Bobcat Grapplers Place Fifth In Juniata Valley Tournament, Crown Four Champions
(Above image by Elizabeth Beal – Front row (L-R): Logan Powell (1st place 106) and Logan Edmonds (215). Absent from photo are Breckin Rex and Ashton Rex. Back row (L-R): Head Coach Lee Weber, Josh Beal (1st place 285), Mason Gourley (1st place, 138), Caleb Edmunds (1st place, 172), Assistant Coach Mike LeFay. Absent from photo are Breckin Rex and Ashton Rex.)
Clarion Area participated in the Juniata Valley Wrestling Invitational, on Saturday, February 5th, coming away with a 5th place finish, in the ten-team tournament.
Competing schools included: Clarion Area, host Juniata Valley, Cameron County, Columbia Montour Vo-Tech, Conemaugh Township Area, Greater Johnstown, James Buchanan, Moshannon Valley, Southern Huntingdon County and Sugar Valley Rural Charter School.
Seven Bobcats wrestled in the event, with four claiming championships, Logan Powell at 106-pounds, Mason Gourley at 138, Caleb Edmonds at 172 and Josh Beal at 285.
Powell (106) won four matches. He opened with a Fall at 2:43 and then recorded another Fall in 3:59. His third match ended in a 16-0 Technical Fall, in 3:50. He finished the day with a fall in forty seconds.
Gourley (138) had three matches. He won his quarterfinal with a Fall in 3:30. In the semis, Mason won by a 17-0 Technical Fall in 3:30. He won the 1st Place match with a fall in fifty seconds.
Caleb Edmonds (Clarion Area Hs) – DNP
Semifinals – Caleb Edmonds (Clarion Area Hs) over Cody Welliver (Columbia Montour Avts) (Dec 7-2)
Caleb Edmonds (172) had two matches and won both by decision. He won by a 7-2 score in the semifinals and followed that with a 6-5 decision in the 1st Place match.
Beal (285) also had two matches, winning his semifinal match by fall in 1:52 and following that with a fall at the one-minute mark, in the 1st Place match.
Breckin Rex (160) and Logan Edmonds (215) each recorded a win. Breckin Rex’s win was by fall at :37 in the quarterfinals. Logan Edmond’s win was also in the quarterfinals, at forty-eight seconds.
Ashton Rex (152) also competed for the Bobcats.
Team Standings (points in parentheses)
- Sugar Valley Rural Charter School (144.0); 2. Moshannon Valley (141.0); 3. Conemaugh Township (131.0); 4. Southern Huntingdon County (119.0); 5. Clarion Area (115.5); 6. Columbia Montour Vo-Tech (104.0); 7. Juniata Valley (86.0); 8. Greater Johnstown (60.0); 9. James Buchanan (54.0); 10. Cameron County (3).
Clarion Area Head Coach Lee Weber had this to say about his team’s performance, “Quality not quantity. Kids are wrestling with more confidence every week! Even the ones that didn’t place wrestled hard!
“Of seven wrestlers attending, four took first place. Logan Powell, Mason Gourley, and Josh Beal all Tech Falled or pinned their opponents through their Championship run! Caleb Edmonds’ were hard earned wins. He showed his mental toughness by grinding his opponents to the very last second to finish on top!
“Logan Edmonds, Breckin Rex, and Ashton Rex all had tough close losses!
“I am thrilled with our team’s fighting spirit!”
(Thanks to Elizabeth Beal for the team picture. Congratulations on a fine tournament, Bobcats!!!!)