Former Wildcat And Clarion Area Wrestler Mason Gourley Medals At NCAA DIII Region I Wrestling Championships For U.S. Coast Guard Academy

on 28 March, 2026 at 07:33

Photos courtesy of the Gourleys

Mason Gourley, a standout wrestler for the Clarion Area Bobcats and Central Clarion Wildcats, under his coach and father Braun Gourley, medaled at the NCAA Division III Region I Championship Tournament, for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) Bears held on Friday, February 1st and Sunday, March 2nd.

The Bears hosted the tournament at their Dr. Halley Gregory Fieldhouse, on their campus in New London, Connecticut.

**Photo courtesy of the Gourleys – Mason with Mom – with Mom, Holly and Dad, Braun**

Mason, a Freshman Civil Engineering major took home the eighth place medal in the 174 pound division, helping the Bears to a third place finish out of a field of nineteen teams.

The Team Champion was Springfield College.

Mason finished the tournament with a 3-3 record.

He began with a bye in Championship Round 1.

Mason then won an 6-5 decision over Theo Sawyers of Worcester Polytechnic in Championship Round 2. He dropped a 7-3 decision to New England College’s Joseph Bolduc in their Quarterfinal match.

The loss sent Mason to Consolation Round 4, where he bounced back with an 8-3 decision over Akiva Lind from Wesleyan.

He then fell by pin to Springfield’s Jake Deguire in 4:42 of Consolation Round 5.

Mason’s Tournament concluded with a one-point loss to Max Bluhm from Western New England, in the seventh place match.

Mason’s season record was a very respectable 18-5, especially considering he is only a freshman, an achievement not lost on USCGA Head Coach Kevin Brantland, who completed his season at the helm.

**Photo courtesy of the USCGA – U.S. Coast Guard Head Wrestling Coach Kevin Bratland**

“Mason joined a nationally ranked wrestling team, and earned the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Region 1 tournament, the national qualifying tournament for the United States Coast Guard Academy.

“To do that as a freshman speaks to his work ethic and ability.

“Mason, is a tremendous competitor who sets a high standard for himself and that showed in his performance this season.

And looking ahead to Mason’s exciting future for the Bears.

“I am looking forward to coaching Mason the next three seasons and am excited about what he is going to accomplish.”

**Photo courtesy of the USCGA – Mason in action during the tournament**

Mason is very happy with his season.

“I feel that I exceeded my expectations this season as a freshman at the Coast Guard Academy. Coming into this year, I was unsure of how I would perform at the collegiate level. Guys were much older than me and that made me nervous but by the end of the year I had earned the starting spot and was representing the USCGA in the postseason.”

**Photo courtesy of the Gourleys – Ref raising Mason’s hand after a victory**

“Although I missed my goal of qualifying for nationals at the end of the season, overall I had more success than I expected coming into the year.”

Always working to improve.

“I was able to adjust to the physicality of college wrestling and make significant improvements in my techniques.”

And always seeking to hone his craft Mason shared, “This offseason I am going to focus on growing my strength and working on specific techniques to sharpen my skills for next year.”

(Congratulations to Mason, Holly, Braun, the Wildcats and Bobcats, and The United States Coast Guard Acacemy!!!!)