BROOKVILLE, Pa. – This year’s District 9 Class 2A team dual tournament, scheduled for Saturday (Feb. 4) at Brookville Jr./Sr. High School, promises to be a little different.
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For the first time since 2014, the only round-robin iteration of the event, Brookville doesn’t enter the tournament as its top seed – that distinction goes to Clearfield. Like in 2014, Brookville will begin its quest for a 10th consecutive team dual title as the second seed. St. Marys is the third seed, Cranberry the fourth, and Clarion the fifth.
The presence of Clearfield and St. Marys in the 2A team duals is, in itself, also different – both schools dropping from 3A this season.
Clearfield has been a stalwart of the 3A team tournament, which, since 2017, has been a combination District 9/District 4 event. The Bison finished as runner-up to Williamsport a year ago and last won the tournament in 2016.
St. Marys most recently entered the 3A team dual tournament in 2020. The Dutch were champions in 2015.
Cranberry’s and Clarion’s entries also make this year’s dual team tournament different, as neither has participated for several years. Cranberry last appeared at the district duals in 2019, when the Berries were still a 3A team. Clarion hasn’t entered the event since 2017. Neither Cranberry nor Clarion have ever won the dual team title.
As the two lowest seeds, Cranberry and Clarion will wrestle a preliminary match (10:00 a.m.) – the winner drawing top-seeded Clearfield in one semifinal (11 a.m.). Saint Marys will wrestle Brookville in the other semifinal (11 a.m.,). The finals are scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.
(Team and individual rankings from PA Power Wrestling and are current as of Feb. 1 – team and individual records are current through Jan. 31)
No. 1 Seed: Clearfield Bison (dual meet record: 13-1)
The Bison are the 12th-ranked 2A team in the state, one position ahead of Brookville. Clearfield put District 9 on notice in its first dual as a 2A team (Dec. 9) – snapping Brookville’s 92-match win streak on the mat against intra-district foes that dated back to 2013. Clearfield hasn’t shied away from tough competition this season, its record including wins against state-ranked Benton (#8), Bald Eagle Area (#15), Butler (#16 in 3A), and Huntingdon (#24). Clearfield’s only loss came on Jan. 11 to Saint Marys, the Bison falling 39-24.
Ranked Wrestlers: 107lbs. – Fr. Cash Diehl (#3NW/#25PA) (21-8)
114lbs. – Fr. Bryndin Chamberlin (#7NW/#21PA) (17-11)
121lbs. – Sr. Evan Davis (#4NW/—) (19-8)
127lbs. – Fr. Colton Ryan (#4NW/—) (16-10)
139lbs. – So. Brady Collins (#1NW/#10PA) (26-3)
160lbs. – So. Carter Freeland (#8NW/—) (18-8)
189lbs. – Jr. Carter Chamberlain (#3NW/#9PA) (26-4)
Potential Difference Makers (unranked): 133lbs. – Fr. Colton Bumbarger (11-13), 145lbs. – So. Ty Aveni (18-8)
No. 2 Seed: Brookville Raiders (dual meet record: 15-2)
Brookville has had a virtual stranglehold on the District 9 team duals, winning the previous nine and last nine of 10 titles (Redbank Valley disrupted the Raiders’ streak in 2013). The Raiders are currently ranked 13th in the statewide 2A poll. Since losing to Clearfield in early December, Brookville has won 10 of its last 11 duals – the only setback coming on Jan. 21 when ninth-ranked Fort LeBeouf took a 33-25 victory. Like Clearfield, Brookville has victories against some of the best in the state, including Chestnut Ridge (#4), Burrell (#6), General McLane (#19), and Reynolds (#23). Brookville beat semifinal opponent Saint Marys on Jan. 11, 39-24. As if the Raiders’ impressive record needed any qualifiers, it should be noted that they have won despite forfeiting the 107-pound class all season. The lack of a 107-pounder is made up for by the team’s depth, which allows coach Dave Klepfer to shuffle his line-up as a dual might dictate.
