CURWENSVILLE — With the Claysburg-Kimmel wrestling team down three starters due to sickness on top of already forfeiting three weight classes in most dual meets, it was nearly a foregone conclusion on who would win Thursday’s ICC matchup at Patton Hall.
Curwensville, which was assured of getting 36 points on forfeits, needed to just win one of the seven scheduled bouts on the mat to secure the dual.
The Tide did that in the second bout of the evening when Dean Swatsworth Jr. scored a major decision over Bulldog Trevor Frazier at 121, then the hosts added a pair of falls later in the match on the way to a 51-21 victory.
Austin Gilliland (107) and Reed Hawkins (152) recorded the pins, and even the Tide wrestlers that lost did well in head coach Dean Swatsworth’s eyes as Curwensville collected its 12th dual meet victory of the season.
“I’m very pleased with how the kids showed up tonight and wrestled,” Swatsworth said. “Even the kids that had forfeits … they knew this was important and they got everybody ready. We’ve been preaching that. It’s a team effort and that’s how a team wins. We got everybody up and ready to go. We looked like what we expected them to look like since the beginning of the year. We’re starting to get that hunger back. I hope it’s hitting at the right time here to finish out the year.”
Russell Bloom (16-12) started the Tide off at 114 and went toe-to-with Blaide Weyandt, scoring a takedown late in the first to cut his deficit to 6-5 before an early second-period escape tied the bout at 6-6. But Weyandt was able to catch Bloom out of position and take him to his back at 2:23 to get the Bulldogs off to a fast start.
Swatsworth Jr. (9-15) gave his team the momentum back when he recorded a 15-5 major decision over Trevor Frazier, racking up nine points in the third period to put distance on the scoreboard and completely turn around his early-season meeting with the Bulldog. Frazier pinned Swatsworth Jr. at the season-opening ICC Tournament, but only mustered a reversal and three escapes in the rematch. Swatsworth Jr. scored takedowns in each of the first two periods for a 6-4 advantage before an escape, two takedowns and two back points cut the Claysburg lead in the dual to 6-4.
“Rusty had a great match against that kid but unfortunately got stuck in a bad situation and ended up getting pinned,” Swatsworth said. “But then Deanny came out there and turned that match completely around and started us off with a big win there.”
The Bulldogs went on a bit of a run, winning the next three weight classes with two first-period falls sandwiched around a 2-0 decision.
Rylan Quarello pinned Hayden Queen in 22 seconds at 127 and Brodie Soler stopped Javon Bunce at 1:39 at 139.
In between, Ayden Solar gutted out a 2-0 win over Dylan Deluccia (18-10) at 133 in a rematch of the ICC title bout that the Tide senior won 11-3.
The two battled through a scoreless first on their feet before Deluccia chose top in the second and rode with legs nearly the entire period but was unable to get a turn. Soler escaped in the final 10 seconds of the period, chose down and got another escape point midway through the third when Deluccia let him up to try to score a winning takedown. But Soler stayed out of danger and notched the win.
“That was just a tight match,” Swatsworth said. “That’s one we’d like to win, but kudos to (Soler). He came out with some hunger in that match.”
Trailing 21-3, the Tide began a parade of forfeit winners that was briefly interrupted by Hawkins’ 27-second fall over Dustin Slowik at 160.
“That was just a great, physical match for Reed,” Swatsworth said. “He was able to control the kid how he needed to and was able to come up with the pin.”
Cooper Haag (145) and Braxten Pierce (152) started the forfeit train, while Alex Murawski (172), Heath Hawkins (189), Caleb Hendershot (215) and Brooks Hendershot (285) all had their hands raised as well, making the score 45-21 in favor of the Tide.
Gilliland finished off the night in style for Curwensville in another ICC title rematch. Gilliland downed Claysburg’s Nathan Cox 15-8 in that bout, but didn’t allow the Bulldog to generate any offense or score a single point as he piled up a 13-0 lead before using a guillotine to end it at 3:37: Gilliland, who upped his record to 23-5, had Cox on his back for nearly the entire first period, recording a pair of 4-point nearfalls to gain an 11-0 lead.
