Bobcats Host Annual Junior High Wrestling Tournament (12/21/15)

The 2015 Clarion Area Junior High Wrestling Tournament was held on Saturday (December 12th).

(Photo provided by Clarion Junior High Wrestling) L-R Justin Goodman 2nd, Ben Smith 1st, Matt Coleman 3rd, Ayden Wiles 4th

Around two hundred wrestlers from eighteen teams participated in this year’s event. The teams competing included: Clarion, Brockway, Coudersport, Cranberry, Curwensville, Johnsonburg, Kane, Port Allegany, Punxsutawney, Ridgway, St. Marys, Corry, Ellwood City, Marion Center, North Star, Riverside, Smethport, Oswayo Valley.

The Bobcats had 24 points to finish in sixth place. St. Marys won the championship with 41 points. Brockway was the runner-up with 39 points, followed by North Star with 36 points, Curwensville with 33 points, Port Allegany with 28 points and Clarion.

The Bobcats had four place winners. Ben Smith finished in first place, Justin Goodman took second, Matt Coleman got a third and Ayden Wiles brought home a fourth.

Clarion had six other wrestlers participate. Riley Slagle finished at 2-2. Cole Stutzman was 1-2. Wyatt Stimmell, Jeremiah Hartzell, Jordan Pezzuti and Curtis Shipley finished 1-3.

Coach Lee Weber had this to say, “Great effort by all! The medalists wrestled well against tough competition. Ben beat a kid he has not beaten in a while. Justin Goodman lost a close match to one of the best kids in the tournament. Coleman wrestled great for his very first match and tournament! Ayden Wiles continue to impress in a tough weight class.

“Thank you to Coach Reinsel and Everett for helping out coaching and Coach Bailey, Rapp, Smail and many other parents that made our tournament successful!”

(Thanks to Coach Weber for this article. GOOD JOB, BOBCATS!!!!)