Five Bobcat Wrestlers Have Winning Records At Fred Bell Tournament, Wurster Finishes Third (02/01/2018)

(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub) Last weekend (Jan. 26 & 27) the Clarion Bobcat wrestling team was one of thirty-eight squads from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and the District of Columbia making the trip to Grove City to compete in the 35th Annual Fred Bell Memorial Tournament. As Bobcat head coach Brian Luton noted, “Fred Bell is a tough tournament and to do well there you have to execute the fundamentals every match.”

Clarion senior Tom Wurster (5-1) proved to be the most successful wrestler for the Bobcats, finishing third. Wurster pinned his way to the semifinals, sticking in succession Joe Jacobson of Titusville (0:31), Brennan Tracy of Meadville (0:31), and Slade Sherman of Sharpsville (1:29). In the semifinals, Wurster, ranked #21 in the state, met Lakeview senior Tyler Zebrovious, the state’s 10th ranked 220-pounder. A 3-1 loss to Zebrovious, the eventual second place finisher, relegated Wurster to the consolation semifinal, where he pinned Tyler Hedderick of Union City in the second period (3:39). In the consolation finals Wurster took a 2-0 decision over Penns Valley’s Dillion Covalt, ranked 24th in Pennsylvania, to attain the podium’s third step.

Coach Luton described Wurster’s tournament as “solid”. “Tom is placing more expectations on himself and I think that was obvious this weekend. If he is able to develop a little more offense he will be a force in the postseason,” said Luton.

Clarion freshman Cutter Boggess and sophomore Ben Smith both went 4-2 for the event.

Boggess, the Bobcats’ 138-pounder, started his tournament with an 11-1 major decision over Adam Straw of Curwensville. With the win, Boggess found himself against Matt Ferraro of Cardinal Weurl North Catholic, a 2017 regional qualifier. Ferraro took an 8-2 decision, sending Boggess to the consolation side of the bracket. Boggess opened the consolations with a quick pin of Union City’s Shad Haskins (0:14), following it with a 9-1 major decision against Beaver’s Luigi Pallani and a 7-1 victory over Zach Hannon of Byron-Bergen (NY). Boggess’s tournament would come to an end in the consolation quarterfinals when he fell 4-0 to the 9th ranked 138-pounder in the Northwest Region, Brad Filer of Mercer.

Smith competed in the 195-pound weight class, opening with a 12-8 decision over Kevin Evans of Sharpsville before falling 3-2 in a tightly contested bout against Mercer’s Mason Hesselgesser. Smith reeled off three consecutive falls in the consolations, pinning Youngsville’s Jake DiSimone early in the second period (2:06) and sticking both Christian Alcorn of Franklin (1:54) and Seth Duderich of Glendale (1:41) in the first. Like Boggess, Smith’s tournament concluded in the consolation quarterfinals when he dropped an 8-1 decision to Lakeview’s Sawyer Daugherty.

Login Dehner, competing in the 113-pound weight class, and Ryley McMasters, wrestling at 152-pounds, both posted 3-2 records.

Dehner, ranked 10th in the Northwest Region, scored an 11-2 major decision against Nate Digello in the first round. His second round opponent was from just down the road in New Bethlehem, Redbank Valley’s Mason Songer, a regional qualifier last year. Songer pinned Dehner in second period (2:30). In the consolations, Dehner pinned Jeremy Lopez of Northwestern in the second period (2:54) and then received a forfeit from his next opponent, Dominick Reagan of Beaver. Dehner was eliminated from podium contention when Franklin’s Matt Vincent beat him 10-7.

McMasters won his first round bout by pinning Tanner Dobbins of Hopewell (2:21), but then fell 3-1 to McGuffy’s Ethan Barr in the second. Once on the consolation side of the bracket McMasters took a 6-2 decision from Jared Fregoe of Byron-Bergen and pinned Curwensville’s Cole Bressler in the second period (4:41) before losing to eventual third place finisher Luciano DeRose of Titusville by pin fall (2:10).

Two Bobcat wrestlers recorded 2-2 records, Nick Porciello and Camden Boggess.

Porciello won his opening bout in the 160-pound weight class, decisioning Zach Corp of McDowell 5-2. He wasn’t so fortunate in his second round match-up, however, falling by a 9-0 major decision to South Side’s Garrett Boone, who would go in to finish fifth. Porciello was 1-1 in the consolation rounds, opening with a 5-2 decision Chase Middleton of Titusville before being eliminated by Madison’ (OH) Brody Arrundale, the event’s sixth place finisher, via a 3-1 decision. Coach Luton praised Porciello for wrestling a gritty tournament, noting both his losses were to place winners.

The older Boggess brother, the Bobcat’s 160-pounder, pinned his way to the quarterfinals, dropping both Jaden Grubbs of Cambridge Springs and Austin Conn of Jamestown in the first period (1:48 and 1:01, respectively). In the quarterfinals Boggess found himself facing Port Allgheney’s Jacob Kallenborn, a state qualifier in 2017 and currently ranked #10 in Pennsylvania. Kallenborn, the eventual winner of the weight class, took an 18-3 major decision over Boggess. Boggess’s tournament ended in his first consolation bout when he was pinned in the first period (4:41) by Liam Stevenson of Warren. Coach Luton was pleased with the performance of both Boggess brothers, adding that both are improving rapidly.

Also competing for the Bobcats were Colton Zacherl at 132-pounds and Matt Coleman at 285-pounds.

Coach Luton was pleased with the Bobcats’ performance, but not satisfied. “Our confidence is growing and we hope to carry that attitude into the post season,” said Luton.

The District 9 Kane Wolves took the team title followed by McGuffey in second and Union City in third. District 9 wrestlers taking home individual championships were Kane’s Alec English (152-pounds) and Port Allegheny’s Jacob Kallenborn (170-pounds). Other District 9 schools competing were Cranberry and Curwensville.

(* all rankings from papowerwrestling.com – 01/24/2018)