MARTINSBURG – The Clearfield Bison wrestling team enjoyed their first victory of the season, taking the lead early and only falling behind one time. Winning nine of 14 weight classes, and getting bonus points in six of those wins, the Bison were able to slay the Central Dragons, capping the night with an electrifying victory at 113.
The match started at 126 when Bison senior Matt Ryan (5-1) put on a show against Central’s Camden Leach. Notching five takedowns in the first period, Ryan put Leach on his back for the fall in 1:34, and the Bison were winning 6-0.
The momentum didn’t let up when junior Bison Jude Pallo (3-2) wrestled tough against Central’s Brandon Holsinger. Neutral after the first period, Pallo took bottom and got a reversal and takedown while giving up an escape to Holsinger. He then rode out Holsinger for the entire third period to win 4-1, putting the Bison up 9-0 over the Dragons.
The tide turned over the next two bouts as Central scored pins at 138 with Cameron Ulery over JD Graham (0-1) and at 145 with Braden Swab over Quinten Edwards (1-5). Suddenly, the Bison were down 12-9 in under three minutes of wrestling.
Then sophomore Nate Barr (2-1) took the matt, and in a wild victory, he was able to put Clearfield back in the driver’s seat as they won the next five of six matches. Utilizing a first period takedown and three near fall points in the second period, Barr was able to hang on to defeat Central’s Malcom Loucks 6-5, and he tied the match at 12-12.
Taking the mat at 160, senior Hunter Wright (2-4) looked like his former self of years past, wasting no time pinning Central wrestler Lane Kocher in just 46 seconds.
Sophomore Bison Brett Zatoni (0-5) then squared off against Central’s Logan Marko, and found himself outgunned. He was down 7-0 after the first period, before being turned and pinned in 3:41 of the second period. This brought the team score again to a tie at 18 points apiece.
That was the last time the Dragons would equal the Bison, who rampaged their way to another 18 points with pins from senior Luke McGonigal (6-0) over Kasen Deterline at 182, sophomore Brandon Daubs (1-4) over Michael Fowkes at 195, and a forfeit from junior 220 pounder Avry Gisewhite (4-3). This put the match at 36-18, as Daubs secured the first varsity win of his career.
At 285, junior Kevin Helsel (0-5) was flattened by Central’s Damien Kocher in just 1:11, and then freshman Angelo Maines was pinned by Dragon Camden Leach in 1:34. The score was now 36-30, Clearfield, when junior JT Thomas (3-5) took the mat.
In a high scoring thriller, Thomas traded blows back and forth with Ian Crouch for six minutes. Using a takedown and two back points, Thomas was up 4-2 after giving up a reversal in the first period. Thomas chose bottom to start the second, and quickly gave up two back points before getting an escape and hitting a five point. Giving up an escape, Thomas led Crouch 10-5 at the end of the second period, and Crouch took bottom to start the third. Crouch was able to get an escape, and then Thomas gave up another point when he grabbed Crouch’s headgear. Then Thomas was taken down, and his lead was cut within a point to 10-9! Crouch gave Thomas an optional escape, and Thomas capitalized on the opportunity, using a four point move to take Crouch down. Up 15-9, Thomas was reversed and put on his back with a near sided cradle as time expired, making the final score 15-13. With that victory, Thomas secured the first Bison victory of the season, making the team score 39-30.
To end the match, sophomore Peyton Smay (2-3) was able to pin Central’s Mason Daniels in 2:39, after he had notched four takedowns in the first period and another in the second period.
The final score was 45-30, Clearfield Bison. They will wrestle again on Friday, December 22, when they travel to Punxsutawney to wrestle the Chucks.
Bout by Bout Recap
126 Matt Ryan (Clfd), Pinned Camden Leach (Central) 1:34 6-0
132 Jude Pallo (Clfd), Decisioned Brandon Holsinger (Central) 4-1 9-0
138 Cameron Ulery (Central), Pinned Jose Graham (Clfd) 1:12 9-6
145 Braden Swab (Central), Pinned Quinten Edwards (Clfd) 1:30 9-12
152 Nate Barr (Clfd), Decisioned Malcom Loucks (Central) 6-5 12-12
160 Hunter Wright (Clfd), Pinned Lane Kocher (Central) :42 18-12
170 Logan Marko (Central), Pinned Brett Zatoni (Clfd) 3:41 18-18
182 Luke McGonigal (Clfd), Pinned Kasen Deterline (Central) :46 24-18
195 Brandon Daubs (Clfd), Pinned Michael Fowkes (Central) 3:32 30-18
220 Avry Gisewhite (Clfd), Forfeit 36-18
285 Damien Kocher (Central), Pinned Kevin Helsel (Clfd) 1:11 36-24
106 Alex Bowman (Central), Pinned Angelo Maines (Clfd) 2:49 36-30
113 John Thomas (Clfd), Decisioned Ian Crouch (Central) 15-13 39-30
120 Peyton Smay (Clfd), Pinned Mason Daniels (Central) 2:39 45-30
Bison Scoreboard:
Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
12/08 & 09 | Top Hat Tourney @ Williamsport | 112 pts. | 8th |
12/12 | BALD EAGLE AREA | 30 – 40 | 0 – 1 |
12/15 | @ DuBois | 8 – 53 | 0 – 2 |
12/19 | @ Central | 45 – 30 | 1 – 2 |
12/22 | @ Punxsutawney | ||
01/03 | PENNS VALLEY | ||
01/05 & 06 | @ Tool City Tourney (Meadville) | ||
01/09 | @ Huntingdon | ||
01/11 | @ St. Marys | ||
01/16 | BELLEFONTE | ||
01/20 | CLEARFIELD BISON DUALS | ||
01/23 | TYRONE | ||
01/26 & 27 | @ WB Ultimate Warrior Tourney | ||
02/06 | Takedown Cancer Match | ||
02/06 | vs. PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | ||
02/24 | District 9 AAA Champs @Clfd HS | ||
03/02 & 03 | Northwest Region @ Altoona | ||
03/08-10 | PIAA Championships @ Hershey |