Bison Matmen Can’t Overcome Big Deficit, Lose to Central 43-24

HYDE — The Clearfield Bison wrestling team dropped to 0-3 on the young season to an undefeated Central (3-0) squad by a final score of 43-24.

The Dragons of Central raced out to a 30-0 lead at the halfway point, but the Bison came storming back to 30-24 after three falls and a forfeit.

Central put an end to the momentum swing by picking up a forfeit of their own and wins in the final two contested matches.

The match started at 132, where Central’s Ethan Kennedy turned a tight 2-1 lead into a 7-1 victory with a five-point third period against Clearfield’s Logan Gilbert.

Bison Noah Cline (5-3) was in a close, physical bout with Dragon Nick Hoenstine at 138. Down 4-3 headed to the third period, Cline took a 6-5 lead, only to surrender the final three points in an 8-6 slugfest.

Bryce Biddle really got the momentum swung over to the Dragon’s side when he picked up a first period fall over Bison Tallin Norris at 145.

Collin Ulery at 152 also picked up a first period fall for the Dragons over Steve Sawyer, who was taking the mat for the first time this year for the Bison, who were once again without freshman starter Luke McGonigal.

At 160, Bison Grant Climie was down 7-0 after the first period, but was the aggressor the rest of the way and just ran out of time in a 9-7 loss to state-ranked wrestler Jordan Quarello.

Jared Smith seemed to have Bison Levi Wisor on his back for the final two periods, but never could pin him in a 9-0 major decision.

Central’s Mike Mock ran the Dragon lead to 30-0 with his 16-1 technical fall over Michael Hadden at 182. Mock tilted Hadden five different times to accumulate 10 of those points.

Undefeated Bison Travis Ogden (7-0) breathed a little life in to the Arthur Weiss Gymnasium when he made quick work of Kaleb Gahagan at 195.

In an entertaining bout at 220, which saw both wrestlers on their back at some point during the first period, Clearfield’s Brian Thorpe turned and pressed Mitchell Conrath in the second period to earn the fall at the 2:21 mark.

After Bison heavyweight Nate Lash picked up a forfeit, freshman 106 pounder Matt Ryan evened his season record at 4-4 with a first period takedown and fall to bring the Bison all the way back to 30-24.

That is where the run ended for the Bison, as they had no one to send out at 113 and the lead was now 12 points with two matches to go.

Dragon Braeden Swab made sure there was no comeback for the Bison, as he picked up a 15-2 major decision at 120 over another Bison taking to the mat for the first time this year, Chance Timko.

The final was set when Central’s Brock Biddle closed out the night with a 10-5 win over Josiah McClarren.

The Bison will host District 9 foe Punxsutawney on Thursday night at Weiss Gym.

Bison Scoreboard: