HYDE — In dual meet action this year, the Clearfield Bison matmen have been able to dominate the scoring from 106 to 152; but the lack of big men from 160 through 285 has been the team’s downfall. Depending upon where matches have begun this season, the Bison have either gone racing out to a big lead or have faced a big deficit and have been forced to mount a comeback.
That was the case again Tuesday night when longtime rival Philipsburg-Osceola invaded the Arthur J. Weiss Gymnasium to take on the Bison.
This match started at 145, and the season script held true – the Bison found themselves in a huge hole, 39-6, when the match turned the corner at 285 and headed into the lightweights. The Mounties took advantage of three forfeits out of the last five weight classes to build their seemingly insurmountable lead.
But the Bison gamely fought back to make it a match.
At 106 Bison freshman Logan Gilbert was down 4-1, courtesy first and second period takedowns, to Mountie standout Chris Thompson when Thompson aggravated an injury and was forced to injury default at the 4:31 mark.
That unfortunate injury began the momentum swing for the Bison.
Fellow freshman Josiah McClarren went out at 113 and took it to senior Chris Barnhart by getting the opening takedown, then gave up a reversal, then reversed and half-nelsoned for the fall in 1:49.
Sophomore Noah Cline brought the Bison within shouting distance at 39-24 after his second period low-leg cradle earned him a fall in 2:54 over Bryan Descavish.
Senior Dylan Graham inched the Bison closer at 126, aided by four takedowns, with his 13-5 major decision against Brian Evans, who could only muster five escapes against the Bison strongboy.
Down 11, 39-28, the Bison needed to end the dual meet with a pair of pins to ensure the win; but Mountie junior Dallas Kephart ended any thoughts of a Bison comeback when holding on to a slim 4-2 lead in the third period, turned Jon Sponsler to pick up a fall in 5:50 to lock up the dual meet in P-O’s favor.
Christian Stone was able to uphold his end of the bargain by pinning Caleb Shive in 5:47 in a match that was only 2-0 Stone heading into the final two minutes.
That set the final at 45-34.
Earlier in the match, P-O and Clearfield had traded falls to set the stage for the big Mountie lead and Bison attempt at a comeback.
At 145, Grant Climie was pinned by Scott Yarger in 3:27, Nolan Barger evened the score at 152 with a fall by cradle in 2:22, and Mike Beck at 160 was pinned in 1:29 by Mountie Andrew Greenawalt.
The Bison then forfeited at 170, 182, and 285 surrounded by an overtime match at 195 won 3-2 by Dennis Lumadue over Bison Jake Verchick and a first period fall by Nick Gray over Bison senior Shane Billings.
Philipsburg-Osceola upped their record to 8-6 on the year, while the Bison dropped to 7-9.
The Bison will be back in action for their final dual meet of the year when they host the Huntingdon Bearcats (13-3) on Senior Night on Thursday.
Bout by bout results (Clearfield wrestler listed first):
145: Grant Climie lbf 3:21 to Scott Yarger 0 – 6
152: Nolan Barger wbf 2:22 over Connor Mann 6 – 6
160: Mike Beck lbf 1:29 to Andrew Greenawalt 6 – 12
170: Forfeit to Dustin Shuey 6 – 18
182: Forfeit to John Prentice 6 – 24
195: Jake Verchick lbd 3-2 sv to Dennis Lumadue 6 – 27
220: Shane Billings lbf 1:27 to Nick Gray 6 – 33
285: Forfeit to Caleb Pepperday 6 – 39
106: Logan Gilbert inj def 4:31 over Chris Thompson 12 – 39
113: Josiah McClarren wbf 1:49 over Chris Barnhart 18 – 39
120: Noah Cline wbf 2:54 over Brian Descavish 24 – 39
126: Dylan Graham wbmd 13 – 5 Brian Evans 28 – 39
132: Jon Sponsler lbf 5:50 to Dallas Kephart 28 – 45
138: Christain Stone wbf 5:47 over Caleb Shively 34 – 45
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 | 38 – 33 | 5 – 7 |
| 01/31 | @ Tyrone | 41 – 24 | 6 – 7 |
| 02/02 | D9 Team Wrestling Champs. | ||
| vs. St. Marys | 41 – 31 | 7 – 7 | |
| vs. DuBois | 23 – 51 | 7 – 8 | |
| 02/05 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | 34 – 45 | 7 – 9 |
| 02/07 | HUNTINGDON | ||
| 02/23 | Districts @ Clarion | ||
| 03/01,02 | Regionals @ Altoona | ||
| 03/07-09 | States @ Hershey |