HUNTINGDON – The Clearfield Bison Wrestling team traveled to Huntingdon Tuesday night, in a match that many expected to be a thriller. Over the last five or so seasons, it seems every matchup between these two teams has come down to the wire. That didn’t happen this time, though, as Clearfield was unable to win toss-up matches and surrendered bonus points in others. Clearfield again won only four bouts on the evening, and their record is now .500 at 3-3, while Huntingdon improved their record to 8-1.
The match began at 152 where Bearcat Joseph Bailey edged Bison junior Caleb Freeland (6-6) 4-3. Freeland was winning the match with under a minute to go in the third period when Bailey dumped him for a takedown, and then rode him out.
Coming off an impressive weekend at Tool City, Hunter Wright (8-7) carried forward his momentum with a 10-5 victory over Huntingdon’s Draven Zook at 160. It was clear that Wright has fully recovered from his knee surgery he sustained last season, as he funk rolled for points and avoided a headlock for four points. Wright was able to tie the match at 3-3.
Clearfield then gave up 12 points between Bison Brett Zatoni (1-7) being pinned by Bearcat Braeden Knode in 1:10, and forfeiting at 182.
Then Bison captain Luke McGonigal (13-0) took to the mat at 195. Many were expecting McGonigal to try and take on Alex Mykut, but with the match still in reach, Aveni elected to send him out and get team points. And team points he got. McGonigal used a variety of moves in his match against Bearcat Zachary Peck that ended up lasting 1:42. In that time, he worked arm bars, bear claws, and half nelson’s, all but making Peck beg for his night to end.
With McGonigal’s win, Clearfield would only be down 15-9, but the momentum didn’t carry forward, and the Bison lost the next four matches, surrendering bonus points in each. Bearcat’s Alex Mykut and Landon Fisher each earned falls in the first period over Bison Avry Gisewhite (7-7) and Jon Doran (0-1), respectively.
Then Huntingdon’s Cody Bilger major decisioned Clearfield’s freshman Angelo Maines (4-9), 13-4, and Bearcat Roland Mills bested John Thomas (4-8), 15-5. Maines’ match was closer than it looked on paper, but he began to act desperately after being down 6-3, and that led to sloppy technique and hastiness that cost him points. Thomas was also in a great match until the third period, down only 5-4, but he gave up two sets of back points and was pancaked to his back in the final moments of the match. All of a sudden, the match was out of reach and the score was 35-9, Huntingdon.
Sophomore Peyton Smay (6-5) and senior Matt Ryan (10-4) were the final two Bison to win on the night. Smay dominated in neutral, top and bottom, to earn himself a nice 9-3 decision over Bearcat Nate Kramer. Smay continued earning his reputation as a tough grinder.
Matt Ryan, in a bid to reassert himself as the high caliber wrestler he is, went out with a vengeance. Ryan was up 8-3 over Huntingdon’s Brynen Kisiel before he pinned him in 2:34. Having had a tough weekend where he lost three matches in a row at the Tool City tournament, he seems to have rebounded nicely, keeping his composure and moving past a bad day.
With those two wins, Clearfield was still down 35-18, and they would lose their bouts at 132, 138, and 145 to close the night.
Junior Bison Jude Pallo (6-7) was decisioned by a solid wrestler, Izac Benson, who rode him tough and was very good at keeping the match at his tempo, pace, and style. Benson (Huntingdon) decisioned Pallo 6-2.
In the last two bouts of the evening, Bison’s Quinten Edwards (4-8) and Nate Barr (3-2) would both surrender bonus points as well. Edwards was bested by Huntingdon’s Jacob Wagner 10-2, and Myles Baney defeated Barr 10-0.
The final score of the match was 46-18, Bearcats. Clearfield will wrestle one more match this week – Thursday at District IX rival St. Mary’s. The Bison have a great opportunity to return to a winning record and learn from tonight’s loss.
Bout by Bout Recap
152 Joseph Bailey (Hunt), Decisioned Caleb Freeland (Clfd) 4-3 0-3
160 Hunter Wright (Clfd), Decisioned Draven Zook (Hunt) 10-3 3-3
170 Braeden Knode (Hunt), Pinned Brett Zatoni (Clfd) 1:10 3-9
182 Ryder Kocik (Hunt) Received Forfeit 3-15
195 Luke McGonigal (Clfd), Pinned Zachary Peck (Hunt) 1:42 9-15
220 Alex Mykut (Hunt), Pinned Avry Gisewhite (Clfd) 1:43 9-21
285 Landon Fisher (Hunt), Pinned Jon Doran (Clfd) 1:11 9-27
106 Cody Bilger (Hunt), Major Decisioned Angelo Maines (Clfd) 13-3 9-31
113 Roland Mills (Hunt), Major Decisioned John Thomas (Clfd) 15-5 9-35
120 Peyton Smay (Clfd), Decisioned Nate Kramer (Hunt) 9-3 12-35
126 Matt Ryan (Clfd), Pinned Brynen Kisiel (Hunt) 2:34 18-35
132 Izac Benson (Hunt), Decisioned Jude Pallo (Clfd) 6-2 18-38
138 Jacob Wagner (Hunt), Major Decisioned Quinten Edwards (Clfd) 10-2 18-42
145 Myles Baney (Hunt), Major Decisioned Nate Barr (Clfd) 10-0 18-46
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 | 61 – 17 | 2 – 2 |
01/03 | PENNS VALLEY | 37 – 32 | 3 – 2 |
01/05 & 06 | @ Tool City Tourney (Meadville) | 84.5 pts. | 14th place |
01/09 | @ Huntingdon | 18 – 46 | 3 – 3 |
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 |