Wingate — Going into Friday night’s wrestling match against Bald Eagle Area, Clearfield Bison head coach Jeff Aveni was expecting a tough, hard fought contest and after the dust had settled, Aveni looked Nostradamus-like. The Bisons left Wingate with a well-earned 36-33 win over the Eagles.
“It went back and forth all night just like I expected,” said Aveni. “They’re a real solid wrestling team.”
Things started well for the Bisons at 145 as Andrew Hill scored in all three periods on his way to an 11-5 decision over Josh Maurer. BEA was able to even the score at 152 when Nick Taylor got the best of Shane Harper, 9-5.
The Eagles looked like they might run away with things at 160 and 171 when Coleman Hoffman headlocked Clearfield’s Curtis Owens for a pin in 1:03 and Jake Taylor decked Cody Hepfer in 1:19.
In what turned out to be the key match of the contest, the Bison’s Derek Danver wrestled up at 189 and was able to score a gutsy 2-1 decision over Garren Kunes. Scoreless after the first two minutes, Kunes scored on an escape to take a 1-0 lead into the third period. Outweighed by 18 pounds, Danver kept fighting off of the bottom and eventually scored a reversal late in the third to seal the victory.
Both teams traded pins in the next two bouts as Clearfield’s Cliff Hill at 215 flattened Aaron Varner in 3:03 and BEA’s Nate Sharkey needed 1:46 to deck Jordan Lancaster at 285.
Clearfield finally got things rolling in the lighter weights starting with Shane Peters posting a 6-1 decision over Travis Geidroc at 103. Christian Stone pulled the Bisons even in the dual meet at 112 with a third period cement job on Jason Sherry. Stone was leading 12-0 at the time of the fall in 5:53.
Bison Dylan Graham and the Eagle’s Tyler Baney locked up in wild match at 119 and when the six minutes were done, it was Graham the victor by a score of 9-7. At 125, Bald Eagle Area would lead for the final time after Justin Geidroc pinned Clearfield’s Frankie Aveni in 3:30.
The Bisons would lock the dual meet victory up with Nolan Barger receiving a forfeit at 130 and Troy Danver overwhelming Vaugh Holderman at 135. Danver built a 10-0 lead after the first period with three different sets of nearfall points before finally decking his foe in 3:00.
BEA made the final look close when “Sherriff” Matt Dillion pinned Max Von Gunden in 1:35 of the last match of the evening at 140.
“We still have some issues to address,” said Aveni “We’re going to get better as the season goes on.”
The Bisons, now 2-0, return home this Wednesday to host the Punxsutawney Chucks.
Bout Recap Team Score
145 Andrew Hill, WBD, 11-5, over Josh Maurer Clfd 3-0
152 Shane Harper, LBD, 9-5, to Nick Taylor 3-3
160 Curtis Owens, LBF, 1:03, to Coleman Hoffman BEA 9-3
171 Cody Hepfer, LBF, 1:19, to Jake Taylor BEA 15-3
189 Derek Danver, WBD, 2-1, over Garren Kunes BEA 15-6
215 Cliff Hill, WBF, 3:03, over Aaron Varner BEA 15-12
285 Jordan Lancaster, LBF, 1:46 to Nate Sharkey BEA 21-12
103 Shane Peters, WBD, 6-1, over Travis Geidroc BEA 21-15
112 Christian Stone, WBF, 5:53 over Jason Sherry 21-21
119 Dylan Graham, WBD, 9-7, over Tyler Baney Clfd 24-21
125 Frankie Aveni, LBF, 3:30, to Justin Geidroc BEA 27-24
130 Nolan Barger, Forfeit Clfd 30-27
135 Troy Danver, WBF, 3:00, over Vaughn Holderman Clfd 36-27
140 Max Von Gunden, LBF, 1:35, to Matt Dillion Clfd 36-33
