RIDGWAY – The Curwensville Area High School wrestling team may not have won the match on Thursday night at Ridgway, but they won over the hearts of the Tide followers with a spirited effort full of grit and determination.
The Ridgway Elkers won 45-32 in a match that had a very deceiving final score.
The Elkers jumped out to a 30-0 lead with a forfeit and four falls that made it appear that a rout was in hand.
First year Golden Tide coach Dean Swatsworth then saw his squad storm back with hustle and determination to actually take a 32-30 lead before two more forfeits did in the Tide.
At 138 pounds the Golden Tide’s Sam Bressler started the comeback with a 16-0 technical fall over Jonathan Francis recording five near falls along the way.
Curwensville then picked up four straight falls starting at 145 when sophomore Mason Lancaster wasted little time in his first varsity match by decking Ridgway’s Vinny Manno in just 23 seconds.
DuBois High School transfer Shae Bloom, at 152, then pinned Elker Nate Wolff in 1:28 to pull the Tide closer at 30-17.
Hunter Lancaster followed at 160 pounds with a fall in 4:52 over Ridgway’s Brandon Cherry as the Golden Tide moved to within seven points at 30-23.
The fourth and final fall for Curwensville was recorded by Kaleb Witherite at 170 with a second period fall at 2:53 over T. J. Schlimm. Witherite and Schlimm ended the first two minutes tied at 2-2.
With the Golden Tide trailing by just one point , 30-29, the majority of the full house were stunned to watch Curwensville actually go out in front.
And it was Ben Junod at 182 pounds that gave Curwensville the unbelievable lead, 32-30, with a 10-4 decision over Dalton Feldbauer.
The Tide then had to forfeit the next two weights, 195 and 220, before losing the final bout at heavyweight.
A terrific comeback that fell short due to the fact that Curwensville gave up three forfeits and wrestled without two returning lettermen because of injuries to Jake C. Stiles and Jake Lancaster.
Curwensville is 0-1 and Ridgway now 2-1 after a very entertaining high school match.
Curwensville won the junior high meet to begin the evening, beating Ridgway 57-24.
The Golden Tide return to the mats on Tuesday when they wrestle at home against Johnsonburg.
106 Bryce Barclay, Ridg. won by forfeit 0 6
113 Lukas McClain, Ridg. pinned Anthony Winebold, Curw. 5:39 0 12
120 Logan McClain, Ridg. pinned Seth Woolcock, Curw. 3:29 0 18
126 Drew Baumgratz, Ridg. pinned Jeremy Gardner, Curw. 4:14 0 24
132 James Winslow, Ridg. pinned Logan Charles, Curw. 5:20 0 30
138 Sam Bressler, Curw. tech fall over Jonathan Francis 16-0 5 30
145 Mason Lancaster, Curw. pinned Vinny Manno, Ridg. :23 11 30
152 Shae Bloom, Curw. pinned Nate Wolff, Ridg. 1:28 17 30
160 Hunter Lancaster, Curw. pinned Brandon Cherry, Ridg. 4:52 23 30
170 Kaleb Witherite, Curw. pinned T. J. Schlimm, Ridg. 2:53 29 30
182 Ben Junod, Curw. dec. Dalton Feldbauer, Ridg. 10-4 32 30
195 Ryan Geyer, Ridg. won by forfeit 32 36
220 Colton McClain, Ridg. won by forfeit 32 42
285 Troy Quail, Ridg. dec. Seth Connors, Curw. 6-0 32 45
OFFICIAL: Jeff Lindenmuth
Golden Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/06 | Mountaineer Tourney @ PO | 4th | 0 – 0 |
| 12/18 | @ Ridgway | 32 – 45 | 0 – 1 |
| 12/23 | JOHNSONBURG | ||
| 12/27&28 | Big Dog Tourney @ Brockway | ||
| 01/06 | @ Punxsutawney | ||
| 01/08 | @ Redbank Valley | ||
| 01/13 | CLARION | ||
| 01/15 | GLENDALE | ||
| 01/17 | Bison Duals @ Clearfield | ||
| 01/21 | @ West Branch | ||
| 01/23&24 | Fred Bell Tourney @ Grove City | ||
| 01/27 | BROOKVILLE | ||
| 01/29 | MO VALLEY | ||
| 02/04 | CAMERON COUNTY | ||
| 02/12 | BROCKWAY | ||
| 02/20&21 | District 9 Champs @ Clarion | ||
| 02/27&28 | Nortwest Regionals @ Sharon | ||
| 03/05-07 | PIAA States @ Hershey |