Against the Odds
Bison Wrestlers Earn Trip to Hershey

Jessica Shirey, Team Reporter
February 4, 2009

CLARION - Sometimes magic happens but is more likely to do so when mixed with determination, guts and blind faith. Although his team had doubters, head coach Jeff Aveni told the Bison wrestlers that if they believed in themselves, they would top Hempfield (23-2) in the opening round of the PIAA Team Dual Championships on Tuesday night.

"These kids have been knocked down and knocked down (and told) 'you can't do it'. Before the match, I told them that if there is anyone here who believes in them, it's me. And, if you believe in yourself, you'll come out of here winners," he said.

Because his wrestlers came through for him, Aveni was able to strategize and forfeit the final two bouts, setting up Clearfield for the 34-33 win by the eighth criteria - most takedowns (10-8).

"They all did it. Top to bottom, every kid did what he needed to do," he said, noting his team got its first state duals tournament win the hard way.

"I'll tell you what, we beat a darn good team. That's a very good team who in my opinion is the second best team in the WPIAL. Because of the bracketing, they ended up taking third."

The dual meet got under way at 215 pounds. Clearfield's Andre Buck put his team on the board first, using two takedowns and an escape for the 5-0 decision over Marco Andreuzzi.

"I thought that we could have had bonus points there. But we came back and got them (in the next three bouts)," Aveni said.

Bison Sean Owen didn't waste any time in his heavyweight match with Doug Knight.

He took down Knight who rolled for an escape, bringing the Hempfield fans alive.

With the fans chanting "Doug," the returning state champion silenced the crowd with a fall in 58 seconds.

The next two bouts , Shane Peters and Kodie Lowder would come up big for their teammates in toss-ups, as the two scored a pair of falls at 103 and 112 pounds, respectively. The duo extended the Bison favor to 21-0.

Peters took down Hempfield's Vinnie Vitolo and cradled him for the pin at the 1:26 mark. Lowder, however, gave up the initial two but quickly reversed Paul Bewak to his back. The end came in 54 seconds.

The change in atmosphere was palpable...suddenly belief was contagious, spreading from the coach and his team to the Clearfield fans. "Hey, we might have a chance to win this thing".

"Those were two toss-ups, and we got falls. That put us in the driver's seat for the rest of the match. It gave us the opportunity to move around for more wins and really put us in position to win the match," Aveni said.

At 119, senior Andrew Spicer posted a takedown in the first. But Hempfield's Jake Vitolo would score a reversal in the third to even the bout at two. The Bison escaped for the 3-2 decision.

After losing the first five, the Spartans finally snuck onto the scoreboard in the next bout.

Bison Andrew Hill surrendered the initial takedown to Garrett Swarm. He later escaped and attempted one his own, but time ran out in the first.

Swarm added and escape and takedown before going with the optional start in the final stanza. Hill, however, wouldn't give up bonus and kept the Spartan win to a 5-2 regular decision.

"Andrew Hill goes out and wrestles tough against a good kid. Max VonGunden went out there and was wrestling tough against a good kid. All through the line-up, the kids did a great job," Aveni said.

While the team gave up a fall at 130, Clearfield's Holden Lowe got those six back.

Lowe used a takedown, reversal and three backs for a 7-0 advantage over Jason Howard.

Starting neutral in the third, the senior took down Howard and turned him for the fall in 4:27.

Aveni said that Lowe isn't a "big pinner" but he told him to be patient and wait for the opportunity to do so.

"And, I'll tell you what he squeezed it for all that it was worth," he said.

With his team up 30-9, Bison Shane Harper came out aggressively in his 135-pound bout with Casey Cameron. But the two went scoreless in the first period.

In the second, Cameron notched an escape, takedown and two near fall.

Harper reversed the Spartan who then slipped his grasp to set the 6-2 final.

At 152, Derek Danver went to work to help his team secure the win. He immediately took down Domenic Testa and had him on his back for long seconds before the takedown points were thrown. No near fall points were awarded.

Up 3-0, he returned the Spartan to his back for two before being reversed. He escaped for the 6-2 win.

Bison Shawn Hall came out on the losing end of a 3-0 decision to Craig Chelednik, who currently tops District 7 and is ninth in the PA Power Rankings.

Chelednik posted a second period takedown and added an escape in the third. Hall was unable to convert on a pair of cement mixer attempts at the end of the final period.

"It was a great win for Derek (at 152 pounds). Shawn still needs to get that edge on the bottom. He just doesn't have that edge yet. When he does, he'll beat kids like that," Aveni said.

Aveni, who had his scorekeeper keep close tabs on the criteria, knew he was unable to surrender any more near fall points. And so, he watched Jake Kemerer (171) and Dante Nania (189) get their hands raised, as his strategy played out.

"Right now, it's all about advancing. If you're going all in, you better have one heck of a hand," he said.

Clearfield returns to action against Blue Mountain on Friday at the PIAA Team Dual Championships in Hershey.

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