Ranked Wrestlers: 114lbs. – Jr. Jared Popson (#4NW/#17PA) (21-7)
127lbs. – So. Cole Householder (#1NW/#3PA) (22-5)
139lbs. – Sr. Brecken Cieleski (#5NW/—) (16-9)
160lbs. – Sr. Coyha Brown (#7NW/—) (21-7)
172lbs. – So. Easton Belfiore (#8NW/#24PA) (10-8)
189lbs. – Sr. Jackson Zimmerman (#1NW/#7PA) (23-3)
215lbs. – So. Gavin Hannah (#6NW/—) (17-6)
285lbs. – So. Baily Miller (#3NW/#19PA) (12-7)
Potential Difference Makers (unranked): 127lbs. – So. Owen Fleming (11-9)
145lbs. – Jr. Burke Fleming (12-9)
152lbs. – So. Kolton Griffin (14-7)
No. 3 Seed: St. Marys Dutch (dual meet record: 6-1)
The Dutch entered this season with the goal of winning a district title, a realistic objective considering they returned several experienced wrestlers. Coach Dom Surra has a nice-sized roster, giving him some depth and flexibility during duals; particularly important if injuries are a factor going into Saturday. Saint Marys has a win against top-seeded Clearfield but recently fell to semifinal opponent Brookville.
Ranked Wrestlers: 114lbs. – So. Aiden Beimel (#5NW/#18PA) (17-6)
127lbs. – Fr. Cullen Catalone (#4NW/—) (9-4)
145lbs. – So. Jaden Wehler (#7NW/—) (18-8)
152lbs. – Jr. Andrew Wolganger (#7NW/#20PA) (27-8)
172lbs. – Sr. Waylon Wehler (#4NW/#9PA) (25-3)
285Lbs. – Alex Lukachunis (#6NW/#21PA) (11-6)
Potential Difference Makers (unranked): 121lbs. – Fr. Jayce Walter (11-9)
133lbs. – Sr. Cole Neil (13-7)
139lbs. – So. Ben Reynolds (12-8)
No. 4 Seed: Cranberry Berries (dual meet record: 3-1)
Cranberry’s schedule has been light on duals, with the focus instead on individual tournaments (in which the Berries have excelled). The roster features several good, young wrestlers, though the Berries also forfeit a weight or two. On Jan. 4, Cranberry downed first-round opponent, Clarion, 42-21.
Ranked Wrestlers: 107lbs. – Fr. Dalton Wenner (#1NW/#5PA) (21-2)
121lbs. – So. Elijah Brosius (#2NW/#13PA) (22-6)
133lbs. – So. Conner Reszkowski (#3NW/#20PA) (20-8)
139lbs. – So. Dane Wenner (#4NW/#13PA) (22-7)
215lbs. – Sr. Brayden McFetridge (#4NW/#12PA) (22-4)
Potential DifferenceMakers (unranked): 127lbs. – Fr. Brandon Murray (13-8)
145lbs. – So. Daniel Delong (14-10)
152lbs. – Jr. Devyn Fleeger (20-9)
No. 5 Seed: Clarion (dual meet record: 9-6)
The size of Clarion’s roster has grown over the past several years, though injuries during the past week or two could mitigate any advantage that might have given coach Lee Weber. The Bobcats’ strengths are in the middle and upper weights, as well as the team’s overall scrappiness. What hurts Clarion is that it consistently forfeits a couple of weights, a situation which is possibly now exacerbated. As previously mentioned, Clarion’s record includes an early January loss to Cranberry, who the Bobcats will need to beat right out of the box if they hope to advance this weekend.
Ranked Wrestlers: 114lbs. – So. Logan Powell (#8NW/—) (22-5)
152lbs. – So. Mason Gourley (#3NW/#12PA) (26-4)
Potential Difference Makers (unranked): 139lbs. – Jr. Brendon Wright (11-14)
145lbs. – Fr. Jacob Henry (21-8)
215lbs. – Sr. Logan Edmonds (18-8)
Common Opponents: vs. Brockway
Brookville – WIN, 39-20 (Dec. 6)
Clarion – WIN, 42-23 (Jan. 26)
vs. Dubois
Brookville – WIN, 39-22 (Dec. 14)
Clearfield – WIN, 48-24 (Dec. 16)
Saint Marys – WIN, 33-27 (Dec. 20)
vs. Greenville
Brookville – WIN, 48-21 (Dec. 3)
Clarion – LOSS, 52-24 (Dec. 17)
vs. Curwensville
Clarion – LOSS, 36-27 (Dec. 17)
Brookville – WIN, 51-12 (Jan. 3)
vs. Kane
Clarion – WIN, 49-21 (Dec. 17)
Saint Marys – WIN, 48-18 (Jan. 31)
vs. Punxsutawney
Saint Marys – WIN, 45-30 (Dec. 8)
Clarion – WIN, 42-29 (Jan. 10)
Brookville – WIN, 50-18 (Jan. 17)
vs. Redbank Valley
Brookville – WIN, 58-9 (Dec. 22)
Clarion – LOSS, 39-30 (Jan. 31)
vs. Youngsville
Brookville – WIN, 66-6 on Dec. 3
Clarion – WIN, 52-24 on Dec. 17
