HYDE — Hosting the 2016 District IV-IX Wrestling Championships turned in to a huge success for the Clearfield Bison, as they won the team title, crowned three champions, and moved 11 wrestlers on to the Northwest Regional tournament.
Despite only a 4-7 record in the final session, the Bison were able to hold off runner-up St. Marys 198 points to 175.5 in the team race. That final tally showed how dominant the hosts were in the opening session on Saturday morning, as 12 of the 14 Bisons met, or exceeded, their pre-tourney seeds.
Leading the way, as they have all year, were sophomore Luke McGonigal at 170 and seniors Travis Ogden and Nate Lash at 195 and 285 respectively. All picked up their second district titles.
After receiving an opening round bye and pinning Selinsgrove’s Garrett Campbell (15-10) in 2:58 of the semifinals, McGonigal faced second seed Toren Potts (24-9) of Williamsport in the finals. McGonigal picked up the opening takedown to score the lone points of the first two periods, as he was ridden out the entire second. McGonigal turned up the scoring in the final period, however, scoring seven points via five nearfall points and another takedown and gave up a lone escape to set the final at a 9-1 major decision. McGonigal will head to regionals with a 34-2 record on the year, and a two-year career record of 60-15.
Travis Ogden left little doubt as to his dominance over the rest of the 195 pound class. Ogden pinned his way through the tourney as he disposed of DuBois’ Matt Murray (4-21) in 2:41 of the quarterfinals, Shikelllamy’s Ajay Baker (14-10) in 3:20 of the semifinals, and St. Marys’ Mitchell Cashmer (20-9) in 2:29 of the finals. Up 5-0 after the first period of his finals bout, Ogden wasted little time in the second, cradling from the top of referee’s position and upping his season record to 34-1. Ogden will take a 92-16 career record to Altoona, as he looks to qualify for his first state tourney appearance.
Lash, also looking for his first state tourney appearance, had an easy route to the finals via a bye in the quarterfinals and a 57 second fall in the semis over Punxsutawney’s Gage Arrington (4-3) . The finals victory was not so easy, as he matched up with the much heavier Jeremy Bacon (22-6) of Shikellamy. Scoreless after one period, Bacon escaped in the second for a 1-0 lead heading to the final period. Lash returned the favor in the third period, picking up an escape to even the match at 1-1 to force overtime. Another minute of scoreless wrestling on their feet led to the two big men being forced down to the mat  for a fifth and sixth period of rideouts. Lash escaped to a 2-1 lead after the first rideout. Bacon, needing an escape to force a seventh period ultimate rideout, wisely chose bottom to start the sixth period. Bacon got to his feet at least three times in the final period, but each time Lash was able to throw him back to the mat, with the partisan Clearfield crowd cheering louder each time. Lash’s 27th win of the year, against 12 losses, almost matches his previous two-years win total of 31 and will take a career mark of 58-28 to regionals.
Falling just short of his second district title was senior Josiah McClarren at 132. McClarren had a first period fall over DuBois’ Austin Fairman (9-20) in the quarterfinals and picked up a 4-0 win in the semis over Shikellamy’s Bryce Burgess (16-13) in the semis. In the finals he would meet a familiar foe in St. Marys’ Cameron Resch (21-12). The taller and lankier Resch managed to ride out McClarren in the second period after a scoreless first. McClarren, the top seed, rode Resch hard in the third, but Resch escaped for the bout’s lone point with 20 seconds remaining on the clock. McClarren (24-14) will take his four-year mark of 81-61 to Altoona, also looking for his first state tourney appearance.
Third seeded sophomore Matt Ryan at 106 also reached the championship finals for the Bison. Ryan pinned DuBois’ Donny Wentz (4-6) in 4:52 during the quarterfinals, then avenged a couple of earlier season losses to number two seed Jeremy Zydallas (19-9) by a 14-5 major decision. In the finals, Ryan (22-6) ran in to a buzzsaw in St. Marys freshman Tyler Dilley (26-1), and was pinned in 1:39.
The Bison had six wrestlers reach the consolation finals in addition to the five finalists listed above. Only one of which was able to walk away with a victory.
That was 126 pound senior Hunter Blake. Blake (21-13) scored an escape in the final period to eke out a 1-0 win over Selinsgrove’s Bryce Reichenbach (18-16) and claim the lone Bison third place medal.
Falling in the consolation finals, and settling for fourth place, were freshman Jude Pallo (19-18), who was seeded sixth at 113, senior Tallin Norris (20-19) at 145, sophomore Hunter Wright (11-14) at 160, senior Levi Wisor (22-15) at 182, and junior Hunter Bumbarger (13-11) at 220. The top four finishers all qualify for next weekend’s Northwest Regional Tournament at the Altoona Area High School Fieldhouse.
Ending their seasons for the Bison were freshman Cole Smay (7-13), who went 0-2 at 120, and junior Zane Morgan (17-22), who went 1-2 at 152.
Finishing his career was senior Logan Gilbert, who went 1-2 at 138. Gilbert was a four year starter with two District titles under his belt. He finished his career with an 86-60 record.
Other championship match-ups were:
113 – Dalton Woodrow (30-5) , DuBois, decisoned Frank Quinones (21-10), Shik, 12 –Â 6
120 – Hunter Zondory (30-2), Jersey Shore decisioned Kolby Ho (28-5), DuBois, 7 – 5
126 – Nick Gittens (29-2), Shik, decisioned Tyler Thompson (22-5), Bradford, 9 – 3
138 – Brock Adams (13-4), DuBois decisioned Noah Supsic (22-11), Shik, 8 – 6
145 – Jordan Hepler (23-8), Shik decisioned Eli Lambiotte (24-6), Punxsy 4 – 0
152 – Seth Young (26-4), Jeresy Shore decisioned Carson Hanna (26-5), DuBois 3 – 2
160 – Kaleb Young (29-0), Punxsy major decisioned Hadyn Swartwood (29-4), Jersey Shore 15 – 4
182 – Christian Steffan (29-5), St. Marys decisioned Joey Radel (21-3), Selinsgrove, 6 – 0
220 – Drew Boob (25-2), Selinsgrove, major decisioned Max Mason (22-7), Jersey Shore, 11 – 1
With his win, Young became Punxsutawney’s first four-time district champion. His efforts won him the Joseph Kata AAA Outstanding Wrestler Award.
Click here for complete bracket results courtesy Bob Imhof’s Ridgway Wrestling website.
Clearfield’s Jeff Aveni won the District 9 Coach-of-the-Year Award.
