WILLIAMSPORT — The Clearfield Bison wrestling team had seven placewinners at the 2025 Tom Best Top Hat Tournament in Williamsport on December 5 and 6, scoring 137 team points to garner a sixth place finish, one spot below their finish from a year ago.
Two underclassmen led the way, as Matthew Rowles made his varsity debut, after missing his freshman season due to an injury, and placed second at 121.
Junior Brayden Wills, just a spot starter for the Bison a year ago, brought home a bronze medal at 189.
Placing fifth were sophomore Bo Aveni at 133 and junior Ryan Ludwig at 215.
Seniors Bryn Chamberlain at 139, Cash Diehl at 145, and Colton Ryan at 160 each placed sixth.
Rowles, the number 11 seed, won his first three matches, including one over two time PIAA AA state qualifier Nico Kapusta of Hempfield, to reach the championship match. Once there he met his match against PIAA AAA state placewinner from a year ago, Tommy Gretz of Connellsville. Gretz picked up the fall in 3:54 as Rowles earned his first varsity medal, a silver.
At 189, the surprising Wills was a 13 seed and reached the semifinals. He was defeated by the eventual champion in the weight class, senior PIAA AAA state qualifier Mason Marolo of Hazelton. After a one point victory in the consolation semifinals, Wills then edged Halifax’s Teegan Carrol, a state qualifier last year, by an 8-6 count.
Aveni improved three spots over his eighth place finish at 114 from a year ago, as he went 3-2 for the tourney.
Also sporting a 3-2 record, Ludwig matched Aveni’s fifth place finish after not placing a year ago.
Chamberlain and Diehl placed exactly as their seed as both went 3-3. Diehl picked up win number 89 for his career. Ryan’s two wins in the tourney gave him 94 for his career, as the countdown to the milestone 100th win can officially begin.
Going 2-2 for the tourney, but didn’t place, were freshman 127 pounder Paxton Parada and sophomore 285 pounder Matthew Peace.
Complete tourney results can be found by clicking HERE, courtesy PA-Wrestling.com.
The Bison will begin the dual meet portion of their season on Tuesday when they travel to DuBois to face the Beavers in the battle for the Pete Morelli Memorial.
FULL BISON RESULTS (Courtesy PA-Wrestling.com):
Championship Round 1
133 – Nathaniel Handy (South Western) won by tech. fall over David Magnuson, 2:40 (16-1)
139 – Hayes Donley (Central Mountain) won by tech. fall over Noah Troxell, 5:49 (17-2)
172 – Tim Taylor pinned Ty Cipriani (Loyalsock), 1:07
189 – Brayden Wills pinned Mason Murphy (Daniel Boone), 2:59
285 – Matthew Peace pinned Wyatt Hoffman (Line Mountain), 4:28
Championship Round 2
121 – Matt Rowles pinned Gabe Baer (Saucon Valley), 4:46
127 – Nolan Rice (Connellsville) won by tech. fall over Paxton Parada, 3:24 (21-6)
133 – Bo Aveni won by tech. fall over Garret MacDonald (Mid Valley), 3:09 (17-0)
139 – Bryndin Chamberlain pinned Hayes Donley (Central Mountain), 2:26
145 – Cash Diehl pinned Jerik Lesser (Saucon Valley), 1:39
152 – Colton Bumbarger pinned Logan Pop (Hazleton Area), 1:15
160 – Colton Ryan won by tech. fall over Dominic Magill (Hempfield Area), 3:02 (21-5)
172 – Mason Horwat (Derry Area) won by tech. fall over Tim Taylor, 1:55 (19-4)
189 – Brayden Wills dec. Coy Campbell (Titusville), 9-4
215 – Ryan Ludwig pinned Ryan Brown (Connellsville), 3:24
285 – Bryce Watkins (Titusville) pinned Matthew Peace, 1:05
Consolation Round 2
127 – Paxton Parada pinned Ayden Williams (Daniel Boone), 0:23
133 – Ty King (Hempfield Area) pinned David Magnuson, 1:43
139 – Brody Wilson (Hempfield Area) dec. Noah Troxell, 7-3
172 – Oliver Patte (Mifflinburg) dec. Tim Taylor, 4-1
285 – Matthew Peace pinned Donovon Hill (Mid Valley), 1:14
Consolation Round 3
127 – Paxton Parada pinned Cael Dorman (Central Mountain), 0:29
285 – Tyler Byerly (Cumberland Valley) pinned Matthew Peace, 4:11
Championship Quarterfinals
121 – Matt Rowles dec. Gavin Heverly (Central Mountain), 12-5
133 – Bo Aveni pinned Patrick Tarantella (Central Mountain), 0:50
139 – Matthew Almedina (Mid Valley) dec. Bryndin Chamberlain, 13-7
145 – Aiden Kunes (Central Mountain) won by tech. fall over Cash Diehl, 5:14 (19-3)
152 – Louden Spotts (Jersey Shore) won by tech. fall over Colton Bumbarger, 4:13 (18-3)
160 – Colton Ryan dec. Tyler Youngcourt (Hazleton Area), 9-6
189 – Brayden Wills pinned Brittian Ash (Saucon Valley), 0:16
215 – Ryan Ludwig pinned Ramello Powell (Central York), 2:37
Consolation Round 4
127 – Jacob Benyo (Hazleton Area) won by tech. fall over Paxton Parada, 2:15 (17-0)
139 – Bryndin Chamberlain pinned Dominick Woods (Hempfield Area), 2:50
145 – Cash Diehl dec. Jacob Halsted (Hempfield Area), 7-0
152 – Dominic Vogel (Cumberland Valley) maj. dec. Colton Bumbarger, 26-12
Championship Semifinals
121 – Matt Rowles pinned Nico Kapusta (Hempfield Area), 1:12
133 – Emilio Albanese (Emmaus) pinned Bo Aveni, 1:41
160 – Dalton Schadel (Line Mountain) dec. Colton Ryan, 10-3
189 – Mason Marolo (Hazleton Area) dec. Brayden Wills, 10-3
215 – Jacob Schwalm (Line Mountain) dec. Ryan Ludwig, 2-1
Consolation Round 5
139 – Bryndin Chamberlain dec. Chase Sparks (Connellsville), 2-0
145 – Cash Diehl pinned Ivan Baker (Loyalsock), 4:30
Consolation Semifinals
133 – Jacksin Smith (Halifax) dec. Bo Aveni, SV-1 5-2
139 – Camden Olson (Derry Area) dec. Bryndin Chamberlain, 2-1
145 – Logan Maurer (Cumberland Valley) dec. Cash Diehl, 7-2
160 – Jake Lilley (Connellsville) maj. dec. Colton Ryan, 15-4
189 – Brayden Wills dec. Jackson Raker (Williamsport), 5-4
215 – Todd Caris (Central Mountain) dec. Ryan Ludwig, 17-11
Fifth Place
133 – Bo Aveni pinned Landon Lynn (Connellsville), 2:38
139 – Jackson Max (Emmaus) maj. dec. Bryndin Chamberlain, 13-3
145 – Parker Miller (Titusville) dec. Cash Diehl, 4-2
160 – Ewan Olson (Derry Area) maj. dec. Colton Ryan, 15-3
215 – Ryan Ludwig pinned Liam Stoneback (Saucon Valley), 2:56
Third Place
189 – Brayden Wills dec. Teegan Carroll (Halifax), 8-6
Championship Finals
121 – Tommy Gretz (Connellsville) pinned Matt Rowles, 3:54
Clearfield wrestlers in bold.
