HYDE — The Clearfield Bison wrestling team played rude hosts to visiting Lewistown Friday night, defeating the Panthers 42-27 on Alumni Night. With many former Clearfield wrestlers in attendance, including 102 year-old legendary coach Art Weiss, the Bisons registered six falls on their way to the victory.
Clearfield jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead as both Nolan Barger at 130 and Troy Danver at 135 registered pins. “I was pleased we came out aggressive to start things off,” said head coach Jeff Aveni.
At 140, Clearfield’s Andrew Hill had the daunting task of facing Lewistown’s once-beaten Jake Schultz, who entered the bout with a 25-1 record. Schultz proved to be too much for Hill, defeating him 15-2 for a major decision.
Clearfield got back in the win column in the next two bouts as Cody Lansberry posted a 12-3 major decision over Andrew Haubrick at 145 and Shane Harper decked Harry Lowder in just 50 seconds at 152. Harper hit a cement mixer for the fall, pushing Clearfield’s lead in the match to 22-4.
At 160, Lewistown’s Ray Brune put six points on the board for the Panthers by pinning Bison Curtis Owens in 1:00 with a headlock.
Clearfield’s Derek Danver answered with a fall of his own at 171, pancaking Zach Peachey in 5:11 to give the Bisons a 28-10 lead in the dual meet. Danver’s 22nd win of the season leads the team and also moves him into a tie for fourth place on the Bison career wins list. He now joins PIAA and NCAA champion Scott Collins with 112 career victories.
Lewistown would come roaring back with three straight victories in the match, closing the team score to 28-22 as Cole Welham pinned Jacob Verchick at 189, Tyson Searer beat Cliff Hill at 215, and Kevin French shutout Jordan Lancaster, 7-0, at 285.
The 215 bout was the featured contest of the match, and a rematch of last year’s Northwest Region consolation final, as Searer brought a 25-1 record against Hill’s 16-2 mark. As was the case in that bout, Searer again was the victor, this time by a 9-3 score.
Clearfield would lock up the dual meet victory and improve to 9-2 on the year by winning the next three bouts. Shane Peters flattened Mitch Mathews in the second period at 103, Christian Stone cruised to a 21-4 technical fall over Todd Breon at 112, and Dylan Graham beat Kevin Bair, 11-7 at 119. With their wins, both Peters and Stone raised their season records to 21-2.
Lewistown’s Cody Hower won the last bout of the night, registering a 16-0 technical fall over Frankie Aveni, setting the final at 42-27 for the Bison victory.
“We wrestled better tonight than Tuesday’s match against St. Marys,” said coach Aveni “but I’m still waiting to see some more emotion from our team.”
Clearfield’s junior high team also posted a victory on the night as well as three junior varsity wrestlers. Max Von Gunden, Kody Hepfer, and Owen Gearhart all recorded falls in their JV matches.
The Bisons get back to action Tuesday night as the host their neighbors from up the river, the Curwensville Golden Tide at 7pm.
Bout Recap Team Score
130 Nolan Barger, WBF, 5:33, over Lucas Besch C 6 – 0
135 Troy Danver, WBF, 3:47, over Nic Lauver C 12 – 0
140 Andrew Hill, LBMD, 15-2, to Jake Schultz C 12 – 4
145 Cody Lansberry, WBMD, 12-3, over Andrew Haubrick C 16 – 4
152 Shane Harper, WBF, 0:50, over Harry Lowber C 22 – 4
160 Curtis Owens, LBF, 1:00, to Ray Brune C 22-10
171 Derek Danver, WBF, 5:11, over Zach Peachey C 28-10
189 Jacob Verchick, LBF, 2:26, to Cole Welham C 28-16
215 Cliff Hill, LBD, 9-3, to Tyson Searer C 28-19
285 Jordan Lancaster, LBD, 7-0, to Kevin French C 28-22
103 Shane Peters, WBF, 2:39, over Mitch Mathews C 34-22
112 Christian Stone, WBTF, 21-4, 4:00, over Todd Breon C 39-22
119 Dylan Graham, WBD, 11-7, over Kevin Bair C 42-22
125 Frankie Aveni, LBTF, 15-0, 3:23, to Cody Hower C 42-27
