The Golden Tide utilized five pins and three forfeits to run away with the victory which pleased Tide head coach Duane Wriglesworth, “We have worked very hard getting ready for the season and I was especially pleased how well we wrestled on our feet tonight. We struggled with that last year.”
Curwensville got behind 6-0 to start the match as Rover Anthony Benson turned Nate Wriglesworth for the fall in 2:49.
Then it was four straight wins for the visitors from Curwensville as Austin Pollick won by forfeit at 170 with Chad Desmett, at 182, Jake Kavelak, at 195 and Ricky Magnuson, at 220, all winning by pinning their opponents. That put the Tide out in front for good 24-6.
Desmett took care of Casey Wolfe in 1:38; Kavelak pinned Hunter Richardson in 3:26 and Magnuson pressed Gavin Yahner to the mat in just 48 seconds.
In a battle at 285 Brad Stubbs of Curwensville jumped out to a 4-1 margin after the first two minutes of action only to have Rover Zach Brinkley come back with a fall in the second period at the 2:23 mark cutting the Tide’s margin to 24-12.
Tide freshman Sam Bressler looked sharp at 106 with a convincing 12-5 win over Brockway’s Justin Prave.
Neither team had a wrestler at 113 pounds so the action quickly moved to the 120 pound weight class were Tyler Mays of Curwensville picked up the quickest fall of the night in making short work of Devon Park in just 33 seconds.
Brockway 126 pound entrant, Troy Hidinger, picked up the last points for the Rovers with a forfeit but the Tide was still far out in front 33-18 with four bouts remaining.
Trey McKenzie of Curwensville won a very hotly contested match at 132 in defeating Jack Glasl 5-3 with a second period reversal after being tied 3-3 after the first period.
The Tide put the match away at 138 when Devin Kerin won by forfeit and Jake Keller then picked up a fall over D. J. Forrest in 3:44 to give the Tide a huge 48-18 lead with one match to go.
It was a forfeit at 152 for Alex Holt of Curwensville that put the last points on the board for the evening making the final 54-18 in favor of the Golden Tide.
It is just one win and Wriglesworth knows that, “We have a very rough road ahead because our schedule is demanding this year but 1-0 is exactly were we want to be.”
The Tide junior high team was also victorious as they beat the young Rovers 51-41 in the night’s first match.
Curwensville will not wrestle until Thursday December 22 when they host the Warriors of West Branch at Patton Hall with the junior high meet starting at 6 pm and the varsity contest to immediately follow.
Match Summary:
160 Anthony Benson, B pinned Nate Wriglesworth, CUR 2:49 0-6
170 Austin Pollick, CUR won by forfeit 6-6
182 Chad Desmett, CUR pinned Casey Wolfe, B 1:38 12-6
195 Jake Kavelak, CUR pinned Hunter Richardson, B 3:26 18-6
220 Ricky Magnuson, CUR pinned Gavin Yahner, B :48 24-6
285 Zach Brinkley, B pinned Brad Stubbs, CUR 2:23 24-12
106 Sam Bressler, CUR dec Justin Prave, B 12-5 27-12
113 NO BOUT
120 Tyler Mays, CUR pinned Devon Park, B :33 33-12
126 Troy Hidinger, B won by forfeit 33-18
132 Trey McKenzie, CUR dec Jack Glasl, B 5-3 36-18
138 Devin Kerin, CUR won by forfeit 42-18
145 Jake Keller, CUR pinned D. J. Forrest, B 3:44 48-18
152 Alex Holt, CUR won by forfeit 54-18
REFEREE: Bob Colgan and Marvin Morris
Golden Tide Wrestling Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/10 | @ Mountaineer Tourney | 57.5 pts. | 8th |
| 12/15 | @ Brockway | 54 – 18 | 1 – 0 |
| 12/22 | WEST BRANCH |