CLARION – District 7 powerhouse Connellsville pinned the first loss of the season on the Clearfield Area High School wrestling team in a PIAA Class AAA Team Tournament first-round match at Clarion High School Tuesday night.
The Falcons, coming off Monday’s 36-20 victory over Penn-Trafford in the WPIAL’s third-place match, recorded five pins en route to a 46-15 win that sends them into the second round against District 11 runner-up Parkland Friday in the Hershey Giant Center.
Connellsville (19-1) had gone into the 20-team WPIAL tourney as the No. 1 seed but was upset 32-27 by No. 4 seed Kiski Area in the semifinals Thursday. No. 2 seed Canon McMillan (17-3) beat Kiski Area (17-2) 32-27 for the D-7 title Tuesday.
Clearfield, which sported a 14-0 record, fell behind 12-0 before 112-pounder Shane Peters bested Nick Beneke 9-4 for the Bisons’ only win in the first eight bouts.
Decisions by Derek Danver at 145 and Wil Beaseigneur at 152 and a meet-ending fall by Cliff Hill at 189 accounted for the other Clearfield points.
The Bisons are idle until making the short trip to Curwensville Tuesday. They’ll return to Weiss Gym two nights later to close the dual meet season against District 9 Class AA champion Ridgway.
Connellsville 46, Clearfield 15
215 – Nate Gaffney, Co, pinned Jordan Lancaster, :45. (0-6)
285 – Travis Miller, Co, dec. Andre Buck, 9-3. (0-9)
103 – Ethan Kenney, Co, dec. Christian Stone, 2-1. (0-12)
112 – Shane Peters, Cl, dec. Nick Beneke, 9-4. (3-12)
119 – Tyler Steele, Co, dec. Kodie Lowder, 5-3. (3-15)
125 – Ryan Williams, Co, major dec. Nolan Barger, 12-4. (3-19)
130 – Jerry Cramer, Co, dec. Andrew Hill, 2-1. (3-22)
135 – Stetson Keedy, Co, pinned Cody Lansberry, 2:55. (3-28)
140 – Jesse Swink, Co, pinned Shane Harper, 5:48. (3-34)
145 – Derek Danver, Cl, dec. Mike Aumer, 12-6. (6-34)
152 – Wil Beauseigneur, Cl, dec. Jeremy Basinger, 4-2. (9-34)
160 – Jordan McKnight, Co, pinned Curtis Owens, :36. (9-40)
171 – Ethan Saylor, Co, pinned Logan Shadeck, 2:35. (9-46)
189 – Cliff Hill, Cl, pinned Zach Fike, 1:13. (15-46)
