NEW BETHLEHEM — Curwensville Area High School wrestlers won four of the six contested bouts, but seven forfeits gave host Redbank Valley a 54-27 win in the dual meet opener for both teams Tuesday night.
The Golden Tide got falls from Blake Passarelli at 120 pounds, Kaleb Witherite at 195 and Steve McClure at 285 and a decision from Zach Holland at 113.
“That was our goal, win head-to-head matches,” Curwensville coach Dean Swatsworth said. “That’s how we get to see how well we’re doing.”
The Bulldogs were coming off a second-place showing in the 21-team Hickory Invitational Tournament but registered on-the-mat points only in two of the first three bouts.
The match began at 126, and Golden Tide 132-pounder Anthony Winebold received a forfeit to square matters before a pin and five consecutive forfeits from 145 and 182 put it out of reach.
Witherite pinned HIT runner-up Logan Minich at 3:55, McClure decked Patrick Crawford at 3:40 in his first appearance of the season, Holland edged Brayden Altobelli 5-3 and Passarelli pinned Mason Songer at 3:33.
Curwensville’s top three placewinners from Philipsburg-Osceola’s JJ Powell Mountaineer Tournament remained once-beaten, Witherite and Holland now at 4-1 and Passarelli at 2-1.
The Golden Tide will make the same trip again Saturday for the Redbank Valley Duals. They’re paired against Mercer at 9 a.m. and then Youngsville, Keystone, Smethport and Blairsville.
REDBANK VALLEY 54, CURWENSVILLE 27
126 – Hunter Martz, RV, pinned Dylan Meyers, 3:53. (6-0)
132 – Anthony Winebold, Cur, won by forfeit. (6-6)
138 – Dawson Wilson, RV, pinned Cole Bressler, 1:58. (12-6)
145 – Colton Mohney, RV, won by forfeit. (18-6)
152 – Eric Read, RV, won by forfeit. (24-6)
160 – John Tibbs, RV, won by forfeit. (30-6)
170 – Curtis Mohney, RV, won by forfeit. (36-6)
182 – Murphy Anderson, RV, won by forfeit. (42-6)
195 – Kaleb Witherite, Cur, pinned Logan Minich, 3:55. (42-12)
220 – Scott Toth, RV, won by forfeit. (48-12)
285 – Steven McClure, Cur, pinned Patrick Crawford, 3:40. (48-18)
106 – Ethan Wiant, RV, won by forfeit. (54-18)
113 – Zach Holland, Cur, dec. Brayden Altobelli, 5-3. (54-21)
120 – Blake Passarelli, Cur, pinned Mason Songer, 3:33.
Golden Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/10 | Mountaineer Tourney @ PO | 77 pts. | 8th place |
| 12/13 | @ Redbank Valley | 27 – 54 | 0 – 1 |
| 12/17 | @ Redbank Valley Duals | ||
| 12/17 | vs. Mercer | ||
| 12/17 | vs. Youngsville | ||
| 12/17 | vs. Smethport | ||
| 12/17 | vs. Blairsville | ||
| 12/22 | @ Ridgway | ||
| 01/04 | @ Punxsutawney | ||
| 01/07 | @ Indiana Tourney | ||
| 01/12 | @ West Branch | ||
| 01/19 | JOHNSONBURG | ||
| 01/24 | BROOKVILLE | ||
| 01/26 | MO VALLEY | ||
| 01/27 & 28 | Fred Bell Tourney @ Grove City | ||
| 01/31 | CLARION | ||
| 02/02 | GLENDALE | ||
| 02/14 | INDIANA | ||
| 02/24 & 25 | District 9 AA Champs @Clfd HS | ||
| 03/03 & 04 | Northwest Regionals @ Sharon | ||
| 03/09-11 | PIAA States @ Hershey |