Bobcat Junior High Wrestlers Fare Well At State Tournament (03/02/15)

Four Clarion Area Junior High Wrestlers participated in the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling – Junior High State Championship Meet, which was held on Saturday (February 28th) and Sunday (March 1st), at the Hershey Park Arena.

The wrestlers qualified for the State Tournament, by virtue of finishing in the Top 3 of their respective weight classes at the Area V Tournament.

(Photo by Dave Smail) Bobcats who participated at States (L-R) Korbin Schill, Tom Wurster, Colt Stimmell and Seth Nellis

(Photo by Dave Smail) Bobcats who participated at States (L-R) Korbin Schill, Tom Wurster, Colt Stimmell and Seth Nellis

Competing for the Orange and Black, at States,were: Area V 187 pound Champion, Colt Stimmell, who finished in 8th place, at 187; Tom Wurster, who was the Area V 3rd Place winner at 252, who went 4-2 and finished in the top 12; Seth Nellis the Area V 3rd Place winner at 187 and Korbin Schill who finished 2nd, at 212, at the Area V Tournament.

Coach Lee Weber shared this summary of the his  wrestlers’ weekend:

Seth Nellis, with only 2 years of experience, went 0-2. He lost to the 2nd and 4th placers in the state at 167 lbs. Seth looked good on his feet in the first period against both opponents but since they are so much more experienced, they caught Seth in the middle of flurries for falls.

Korbin Schill, first year, went 0-2. Lost to the Area IV champion 5-3 and lost his next match in overtime. Korbin was leading all 3 periods until a locked hand penalty tied if up. Korbin lost it it in overtime by giving up the first takedown. Korbin competed with the best of them. He lost to the #2 place winner in the state by decision in overtime in our district final!

Tom Wurster, first year, went 4-2. He had 4 wins by 4 falls and only lost 2 matches by decisions. He lost to the 3rd placer in the state by 3-0 score and to the Area 2 champ 5-2. By going 4-2, Tom finished in the top 12 in the state!

Colt Stimmell, 3rd year wrestler, finished 8th in the state! He won his first 2 matches after a bye round to advance to the quarterfinals. He lost to the 6th place finisher in the quarters by fall to drop down to the consolations. He beat a tough Area 6 champ by 4-1 decision and then lost to last year’s state runner-up by score of 13-3. In the 7th place match, Colt go caught in the cement job and lost by fall to finish 8th.

These 4 young men, with their limited experiences, all went down to the State Tournament and competed well with seasoned wrestlers. They were able to put their fears aside and gave it all they got against 40 other wrestlers in their brackets! This tournament includes all schools from Erie to Philly (all AA and AAA schools). They will be a force to be reckon with at the varsity level the next 3 years!

(Thanks to Coach Weber for this summary. Congratulations to these young men on a fine season!!!!)

Area V, as a whole, had a good showing at States with 8 Place Winners:

Alec Bittner – St. Marys (112) 1st; Aiden Hulings – Kane (147)2nd; Steve McClure – Clearfield (212) 2nd; Edward Scott – Dubois (97) 4th; Tyler Dilley – St. Marys (102) 5th; Dalton Woodrow – Dubois (107) 7th; Colt Stimmell – Clarion (187) 8th; Zachery Holland – Curwensville (82) 8th.

Alex Chelton (87) from Oil City, wrestling out of AreaVI, finished 8th.