HYDE, Pa. (D9Sports) — While no Clarion County wrestlers won District 9 gold at Saturday’s District 9 Class 2A Championships at Clearfield Area High School, nine of them will compete in next weekend’s Northwest Regional Tournament in Sharon.
The Redbank Valley Bulldogs led the way with six regional qualifiers while Clarion had two and Keystone, one.
For the Bulldogs, their place winners included Trenten Rupp, third at 106, Mason Songer, fourth at 113, Brayden Altobelli, fourth at 120, Hunter Martz, second at 126, Logan Minich, second at 195, and Aiden Gardner, fourth at 220.
The Clarion Bobcats had two, including Tom Wurster, second at 220 pounds, and Ryley McMasters, third at 152.
Keystone’s Tyler VanTassel rounded out the group, placing third at 195.
Brookville won another Class 2A title Saturday as the Raiders crowned five individual champions and had five other place winners to easily roll to the title with 215.5 team points.
Brookville also saw another Raider be named the Outstanding Wrestler as senior Caleb Hetrick received the honor while claiming his second district title and running his record to 30-5.
Head coach Dave Klepfer was named the Coach of the Year.
Brookville’s champions included Kai Sorbin at 126 pounds, Hetrick at 145, Xavier Molnar at 195 pounds, Tyler Cook at 220 and Colby Whitehill at 285.
For Molnar, he won four matches, all by pin, to improve to 30-7. The title was Molnar’s third district crown.
Sorbin rolled into the finals, too, with two pins and a technical fall. In the title match, he scored an 8-2 win.
Cook picked up his second D-9 title when he beat Clarion’s Tom Wurster, 7-1.
At 285 pounds, sophomore Colby Whitehill pinned his way to the finals where he beat Curwensville senior Steve McClure, 6-2, in overtime.
The Raiders had five others qualify for regionals. They included Cabe Park, second at 120, Dontae Constable, second at 138, Cole LaBenne, fourth at 160, Braden MacBeth, fourth at 170, and Elliot Park, third at 182.
The Brockway Rovers had three champions and a total of five regional qualifiers as they finished second with 124 points.
Sophomore 120-pounder Anthony Glasl won his second straight D-9 title and improved to 31-3.
The Rovers also had a pleasant surprise at 170 pounds as sophomore Eric Johnson stood atop the medal stand for the first time. Johnson was 24-10 entering the weekend and was seeded third.
But he knocked off the No. 1 seed and defending champion Isaac Wright, of Coudersport, 8-2, to claim the crown.
At 182 pounds, the Rovers won again as junior Garrett McClintick beat Coudersport’s Elijah Ayers, 5-2.
Brockway’s other regional qualifiers included Tino Inzana, who placed fourth at 138, and Hayden Thompson, who placed third at 285.
The Ridgway Elkers had two champs and a total of five regional qualifiers.
Senior Bryce Barclay won his second D9 title at 132 pounds. Senior Lukas McClain followed with another title at 138 pounds to improve to 30-4.
Logen McClain placed third at 145 pounds, Kyle Bush was third at 120, and Damon Kelley, third at 170.
Port Allegany had one champion as Jake Kallenborn won his second D9 title to improve to 33-1.
The Gators also had four others qualify for regionals in Isaiah Caden, fourth at 106, Reese Vollmer, second at 113, Issac Smoker, fourth at 145, and Justin Young, fourth at 182.
Kane had one champion with Alec English at 152 pounds. The Wolves also had three other place winners, including Noah Blankenship, third at 132, Aiden Hulings, third at 160 and Ty Stahli, fourth at 195.
Curwensville had a champion in 113-pounder Blake Passarelli and two other regional qualifiers in Zach Holland (132-fourth) and Steve McClure (285-second).
Smethport had one champ — Bryent Johnson at 106 pounds and another place winner in Braedon Johnson, third at 126.
Here’s a listing — by team — of each school’s regional qualifiers:
Johnsonburg: Cole Norlin, second at 106, Dalton Stahli, fourth at 126, and Jake Zimmerman, fourth at 152.
Coudersport: David Kudrick, third at 138, Julian Smith, second at 160, Isaac Wright, second at 170, and Elijah Ayers, second at 182.
Bradford: Tyler Thompson, second at 132, Dillon Keane, second at 145, Colby Keane, second at 152, and Nate Gehm, third at 220.
Oswayo Valley: Dylan Pesock, third at 112.
Cameron County: Nate Palumbo, fourth at 285.
The regional qualifiers will compete March 2-3 at Sharon High School.
