MEADVILLE – Sophomore Mark McGonigal improved on last year’s runner-up finish by earning his first Tool City crown Saturday. By doing so, he helped lead the Clearfield Bison to a fifth place finish overall, in a 25-team field, a marked improvement from their 13th place finish last year. McGonigal reached the finals Saturday morning, winning 8-7 in a matchup against Fort LeBouef’s Jack Rimpa that was not close. Though McGonigal scored eight points, he was called for stalling four times and gave up four points as well.
In the finals, Grove City’s Daiveon Say met against McGonigal, where he was unable to get any offense going as McGonigal racked up five points in the second period, and then gave up a takedown in garbage time at the end of the third period. McGonigal won 5-2 and improved his season record to 11-2.
Obviously, one player on a team doesn’t make or break it. The Bison had a solid team performance because more than half the team placed, including four appearances in the consolation third and fourth place round. That round was led by Sophomore Oliver Billotte (12-2) at 220, who lost his semi-finals match by fall while being in the lead. He came back the next round and picked up another fall, and then dominated Olean’s Conner Walsh 7-2 to take the bronze.
Three other wrestlers placed fourth. Freshman 106’er Evan Davis (10-6) and sophomores Hayden Kovalick (10-5) at 170 and Nolan Barr (9-5) at 120 each made it to the consi-finals but were unable to win in the medal round. Also making it to the medal round was sophomore Karson Kline (9-5), who placed placed seventh at 132, while junior 113 pounder Derrick Bender (3-8) and senior 182 pounder Brett Zattoni (9-6) each took eighth.
This year’s Tool City Team Champion was North Allegheny with 243.5 points. They crowned four champions and placed 10 wrestlers overall. In second place was General McLane with 168.5 points, followed by Meadville and Saegertown.
The Bison Herd now has a busy week ahead of them, as they’ll wrestle on the road Tuesday and Thursday. First, they’ll meet up against Tyrone, then they’ll take on District 9 rival Saint Marys. Both matches should start at 7 PM.
