NEW OXFORD — Despite only fielding a nine-man squad for the 22-team New Oxford Tournament on Saturday, the Clearfield Bison wrestling team finished in third place with 123.5 team points.
They only finished nine points behind the two teams that tied for tournament honors – Mechanicsburg and Northwestern. Philipsburg-Osceola finished a close fourth to the Bison with 120.5 points.
Grabbing gold medals for the Bison were the usual suspects – seniors Christian Stone and Nolan Barger.
At 132, Stone went 4-0 to keep his undefeated season in tact at 23-0. Stone won in the finals by an 11-4 score over Cameron Scalio of Fairfield.
Barger, competing at 145, picked up three falls on the day, including one in the championship finals over Joell Toledo of Pleasant Valley in 5:39.
Five other Bison were able to make it to the medal stand in the tournament that was shortened to one day due to Friday’s inclement weather.
Senior Dylan Graham finished second after losing to Punxsuatwney freshman Kaleb Young 6-5 in the finals. Graham (21-3) beat Young 3-1 in overtime during the dual meet early in the season. A potential third bout between Graham and Young looms at the District IV-IX Championships February 23 in Clarion.
Sophomore Noah Cline (17-9) continued his strong season as he went 3-1 to earn the bronze medal.
Freshman Logan Gilbert also went 3-1, but had to settle for fifth place. Gilbert’s second half of the season improvement has seen him raise his record to 16-8.
Two other underclassman, 113 pounder Josiah McClarren and junior Jake Verchick at 182, went 2-2 to place seventh. McClarren’s record stands at 7-13, while Verchick still flirts with the .500 mark at 10-11.
Mike Beck (8-11) went 1-2 at 152 and Jon Sponsler (6-10) went 0-2 to round out the Bison team.
Several Bison were sick or injured and hope to return to dual meet action this week when the Bison (4-7) host St. Marys (5-2) on Tuesday night and travel to Tyrone on Thursday.
Bison Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/07,08 | @ Top Hat Tourney | 11th | 0 – 0 |
| 12/11 | DUBOIS | 21 – 56 | 0 – 1 |
| 12/13 | @ Bald Eagle Area | 28 – 37 | 0 – 2 |
| 12/18 | CENTRAL | 42 – 37 | 1 – 2 |
| 12/20 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | 63 – 12 | 2 – 2 |
| 01/04,05 | @ Tool City Tourney | 10th | 2 – 2 |
| 01/08 | @ Penns Valley | 31 – 42 | 2 – 3 |
| 01/19 | CLFD BISON DUALS | ||
| vs. Valley | 53 – 19 | 3 – 3 | |
| vs. Pleasant Valley | 38 – 42 | 3 – 4 | |
| vs. West Branch | 18 – 60 | 3 – 5 | |
| vs. Montoursville | 33 – 35 | 3 – 6 | |
| vs. Sharpsville | 50 – 27 | 4 – 6 | |
| 01/22 | @ Bellefonte | 30 – 41 | 4 – 7 |
| 01/25,26 | @ New Oxford Tourney | 3rd | 4 – 7 |
| 01/29 | ST.MARYS | ||
| 01/31 | @ Tyrone |