Clarion Bobcat Mason Gourley Has A Great Tournament For National Champion Team Pennsylvania At 2023 US Marine Corps USAW 16U Junior National Wrestling Championships

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Clarion Bobcat Mason Gourley had an outstanding Tournament for Team Pennsylvania, which won the National Title for the fifth year in a row, at the 2023 US Marine Corps USA Wrestling Junior and 16U National Wrestling Championships, which were held along with the USMC Junior Championships, from Saturday, July 15th to Saturday, July 22nd at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University in Fargo.

Mason, the son of Braun and Holly Gourley, was also a member of Team Pennsylvania at last year’s nationals. He qualified for the 2023 Team Pennsylvania by finishing fifth at the Northeast Regional Tournament in May at Atlantic City. He also qualified by finishing third at the PA State Freestyle tournament in May, at Reading.

The combined USMC Junior and 16U Nationals, is recognized as the largest wrestling tournament in the world, with this year’s event seeing a record 7,134 entrees.

There were six different tournaments contested: USMC 16U Women’s Freestyle Nationals; USMC 16U Men’s Freestyle Nationals; USMC 16U Greco-Roman Nationals; USMC Junior Women’s Freestyle Nationals; USMC Junior Men’s Freestyle Nationals; USMC Junior Greco-Roman Nationals.

Mason, who will be a junior, this coming school year, wrestled at 170 in the 16U (Cadet) Division, which included 128 wrestlers. The division competed on Monday, July 17 and Tuesday, July 18th.

He finished 4-2, which placed him in the Top 16.

Mason opened with an 11-9 win over Xavier Smith, the State champ from Indiana. From there, he faced Dominic Dotson, the California State Champion, falling by an 8-5 score.

Mason came back with a 12-0 technical fall win over Garrett Lees from the state of Washington.

He followed that win by downing Tad Forsyth from Kansas 6-5 win, with a fantastic comeback as he was trailing 5-0, with less than a minute to go.

In his fifth match, Mason defeated Bodie Adams from Oklahoma 16-11. He fell 15-5 to Luke Hoag from Minnesota, in his final match. Hoag eventually placed 8th.

Fargo is the toughest tournament in the country for freestyle wrestling with wrestlers from every state except Mississippi, which just started varsity wrestling two years ago, competing.

Mason had this to say about his experience in this prestigious National Championship, “Fargo was a great experience wrestling with the best competition in the nation.  I hope to carry this success over into my junior season.” 

Congratulations on this great accomplishment, Mason!!!! You make us Clarion Proud!!!!