SPRING MILLS — The Clearfield Bison Wrestling Team traveled to Penns Valley on Tuesday night where they wrestled a tough Rams team. Looking to rebound after a flat performance against Saint Marys last Thursday, the Bison came out offensive and ready to wrestle.
The bout began at 152 pounds. Bison senior Caleb Freeland wrestled Penns Valley’s Malachi Duvall (20-4). While Freeland scored an early takedown by using a duck under, he failed to score again and would end up losing 8-2 to Duvall. According to Clearfield Head Coach Jeff Aveni, Freeland’s game plan was to use duck unders throughout the match, but he only attempted one – and he scored with it. That was only Freeland’s fourth loss on the season, bringing his record to 15-4.
At 160 pounds, Penns Valley would add to their lead when Dristen Wolfe (4-4) bested Clearfield’s Cole Smay (3-10) by a 7-2 margin. Still, Aveni believed that Smay competed well.
Following that, there were three forfeits in a row at 170, 182, and 195 pounds. Clearfield came into the match dinged up, and Aveni felt it best to rest three starters – freshman Mark McGonical (13-4) at 170, sophomore Nick Domico (8-6) at 195, and freshman Oliver Billotte (5-3) at 220 – while junior, and regular 182 pounder, Brett Zattoni (4-10) received a forfeit at 195. At that point, Penn Valley was winning the match 18-6.
Sophomore Matt Bush (1-2) wrestled for Clearfield at 220 pounds, wrestling his third career match, but he was outgunned and quickly pinned by the Ram’s Carter Felker (12-7).
In possibly the best match of the night, Bison senior Avry Gisewhite (9-9) gave this year’s Tool City Champion Dillion Covalt (18-4) everything he could handle. The two both continuously attempted throwing each other throughout the match, and Gisewhite was able to secure a late takedown in the third period to lose 7-6. Aveni believed Gisewhite wrestled to win, and when he does that he is a competitor.
Following a forfeit to Penns Valley at 106 pounds, freshman Nolan Barr (9-6) went to work and gave Clearfield four more points with a major decision over the Rams’ Justin Darlington (5-11). Barr worked cradles, arm bars and more while giving Darlington two escapes for the 15-2 victory. At this point, Clearfield trailed Penns Valley 33-10.
Freshman Bison Karson Kline (12-7) found himself against a horse in two-time state qualifier Baylor Shunk (19-2) in his 120 pound bout. In a difference of strength between a freshman and a senior, Kline was handled and tech falled in the second period. However, Aveni noted that Kline wrestled tough and got in a few cross faces that “Shunk appreciated.”
The 126 pound bout featured freshman Bison Luke Freeland (10-8) and the Ram’s Nate Long (5-11). Freeland used an aggressive, high octane style of wrestling to post a 14-3 major decision victory.
Following that, the Bison trailed the Rams 38-14, and the score was soon widened when Penns Valley’s Clayton Royer (19-2) pinned junior Peyton Smay (3-10) with three seconds to go in the first period. This made the score 44-14, Rams.
Clearfield would earn the last 12 points of the night, though as Justin Hand (4-6) received a forfeit at 138 and senior Jude Pallo (8-3) made short work of the Rams’ Cole Felker. Pallo immediately placed Felker on his back and got the fall in exactly 30 seconds.
The final score was 44-26, Penns Valley. With that loss, the Bison fell to 3-5 overall, while Penns Valley raised their record to 10-1. Clearfield will host the 11th Annual Bison Duals this Saturday, January 19, 2019 – pending good weather.
