WILLIAMSPORT – After earning five spots in the semi-finals, three Bisons punched their tickets to the finals Saturday morning at the Tom Best Top Hat Memorial Wrestling Tournament. The Bison fell two spots from the previous night’s standing, placing eighth out of 18 teams with 112 team points. On Saturday night, six of 12 remaining Bisons stood on top of the medal stand.
Earning his third Top Hat crown was 182 pound senior Luke McGonigal, who defeated Julian Gorring of Fort LeBoeuf with a workmanlike 5-0 decision in a rematch of last year’s finals.
Matt Ryan was finally able to take the gold medal home as well, winning the 126 pound bracket with a handy 4-1 decision over Bryce Vollman of Muncy. Ryan took fourth place in his sophomore and junior years.
Caleb Freeland also punched his ticket into the finals with a 5-2 win over the number two seed Eric Gessner (Mifflinburg), before losing a tough 3-0 decision to Logan Long (Central Mountain) in the finals.
In fifth place, Avry Gisewhite went 2-2 on the weekend. Both of his wins came by pins against Joe Jacobson (Titusville). Avry improved on his seventh place finish from last year.
106 pounder freshman Angelo Maines had a rough day after reaching the semi-finals, being pinned three times and settling for sixth place.
Finally, junior John Thomas finished in eighth place at 113. He pinned his opponent in the second round of consolation Saturday morning, before being pinned twice himself.
The Bisons will start their dual meet season on Tuesday at home against Bald Eagle Area.
Central Mountain ran away with the team title with 209 points, while two-time state champion Gavin Hoffman earned his second Top Hat Outstanding Wrestler Award this weekend.
Click Here for Full Results, Courtesy of Flo Wrestling.
Overall Records for tournament for the Bison wrestlers:
106 Angelo Maines 1-3, 113 John Thomas 2-3, 120 Peyton Smay 0-2, 126 Matt Ryan 3-0, 132 Jude Pallo 1-2, 138 Quinten Edwards 1-2, 145 Caleb Freeland 3-1, 152 Hunter Wright 1-2, 170 Brett Zattoni 0-2, 182 Luke McGonigal 3-0, 195 Brandon Daub 0-2, 220 Avery Gisewhite 2-2, 285 Kevin Helsel 0-2
Bison scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/08 & 09 | Top Hat Tourney @ Williamsport | 112 pts. | 8th |
| 12/12 | BALD EAGLE AREA | ||
| 12/15 | @ DuBois | ||
| 12/19 | @ Central | ||
| 12/22 | @ Punxsutawney | ||
| 01/03 | PENNS VALLEY | ||
| 01/05 & 06 | @ Tool City Tourney (Meadville) | ||
| 01/09 | @ Huntingdon | ||
| 01/11 | @ St. Marys | ||
| 01/16 | BELLEFONTE | ||
| 01/20 | CLEARFIELD BISON DUALS | ||
| 01/23 | TYRONE | ||
| 01/26 & 27 | @ WB Ultimate Warrior Tourney | ||
| 02/06 | Takedown Cancer Match | ||
| 02/06 | vs. PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | ||
| 02/24 | District 9 AAA Champs @Clfd HS | ||
| 03/02 & 03 | Northwest Region @ Altoona | ||
| 03/08-10 | PIAA Championships @ Hershey |