Report by Hank Wilson
ALTOONA — The Clearfield Bison wrestling team will have five matmen chasing medals this coming weekend at the PIAA AAA State Wrestling tournament in Hershey as regional runners up Mark McGonigal, Carter Chamberlain, and Oliver Billotte will be joined by third place finishers Evan Davis and Brady Collins. Though not able to crown an individual champion, the Bison team wrestled well all weekend to finish fourth in the team race behind Williamsport, Mifflin County and Central Mountain.
McGonigal (29-9) needed overtime in his semifinal match at 172 against Shikellamy’s Gage Wolfe (34-7), ultimately winning 9-5 to secure his third trip to Hershey. In the finals, he faced off for the third time this season against Waylon Wehler (32-2) of St. Marys, but just couldn’t find the winning combination, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Dutchmen.
At 189, sophomore Carter Chamberlain (28-8) and a fourth place finisher a year ago, earned his first trip to states with a 5-0 semifinal win over Central Mountain’s Damien Galentine (21-17). He fell in the finals by major decision to Trey Shoemaker (36-4) of Mifflin County, 11-2.
Billotte (29-3) will be a state qualifier for a third time with his second place finish at 285. The Bison senior blanked General McLane’s Wilson Spires (37-5) 6-0 in the semifinals to set up a third meeting with fellow state-ranked wrestler Charles Crews (37-6) of Williamsport. The only grappler to defeat Billotte this season, the third time wasn’t a charm as Crews was again the victor with a tight 3-2 win.
At 113, junior Evan Davis (29-10) was pinned by Mifflin County’s Nic Allison (34-3) in the semis to drop to the consolation round where he won twice to earn his first trip to states. In his consolation semifinal, he pinned Alex Reed (30-13) of Shikellamy in 4:14, then downed Punxsy’s Dysen Gould (22-10), 6-2, in the final for a third place finish.
Freshman Brady Collins (34-4) will be joining his upperclassmen in Hershey after falling to eventual champion Dalton Perry (37-2) of Central Mountain, by a 9-0 score in the semifinals. He bounced right back with a technical fall of State College’s Jacob Campbell (16-15) in the consolation semis, then earned a hard fought 10-6 decision over Juniata’s Taylor Smith (27-9) for a third place spot on the podium.
Senior Hayden Kovalick (32-4) fell one win short of Hershey with a fourth place finish at 215. He dropped a close 5-3 decision in the semifinals to Anson Wagner (31-7) of Mifflin County, but then decked Shikellamy’s Mason Rebuck (25-11) in 2:11 to advance to the consolation finals. His season ended with an 8-5 loss to Troy Peterson 29-5) of Erie McDowell. Kovalick finishes his three year Bison wrestling career with a 75-22 record.
Nolan Barr (24-15) made a valiant run through the consolation bracket at 138 on Saturday by first beating CJ Keener (27-16) of Shikellamy 2-0, then downing Meadville’s Brighton Anderson (29-8), 10-7 to reach the semifinals. Jacob Cunningham of Mifflin County proved to be a little too much, eking out a 5-4 win over the Bison senior. Barr hangs up his singlet sporting a four year career record of 87-48.
Freshman Ty Aveni (15-12) got a taste of regional wrestling by going 2-2 in the tournament. In second round consolations, he decked Daniel Painter (16-17) of Juniata in 4:58 before losing 6-3 to Mifflin County’s Blake Aumiller (26-18) in the consy quarters.
Karson Kline (19-14) couldn’t find the win column on the weekend, bowing out of the tournament with a 9-3 loss to Central Mountain’s Braylen Corter (20-15). The senior packs away his headgear with an 86-55 career record as a four year starter for the Bison.
Freshman Xavier Lutz (8-12) lost his consolation match by fall to Jonathan Coates (10-13) of St. College at 106. Teammate Adam Rougeaux (13-15) wasn’t able to wrestle at 120 on Saturday.
The Bison went 22-18 overall for the tourney. Saturday’s match by match results courtesy PA-Wrestling.com are listed below.
Click HERE for complete results, again courtesy PA-Wrestling.com.
The Bison state contingent will head to Hershey as wrestling action begins Thursday afternoon and continues through Saturday evening. The top eight place winners in each weight class will receive medals.
Final Top 10 Team Standings
1. 153.0 Williamsport
2. 149.0 Mifflin County
3. 147.0 Central Mountain
4. 127.5 Clearfield
5. 124.5 State College
6. 123.5 Erie Cathedral Prep
7. 77.0 Erie McDowell
8. 76.5 Bellefonte
9. 65.0 Selinsgrove
9.     65.0 St. Marys
Saturday’s Results
Consolation Round 2
106 – Johnathan Coates (State College) pinned Xavier Lutz, 1:25
120 – Luke Segraves (Williamsport) won by forfeit over Adam Rougeux
132 – Ty Aveni pinned Daniel Painter (Juniata), 4:58
138 – Nolan Barr dec. Charles Keener (Shikellamy), 2-0
152 – Braylen Corter (Central Mountain) dec. Karson Kline, 9-3
Championship Semifinals
113 – Nic Allison (Mifflin County) pinned Evan Davis, 3:46
126 – Dalton Perry (Central Mountain) maj. dec. Brady Collins, 9-0
172 – Mark McGonigal dec. Gage Wolfe (Shikellamy), 9-5 TB2
189 – Carter Chamberlain dec. Damien Galentine (Central Mountain), 5-0
215 – Anson Wagner (Mifflin County) dec. Hayden Kovalick, 5-3
285 – Oliver Billotte dec. Wilson Spires (General McLane), 6-0
Consolation Round 3
132 – Blake Aumiller (Mifflin County) dec. Ty Aveni, 6-3
138 – Nolan Barr dec. Brighton Anderson (Meadville), 10-7
Consolation Semifinals
113 – Evan Davis pinned Alex Reed (Shikellamy), 4:14
126 – Brady Collins won by tech. fall over Jacob Campbell (State College), 15-0 4:09
138 – Jacob Cunningham (Mifflin County) dec. Nolan Barr, 5-4
215 – Hayden Kovalick pinned Mason Rebuck (Shikellamy), 2:11
Third Place
113 – Evan Davis dec. Dysen Gould (Punxsutawney), 6-2
126 – Brady Collins dec. Taylor Smith (Juniata), 10-6
215 – Troy Peterson (Erie McDowell) dec. Hayden Kovalick, 8-5
Championship Finals
172 – Waylon Wehler (St. Mary’s) dec. Mark McGonigal, 3-2
189 – Trey Shoemaker (Mifflin County) maj. dec. Carter Chamberlain, 11-2
285 – Charles Crews (Williamsport) dec. Oliver Billotte, 3-2
Clearfield wrestlers in bold.