“Austin is getting so good at that (guillotine) and so mentally ready for the end of the year I think,” Swatsworth said.
Brooks Hendershot ran his record to 21-9, while Reed Hawkins (20-10) and Murawski (20-11) joined the 20-win club. Caleb Hendershot improved to 19-11 and Heath Hawkins upped his record to 16-12. Haag is now 12-9.
With the win, the Golden Tide improved to 12-6 this season.
“I’m very happy,” Swatsworth said. “I gave the kids off three days. “I told them, ‘I won’t see you until Monday,’ We’ve been through a gauntlet these past couple weeks and we need a break. I am honestly hoping that on their three days off they re-energize and get mentally ready. I just want them to relax, refocus and then come in Monday ready to go.”
Curwensville’s next match is Tuesday, Feb. 4 when it hosts Redbank Valley in a boys and girls doubleheader, which will also be Senior Night for both programs.
Curwensville 51, Claysburg-Kimmel 21
114—Blaide Weyandt, CK, pinned Russell Bloom, C, 2:23. (0-6).
121—Dean Swatsworth Jr., C, maj. dec. Trevor Frazier, CK, 15-5. (4-6).
127—Rylan Quarello, CK, pinned Hayden Queen, C, 0:22. (4-12).
133—Ayden Soler, CK, dec. Dylan Deluccia, C, 2-0. (3-15)*
139—Brodie Soler, CK, pinned Javon Bunce, C, 1:39. (3-21).
145—Cooper Haag, C, won by forfeit. (9-21).
152—Braxten Pierce, C, won by forfeit. (15-21).
160—Reed Hawkins, C, pinned Dustin Slowik, CK, 0:27. (21-21).
172—Alex Murawski, C, won by forfeit. (27-21).
189—Heath Hawkins, C, won by forfeit. (33-21).
215—Caleb Hendershot, C, won by forfeit. (39-21).
285—Brooks Hendershot, C, won by forfeit. (45-21).
107—Austin Gilliland, C, pinned Nathan Cox, CK, 3:37. (51-21).
*Team point deducted from Curwensville following 133-pound bout
GOLDEN TIDE SCOREBOARD:
12/07 @ ICC Tourney – Claysburg-Kimmel 145 pts. 1st place
12/10 @ West Branch 49 – 18 1 – 0
12/21 @ Redbank Duals
vs. Northwestern 60 – 18 2 – 0
vs. Sharon 48 – 29 3 – 0
vs. Ridgway 36 – 32 4 – 0
vs. Youngsville 64 – 6 5 – 0
vs. Kane 66 – 12 6 – 0
01/07 TUSSEY MOUNTAIN 63 – 10 7 – 0
01/09 MOSHANNON VALLEY 15 – 48 7 – 1
01/10 & 11 @ Mid-Winter Mayhem – IUP 23 pts. 53rd place
01/14 MT. UNION 36 – 42 7 – 2
01/16 @ Juniata Valley 63 – 12 8 – 2
01/18 @ Bison Duals
vs. Clearfield 15 – 54 8 – 3
vs. Port Allegany 15 – 58 8 – 4
vs. Ridgway 35 – 38 8 – 5
vs. Brockway 20 – 51 9 – 5
vs. Benton 33 – 40 10 – 5
01/24 & 25 @ Fred Bell Tourney – Grove City 68 pts. 24th place
01/28 @ Glendale 49 – 21 11 – 5
01/30 CLAYSBURG KIMMEL 51 – 21 12 – 5
02/04 REDBANK VALLEY
02/06 @ Brookville
02/13 BROCKWAY
02/21 & 22 @ District 9 Championship
02/28 & 3/1 @ Nortwest Regionals
03/06 – 08 @ PIAA Championships – Hershey
