Jake Henry Finishes First, Grayson Aaron Finishes Second For Wildcats In District Nine Class AA Wrestling Championships
Photo courtesy of Ashley Gunter – Grayson Aaron an Jake Henry all smiles, while displaying their medals
Jake Henry won the 189 pound championship and Grayson Aaron took second at 133, For the Central Clarion Wildcats in the District Nine Class AA Wrestling Championships held Friday, February 20th and Saturday, February 21st, at PennWest Clarion’s Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium.
With their successful meet they both advance to the Northwest Regional Championships, to be held on Friday, February 27th and Saturday, February 29th at Sharon High School.
The Wildcats finished tenth in the team standings. Clearfield won the team title.
Jake began by pinning Oswayo Valley’s Lucas Fleischman in 0:54, in the Championship Quarterfinals. His next match came in the Championship Semis, where he pinned Marcus Gerg, from Ridgway, in 3:13.
Jake won the Championship Match with a 6-2 decision over Xavier Stockman from Johnsonburg.
Grayson also started the tournament in the Championship Quarters, where he pinned Curwensville’s Dean Swatsworth Jr. in 0:57.
Next it was the Championship Semifinals, where Grayson recorded a 7-2 decision over Ian Fitzsimmons from Port Allegany.
His weekend ended with a 4-0 loss to Brydin Chamberlain from Clearfield in the Championship Match.
Mason Best-Whitmer just missed a trip to regionals, finishing fifth at 145. He fell lost by fall to Brandon Furgeson, from Port Allegany in 2:49 in the Championship Quarterfinals.
Mason came back in Consolation Round 2 by pinning Curwensville’s Thomas Norris in 1:44.
He had another win by fall, In Consolation Round 3 downing Marcus Aiello from Ridgway in 4:09.
He lost by injury default in 1:44, to Redbank Valley’s Tristan Johnston in the Consolation Semis, but won the Fifth Place Match, with a pin over Alex Fiero from Johnsonburg in 4:34.
Marlon Lewis lost his 215 pound Championship Quarterfinal match in a close 12-10 decision, to Caleb Hendershot from Ridgway.
In Consolation Round 3, he pinned Oswayo Valley’s Simon Dickerson in twenty-seven seconds, but fell in a close 4-2 decision to Clearfield’s Ryan Ludwig in the Consolation Semifinals. He was pinned by Jaydon Overly of St. Mary’s, in 1:58 of their Fifth place Match.
Two other Wildcats, Dylan Albertine and Tate Allison won matches for the Wildcats.
Dylan, wrestling at 285, opened with a 4-1 decision over Luke Erickson of Bradford in Championship Round 1. He fell in the Championship Quarterfinals, by fall in 2:40, to Clearfield’s Matthew Peace.
Dylan pinned Logan Hake, from Ridgway in 1:51 of their Consolation Round 2 bout. He lost by a pin to Brookville’s Bobby Hack in 2:54 of their Consolation Round 3 match.
Tate downed Lane West from Oswayo Valley in an 18-2 technical fall over Lane West of Oswayo Valley in 3:47 in their Championship Round 1 match. He lost by pin to Brookville’s Kahle Larson in 1:39 in the Championship Quarterfinals.
Tate came back to pin Kegan McMonigle of Curwensville in 2:43 in their Consolation Round 2 bout, but fell in in a 10-2 major decision in Consolation Round 3 to St. Mary’s Jack Neil.
Wildcat Head Coach Braun Gourley had this to say, “Overall we performed as a team as expected.
“Jake secured his first district title by beating a quality opponent three times in the same season. That is never an easy task.
“Grayson wrestled very well in the finals but dropped a 4-0 decision to a returning district champ.
“We had some younger wrestlers perform well and they were a few points away from qualifying for regionals. Marlon Lewis and Mason Best each dropped close matches in the consi semis.
“A win there would have extended their season another week.”
(Congratulations to Jake and Grayson!!!! Have a great regional tournament!!!! And congratulations to the others who posted wins!!!!)
LINK TO WILDCAT WRESTERS RESULTS
https://www.pa-wrestling.com/hs/teams/centralclarion/tournament_stats.htm?id=7306
LINK TO COMPLETE TOURNAMENT RESULTS