CLARION — The Clearfield Area High School wrestling team will have three lightweights, one middleweight and two heavyweights in the Districts 4-9 Class AAA Tournament semifinals Saturday morning in Clarion University’s Tippin Gym.
The Bison’s two No. 1 seeds, 113-pounder Logan Gilbert (17-14) and 285-pounder Jake Verchick (21-7), received byes in Friday night’s preliminary and quarterfinal rounds of the nine-team tourney.
Three Bison advanced with falls, No. 2 seed Noah Cline (21-7) decking John Supsic of Shikellamy in 50 seconds at 126, No. 2 seed Travis Ogden (25-10) showing Shikellamy‘s Ajay Baker the lights at the 4:43 mark at 182 and No. 4 seed Tallin Norris (9-13) pinning No. 5 Dewan Lutz of Williamsport in 3:32 at 138.
Josiah McClarren (18-13), the No. 4 seed at 120, handed Garrett Cook of St. Marys a 13-2 setback.
Five Bison will have to battle back through the consolation rounds if they are to place fourth or higher to secure a ticket to the Northwest Region Tournament at Altoona Area High School next weekend.
Narrowly missing moving on to the semifinals were was 220-pound No. 5 seed Nate Lash, edged 2-0 by No. 4 seed Robert Zilhaver of DuBois.
No. 5 seed Thayne Morgan was pinned in 59 seconds by No. 4 Brock Adams of DuBois at 106, No. 4 Logan Puit lost 10-4 to No. 5 William McGonnell of St. Marys at 132, No. 8 Grant Climie was pinned at 3:12 by No. 1 Perry Arrington at 152 and No. 6 Tristan Caruthers was majored 11-3 by No. 3 Seth Young of Jersey Shore at 160.
Two Clearfield wrestlers, Jaret McCracken at 145 and Logan Lykens at 170, suffered two losses and were eliminated from the tourney. Both of Lykens’ matches were two-pointers.
The championship semifinals and consolation quarterfinals will begin at approximately 11:30 with the consy semifinals to follow the Class AA consy semis.
The evening session will get under way at five o’clock with the consolation finals in both classes. The Parade of Champions will start at approximately 6:30 and be followed by the championship bouts.