ALLPORT — State-ranked West Branch took another step toward a fourth consecutive season of more than 20 dual meet wins by pinning a 56-23 defeat on Curwensville in high school wrestling action Thursday night.
The 19-1 Warriors, No. 15 in this week’s Off the Mat Class AA Rankings, racked up six falls, one technical fall and one decision to go with a pair of forfeits.
All of the Golden Tide points resulted from falls, with Shae Bloom at 138 pounds and Sam Bressler at 145 chopping the Warriors’ three-pin start to 18-12.
Bloom, ranked No. 6 by Off the Mat, decked Nathan Kristofits at the 3:24 mark, while Bressler pinned Seth Sankey in 45 seconds.
The teams traded early finishes in the next two bouts, with 160-pounder Hunter Lancaster cutting the Golden Tide’s deficit to six again, 24-18, by pinning Chance Watro in 1:39.
Jake Stiles was Curwensville’s only other winner, picking up a fall in 3:36 over Trey Kalke at 220.
West Branch had a trio of undefeated wrestlers in the wings, Luke Slippey (20-0) receiving a forfeit at 182, Vincent McDowell (19-0) besting Ben Junod at 195 in the only bout that went the distance and Buzzy Maines (20-0) registering a fall at 285.
Maines is ranked No. 1 at 220 and Slippey is ranked No. 9 at 170.
“The score doesn’t show it, but I thought our guys went out and wrestled harder than they did Saturday,” Curwensville coach Dean Swatsworth said. “I think we are getting better. The wheels are turning.”
The Golden Tide (4-8) were 1-4, including a 64-18 lost to the Warriors, in the Bison Duals at Clearfield Saturday.
Curwensville will compete in the 32nd annual Fred Bell Tournament Friday and Saturday at Grove City High School.
West Branch 56, Curwensville 23
120 – Roger Bauman, WB, pinned Seth Woolcock, 1:33. (WB 6-0)
126 – Dylan Confer, WB, pinned Jeremy Gardner, 1:21. (WB 12-0)
132 – Hunter Parks, WB, pinned Ethan Collins, :54. (WB 18-0)
138 – Shae Bloom, C, pinned Nathan Kristofits, 3:24. (WB 18-6)
145 – Sam Bressler, C, pinned Seth Sankey, :45. (WB 18-12)
152 – Kris Smeal, WB, pinned Mason Lancaster, 2:07. (WB 24-12)
160 – Hunter Lancaster, C, pinned Chance Watro, 1:39. (WB 24-18)
170 – Clayton Green, WB, tech fall over Kaleb Witherite, 19-3 (5:37). (WB 29-18)
182 – Luke Slippey, WB, won by forfeit. (WB 35-18)
195 – Vincent McDowell, WB, dec. Ben Junod, 11-5. (WB 38-18)
220 – Jake Stiles, C, pinned Trey Kalke, 3:36. (WB 38-24)
285 – Buzzy Maines, WB, pinned Seth Connors, 1:38. (WB 44-24)
106 – Nick Sample, WB, pinned Anthony Winebold, 2:24.* (WB 50-23)
113 – Joey Couteret, WB, won by forfeit. (WB 56-23)
* – One point deducted from Curwensville score after 106 match.
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 | 41 – 19 | 1 – 1 |
| 12/27&28 | Big Dog Tourney @ Brockway | 2nd | 1 – 1 |
| 01/06 | @ Punxsutawney | 48 – 27 | 2 – 1 |
| 01/08 | @ Redbank Valley | 31 – 42 | 2 – 2 |
| 01/13 | CLARION | 18 – 43 | 2 – 3 |
| 01/15 | GLENDALE | 45 – 30 | 3 – 3 |
| 01/17 | Bison Duals @ Clearfield | ||
| 01/17 | vs. Port Allegany | 43 – 29 | 4 – 3 |
| 01/17 | vs. General McLane | 3 – 69 | 4 – 4 |
| 01/17 | vs. Montoursville | 0 – 73 | 4 – 5 |
| 01/17 | vs. West Branch | 18 – 64 | 4 – 6 |
| 01/17 | vs. Coughlin | 30 – 49 | 4 – 7 |
| 01/21 | @ West Branch | ppd. | 4 – 7 |
| 01/22 | @ West Branch | 23 – 56 | 4 – 8 |
| 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 |
