA, decision Shane Harper, C, 8-6                             (22-12)

152      Coleman Hoffman, BEA, fall Curtis Ownes, C, :52                          (22-18)

160      Derek Danver, C, fall Nick Taylor, BEA, 5:30                                  (28-18)

171      Jim Greib, BEA decision Wil Beauseigneur, C, 7-4                         (28-21)

189      Cliff Hill, C, fall Brandon Coakley, BEA, 3:52                                (34-21)

215      John Gingrich, BEA, fall Andre Buck, C, 4:47                                 (34-27)

285      Caleb Daye, BEA, fall Jordan Lancaster, C, 2:59                             (34-33)