MARTINSBURG — The Clearfield Bison wrestling team took to the road for their first away dual of the season and raced out to a 36-0 lead over host Central and cruised to a 54-18 Mountain League victory.
Clearfield raised their record to 2-0 on the young season, while the Central Dragons were competing for the first time due to their football team reaching the final four in the PIAA state football playoffs.
The match started at 195 and Clearfield recorded five pins and received one forfeit through the first six bouts.
To begin the night, senior Travis Ogden (5-1) made short work of Corey Aungst picking up two takedowns and a first period fall.
Fellow senior Nate Lash had to work a little harder than Ogden to earn his fall. Scoreless heading to the final period, Lash (3-4) built up a small 4-0 lead before pinning Cameron Norris in 5:17.
The Bison lead bulged to 18-0 when junior Hunter Bumbarger (4-3) received a forfeit at 285.
Sophomore Matt Ryan kept the Bison momentum going at 106. After giving up the opening takedown, Ryan (5-2) reversed and pinned Branson Holsinger in 1:30 of the first period.
Despite the 54 points the Bison would eventually put on the scoreboard, the bout of the night was at 113 where freshman Cole Smay would pick up his first varsity win on the mat. Down 6-0 after the first period, Smay survived a scramble and pinned Central’s Kyle Hoenstine to raise the Bison lead to 30-0. Smay (2-0) received a forfeit in the season opening dual against Bald Eagle Area.
Another freshman, Jude Pallo, bumped up to 120 and jumped out to a 7-0 lead before pinning Cameron Ulery in 3:20. The victory was Pallo’s (5-3) first varsity dual meet win.
The hosts finally got on the board at 126 when Clearfield’s Quentin Edwards and Central’s Nathan Earnst entertained the crowd before Earnst picked up the fall in 5:33. The bout was tied 2-2 after one period, 4-4 after two periods, and was 7-7 in the third when Nathan reversed and picked up the fall.
Hunter Blake (1-3) picked up his first win of the year at 132 by downing Devon Mountain 5-2, a three-point nearfall in the final period proved to be the bout winner.
Central then picked up two regular decisions at 138 and 145 over Josiah McClarren and Logan Gilbert to close the gap to 39-12.
At 152 senior Tallin Norris (5-3) had the quickest fall of the night for the visitors when he turned and pressed Logan Marko in 1:24.
Central returned the favor at 160 when Bryce Biddle matched Noriis’ time of 1:24 when he pinned junior Zane Morgan.
The Bison would close out the scoring when undefeated sophomore Luke McGonigal (6-0) received a forfeit at 170 and 182 pound senior Levi Wisor (3-3) used a third period reversal to break a 5-5 tie to earn the final points for the Bison.
Clearfield will be on the road again on Thursday night when they face District 9 rival Punxsutawney.
Bout by Bout Recap
195: Travis Ogden, Clfd, pinned Corey Aungst, Cent 1:38 6 – 0
220 Nate Lash, Clfd, pinned Cameron Norris, Cent 5:17 12 – 0
285: Hunter Bumbarger, Clfd, FORFEIT 18 – 0
106: Matt Ryan, Clfd, pinned Branson Holsinger 1:30 24 – 0
113: Cole Smay, Clfd pinned Kyle Hoenstine, Cent 3:14 30 – 0
120 Jude Pallo, Clfd, pinned Cameron Ulery, Cent 3:20 36 – 0
126: Nathan Earnst, Cent pinned Quentin Edwards, Clfd 5:33 36 – 6
132: Hunter Blake, Clfd decisioned Devon Mountain, Cent 5-2 39 – 6
138: Brock Biddle, Cent decisioned Josiah McClarren, Clfd 6-2 39 – 9
145: Ethan Kennedy, Cent decisioned Logan Gilbert, Clfd 6-4 39 – 12
152: Tallin Norris, Clfd pinned Logan Marko, Cent 1:24 45 – 12
160: Bryce Biddle, Cent pinned Zane Morgan, Clfd 1:24 45 – 18
170: Luke McGonigal, Clfd FORFEIT 51 – 18
182: Levi Wisor, Clfd decisioned Jordan Quarello, Cent, 7-5 54 – 18