HYDE — The Clearfield Bison wrestling team, 11 strong, will compete at the Northwest Regional Wrestling Tournament at the Altoona Area High School Field House on Friday and Saturday looking to qualify as many as they can for the PIAA State Wrestling Championships in Hershey next week.
Action gets under way on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with Round 1 action in the 14-man weight classes, immediately followed by the quarterfinals at approximately 8:15.
The Bison have improved at every tournament this year compared to last season’s team, and will look to improve upon their 11th place place finish and one state qualifier from the regionals a year ago.
Six of the 11 making the trip this year made the trip last year as well. All will be looking to finish in the top-3 to punch their ticket to Chocolatetown.
Last years’ lone Bison state qualifier was sophomore Luke McGonigal, competing at 170 this year compared to 145 a year ago. McGonigal (34-2) will receive a bye and then will wrestle the winner of the Parker McClellan (24-10) – Kyle Carter (8-14) match in the quarterfinals. A semifinal match with District 10 champion Ethan Laird (31-3) looms for McGonigal. Laird has dealt McGonigal his only two losses on the season, 9-2 at the Tool City Tournament and 7-2 two weeks later at the Bison Duals.
Competing at 195 again this year will be senior Travis Ogden (34-1). Odgen fell one spot short of the PIAA tourney last year when he finished in fourth place. Ogden will face Erie McDowell’s Michael Kurelowech (11-13) in the opening round. A win there would possibly set him up with Ogden-nemesis Cory Dreibelbis (24-4) of State College. Dreibelbis has beaten Ogden during the regional tourney each of the last two seasons, 12-11 in the semifinals last year and 9-7 in the opening round of 2014. Then a potential rematch with Isaac Porter (25-6) of Central Mountain is also a possibility. Porter defeated Ogden in the season-opening Top Hat Tournament to keep the Bison matman from an undefeated regular season.
Also with a return trip to Altoona this year is 106 pound sophomore Matt Ryan (22-16). Ryan, two and through last year, will meet District 10 third-placer Brady Sittinger (25-4) of Erie Cathedral Prep in the opening round Friday night.
132 pound senior Josiah McClarren (24-14) had a strong showing last year going 2-2 and will face State College’s Zachary Price (7-12), the District 6 third place finisher, in his opening match.
Senior 145-pounder Tallin Norris (20-19), down a weight class from last year when he went 1-2, will meet the District 10 runner-up, Briggs Twitchell (30-6) from General McLane in round one.
And senior Nate Lash (27-12) will be making his return to the Altoona Field House looking to improve upon his 1-2 finish of a year ago as well. Lash will get his final run started with Central Mountain’s Bryce Bitner (23-13), who placed fourth at last week’s District 6 tournament.
Leading the list of newcomers to the regional tourney will be 113 pound freshman Jude Pallo (19-18). Pallo will open things up with Bellefonte’s Shafiq Blake (21-10). Blake, the District 6 runner-up, owns a 12-5 win over Pallo during the January 19 dual meet.
At 126, senior Hunter Blake (21-13) will meet the District 8 runner-up in Carrick’s Matt O’Connor (18-12).
Sophomore Hunter Wright (11-14) at 160 will meet the District 10 runner-up, Erie Prep’s Luigi Yates (25-5).
Levi Wisor (22-15), a senior at 182, will go up against the District 6 champion from Mifflin County, Brandon Wilson (23-9). Mifflin County will be looking to repeat as the regional team champion.
And lastly, junior Hunter Bumgarger (13-11) will meet Noah Worley (19-7) from Hollidaysburg, the District 6 champ at 220.
An amazing number of regional champions, 10, return from last year. Altoona’s Cole Manley (21-1) will be at 126 this year, up from 106 where he was a PIAA state runner-up last year as well. Prep’s Carmine Ciotti (25-6) will look to make the jump from 113 to 132 a successful one. Bald Eagle Area’s Seth Koleno (23-5) is up a weight to 132 as well. The Hidlay brothers from Mifflin County will both look to repeat – senior Hayden (33-1) up one class from 145 to 152 and sophomore Trent (34-2) is up three classes from 138 to 160. Undefeated Kaleb Young (29-0) from Punxsutawney will also be at 160. Noah Stewart (32-3), also from Mifflin County, will look to win again, up a class from 160 to 170. A fourth Mifflin County wrestler will look to defend his title – 195 pound Trey Hartsock (29-4). Selinsgrove’s Andrew Boob (25-2) will be back at 220, as will Bald Eagle Area’s 285 pounder, Joshua Fye (25-0).
Saturday’s consolation action will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the second round of wrestlebacks at 11. The semifinals and third round matches will be at approximately 12:30 and consolation round four will be around 2:30.
The Parade of Champions will begin at 6:00, followed by the Championship Finals along with the all-important third place matches at 6:15.
A complete set of brackets can be found here courtesy Bob Imhof and Ridgway wrestling.