MEADVILLE — The Clearfield Bison wrestling team had its most successful run in recent memory at the Tool City Tournament at Meadville High School by placing six wrestlers on the medal stand and placing second in the 26-team tourney, the largest in Tool City history.
Clearfield, a participant in all 37 Tool City tourneys, scored 162.5 points to edge by the number two ranked AA dual meet team in the state, Boiling Springs, which had 156 points. The team title went to General McLane with 180 points. Clearfield will see McLane again in two weeks when McLane will be a part of the Clearfield Bison Duals on January 23.
The Bison were led by senior 195 pounder Travis Ogden, who earned his first gold at Tool City after placing the last two years. Ogden (12-1), the top seed, narrowly defeated Hunter Cox of Cambridge Springs 1-0 in the championship finals.
Two of Ogden’s classmates were beaten in the finals to claim silver medals. At 132, Josiah McClarren (8-6) was beaten 7-2 by Brockway’s Mason Lindemuth in the finals. 138 pounder Logan Gilbert (8-7) was clipped by Saegertown’s Jude Mattocks 4-2 in the final. Gilbert improved by one spot on his third place finish from a year ago.
Bison sophomore Luke McGonigal (13-1) suffered his first loss of the season in the semifinals, but won his final match 3-1 over Fort LeBeouf’s Julian Gorring to place third. The bronze was McGonigal’s second medal in two years, as he placed second as a freshman last year.
Senior Nate Lash, at 220, earned his first Tool City medal going 4-2 to place fourth. Lash (10-6) lost his third place match 3-1 to Adam Steiner of McLane.
The sixth, and final, placewinner was sophomore Matt Ryan (11-4) at 106. Ryan won his fifth place match over Tanner Rhoades of Conneaut Area 9-5.
Also providing the Bison with valuable team points with multiple wins were Jude Pallo (10-5) at 113, Hunter Blake (7-5) at 126, Zane Morgan (8-8) at 152, and Levi Wisor (7-5) at 182. Picking up single wins for points were Tallin Norris (8-8) at 145 and Hunter Bumbarger (7-5) at 285.
The Bison (5-0) have a big week in dual meet action, as they hit the road twice – Tuesday night at Mountain League foe Huntingdon and Thursday against District 9 rival St. Marys.
Bison Scoreboard:
Date Opponent Score Record
12/04 & 05 Top Hat Tourney @ Williamsport 150.5 pts 4th Place
12/08 BALD EAGLE AREA 46 – 26 1 – 0
12/15 @ Central 54 – 18 2 – 0
12/17 @ Punxsutawney 69 – 9 3 – 0
12/22 @ DuBois 51 – 20 4 – 0
01/05 PENNS VALLEY 58 – 20 5 – 0
01/08 & 09 Tool City Tourney @ Meadville 162.5 pts 2nd place
01/12 @ Huntingdon
01/14 @ St. Marys
01/19 BELLEFONTE
01/23 CLEARFIELD BISON DUALS
01/26 TYRONE
01/29 & 30 @ West Branch Tourney
02/02 @ Philipsburg-Osceola
02/06 District 9 Team Duals
02/26 & 27 District 9 Champs @ Clfd HS
03/04 & 05 Northwest Regionals @ Altoona
03/10-03/12 PIAA States @ Hershey
