HERSHEY — After a sluggish 1-0 win in his opening bout on Thursday afternoon, Clearfield Bison senior Nolan Barger returned to the form that has seen him breeze through the post season thus far. Barger (37-1) dominated Hampton senior Kevin Synan (38-8) by a 9-4 count in Friday afternoon’s quarterfinals to advance to the 9:oo am Saturday morning semifinals.
There, Barger will run into one of the pre-meet favorites, two-time state medal winner Solomon Chisko (9-0), the Southwest Region champion from Canon-McMillan.
Barger is assured of at least a sixth place finish, his first state medal in his third trip to Hershey.
Unfortunately, Barger will not be joined by fellow senior teammates Dylan Graham and Christian Stone.
Stone wasn’t able to keep the momentum going from a late comeback in his opening match as he lost two one-point decisions to be eliminated. First, in the quarterfinals, he was defeated by a 6-5 score by the Southwest Region champ, Ethan Kenney (32-6) of Connellsville. Then he was eliminated in the second round of consolations by Middletown’s Bryce Killian (36-6) by a 4-3 count.
Stone finishes his senior season with a 34-4 record. He ends his career with 128 wins, currently fourth on Clearfield’s all-time win list. He also has four district titles, a regional title, and four trips to Hershey on his resume.
126 pounder Graham (33-7) also ended his season one win short of the medal stand in his first trip to the state tourney. He was upended 5-4 by Owen J. Roberts’ Colby Frank (29-5) in the second round of consolations as well. Graham ends his career as a three-year starter with 80 victories to his credit.
The Bison sit in 32nd place as a team with 10 points. WPIAL power Canon-McMillan sits atop the leader board with 40 points.
District 9’s only other semifinalist, other than Barger, is DuBois’ Landon Hanna at 195.
Complete results courtesy the PIAA: http://www.escapesports.com/2013-PIAA