Williamsport – Eight Bison wrestlers made their career debuts this weekend as freshman and sophomores, and five of them ended up on the podium at the Tome Best Memorial Top Hat Tournament at Williamsport High School.
Led by seniors Caleb Freeland at 152 and Avry Gisewhite at heavyweight, the Clearfield Bison wrestling team ended up placing 12th place overall in a field of 21 teams.
Caleb Freeland (4-1) lost his semi-finals match on Saturday morning but rebounded with two wins over second seeded Cole Daugherty of Red Lion and Central Mountain’s Alonzo Henry. Freeland defeated Daugherty 5-3 in the consolation semi-finals before beating Henry 5-0 to earn the bronze medal.
After making it to the semi-finals on Friday, Avry Gisewhite (2-3) went winless on Saturday, being pinned three times. Still, Gisewhite’s performance earned him the sixth place medal overall. Also earning a sixth place medal for Clearfield were freshmen standouts Oliver Billotte (3-2) and Mark McGonigal (3-3). Oliver had two pins at 220 pounds on the weekend and forfeited his consolation finals matchup against Mechanicsburg’s Aiden Sheeley. McGonigal picked up a pin and a major decision, but he lost a tight 5-3 match against Hazleton’s Bryce Molinaro in his finals match.
Karson Kline went 3-2 on the weekend, placing seventh with a handy 8-4 victory of Line Mountain’s Mason Leshock (2-3) in his consolation finals match. Kline picked up a fall and a major decision this weekend.
Bison freshman Luke Freeland (2-3) placed eighth and was pinned in his final match, while sophomore Nick Domico (2-2) also placed eighth during his career debut after losing 8-4. Freeland major decisioned both of his opponents that he beat, while Domico pinned both of his opponents he won against.
Saucon Valley easily won the team race with six champions and 233.5 points, putting them 46.5 points over second place Central Mountain.
Full results, courtesy of FloWrestling, can be found here.
The Clearfield Bison host their first dual meet of the 2018-19 season at the Art Weiss Gymnasium at the Clearfield High School on Tuesday when they wrestle long-time rival Bald Eagle Area. The match is set to begin at 7pm.
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/07 & 08 | Top Hat Tourney | 86 | 12th Place |
| 12/11 | Bald Eagle | ||
| 12/14 | @ DuBois | ||
| 12/18 | Huntingdon | ||
| 12/20 | @ Punxsutawney | ||
| 01/03 | @ Philipsburg | ||
| 01/04 & 05 | Tool City Tourney | ||
| 01/08 | Tyrone | ||
| 01/10 | St. Marys | ||
| 01/15 | @ Penns Valley | ||
| 01/19 | Bison Duals 2019 | ||
| 01/22 | Central High School | ||
| 01/25 & 26 | Ultimate Warrior Tourney | ||
| 02/05 | @ Bellefonte |
