CLEARFIELD — The Clearfield Bison wrestling team, down 30-10 at one point, raised their overall record to 4-1 on the season when they overcame the Penns Valley Rams (2-1) 37-36 Wednesday night at the Arthur J. Weiss Gymnasium.
The match started in “see-saw” fashion as the lead changed hands after each of the first five bouts. Penns Valley has three wrestlers with double-digit win totals in the middle of their line-up (152-170) that extended the Rams’ lead to 24-10. A fall at 182 by Jason Thoms was the Ram’s final win until the final bout of the night, after the final verdict had already been decided.
At 195, sophomore Travis Ogden of Clearfield starting swinging the momentum the Bison way as he nailed a 21 second fall. His 12th win of the year, against five losses, tied him for the team lead in wins with senior Mike Beck, who had also picked up a fall earlier in the match at 145.
Senior Jake Verchick (10-3) won by decision at 220 and first-year varsity wrestler Nate Lash picked up what proved to be the match-winning fall at 285 in 3:40.
Lash’s fall brought the dual meet score to 30-25 Penns Valley; but the Rams forfeited to the Morgan twins at 106 and 113 to give the Bison an insurmountable lead at 37-30 with one bout to go.
The Bison are now off until Saturday January 18, when they host their Annual Bison Dual tourney. Other teams scheduled to compete are Curwensville, General McLane, Coughlin, Montoursville, Port Allegany, Southern Huntingdon, Valley, and West Branch.
Bout by bout results:
126: Jared Hurd, PV, wbd 2-1 over Josiah McClarren, C 0 – 3
132: Noah Cline, C, wbmd 14-3 over Jacob Confer, PV 4 – 3
138: Isaac Bierly, PV, wbd 5-1 over Logan Puit, C 4 – 6
145: Mike Beck, C, wbf 2:25 over Owen Carper, PV 10 – 6
152: Seth Decker, PV, wbf :27 over Michael Hadde, C 10 – 12
160: Andrew Hurd, PV wbf :38 over Grant Climie, C 10 – 18
170: Corey Hazel, PV won by forfeit 10 – 24
182: Jason Thoms, PV, wbf 2:21 over Tristan Carruthers, C 10 – 30
195: Travis Ogden, C wbf :21 over Logan Johnson, PV 16 – 30
220: Jake Verchick, C, wbd 7-1 over Mike Mundt, PV 19 – 30
285: Nate Lash, C, wbf 3:40 over Mike Confer, PV 25 – 30
106: Thayne Morgan, C won by forfeit 31 – 30
113: Zane Morgan, C won by forfeit 37 – 30
120: Curtis Decker, PV wbf 3:42 over Logan Gilbert, C 37 – 36
Clearfield Bison Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/06&07 | @ Top Hat Tourney (Williamsport) | 100 pts. | 10th |
| 12/10 | @ DuBois | 45 – 30 | 1 – 0 |
| 12/12 | BALD EAGLE AREA | 33 – 37 | 1 – 1 |
| 12/17 | @ Central | 45 – 25 | 2 – 1 |
| 12/19 | @ Punxsutawney | 37 – 33 | 3 – 1 |
| 01/03&04 | @ Tool City Tourney (Meadville) | 108 pts. | 8th |
| 01/07 | PENNS VALLEY | ppd. | 3 – 1 |
| 01/08 | PENNS VALLEY | 37 – 36 | 4 – 1 |
| 01/18 | CLFD BISON DUALS | ||
| 01/21 | BELLEFONTE | ||
| 01/23 | @ St. Marys | ||
| 01/24&25 | @ New Oxford HS Tourney | ||
| 01/30 | TYRONE | ||
| 02/04 | @ Philipsburg-Osceola | ||
| 02/06 | @ Huntingdon | ||
| 02/21 | Districts @ Clarion | ||
| 2/28 & 3/1 | Regionals @ Altoona | ||
| 03/06-08 | States @ Hershey |