Wildcats Do Well At 1st Annual Dave Ciafre Elementary Wrestling Tournament in Sharon

Photo provided by Central Clarion Wildcat Wrestling – 1st Annual Dave Ciafre Tournament in Sharon – Front row L-R : Cooper Macormac, Nathaniel McDonnell, Mason Lewis. Middle row : Ben Naser, Mason Best-Whitmer. Back row : Owen Bohlander, Tate Allison, Mason Lewis.

The Central Clarion Wildcat Elementary Wrestlers had a strong outing at the 1st Annual Dave Ciafre Elementary Wrestling Tournament at Sharon High School on Saturday, February 10th.

The tournament is named after Coach Ciafre, who passed away, at 75, this past October. He was the head wrestling coach for the Tigers for thirty-one years, as well as a guidance counselor. He also was the wrestling coach for Riverview High School in Oakmont, for three seasons. Coach Ciafre was a member of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association (PWCA) Hall of Fame. He also was the Clarion University camp coach (1983-2016) and team camps coach (1999-2006) and the Clarion team camps administrator (2006-16).

The Wildcats had seven medalists.

Two Wildcats finished in second place, Cooper Macormic (80 pounds) and Owen Bohlander (190 pounds). Owen had recorded one win by pin and another by major decision.

Five Central Clarion wrestlers finished third. Taking Bronze were: Nate McDonnell (87 pounds), with one win via pin and two minor decisions; Mason Best-Whitmer (115 pounds), with a pin by fall, a technical fall and a major decision; Tate Allison (122 pounds), with two major decisions and a minor decision; Ben Naser (155) one win via minor decision; and Dylan Albertine (210) with three wins by fall.

Central Clarion Coach Mike LeFay had some nice words about his wrestlers, “I am incredibly proud of the Central Clarion Wildcats Junior High wrestling team’s display at the Sharon Tournament. Their tenacity, skill, and the camaraderie shared in every match fills me with a deep sense of joy and gratitude for this remarkable group of athletes.” 

(Good Work, Wildcats!!!!)