Key pin sparks Clearfield past WPIAL runner-up Burgettstown in PIAA wrestling 1st round

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 9:09 PM

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HERSHEY — District 9 champion Clearfield (16-1) used six pins and a forfeit to defeat WPIAL runner-up Burgettstown, 42-27, during the first round of the PIAA Class 2A team championship Thurday at the Giant Center.

Burgettstown (15-2) got pins from heavyweight Joey Baronick and Darius Simmons (107). It also got a technical fall from Gaven Suica (139) and wins by Dylan Slovick (127), Parker Sentipal (133) and Rudy Brown (160).

Burgettstown reached the semifinals in 2023.

Turning point: Burgettstown was leading 27-24 when Eric Kovach got headlocked and pinned by Clearfield’s Carter Freeland at 172. The bout was tied 2-2 when Freeland hit the winner.

Coach’s thoughts: “We gave up too many pins and didn’t get bonus points when we needed,” Burgettstown coach Joey Vigliotti said. “Up here, bonus points are king and they got them and we didn’t. You can’t get pinned with two seconds left.”

Up next: Burgettstown will face Montoursville, which lost to Bishop McDevitt, 41-25.

CLEARFIELD 42, BURGETTSTOWN 27

285: Joey Baronick (B) p. Nick Bailor, 1:26.

107: Darius Simmons (B) p. Xavier Lutz, 2:53.

114: Dakota Shugarts (C) p. Noah Leininger, :48.

121: Cash Duehl (C) p. Daniel Smith, 5:58.

127: Dylan Slovicl (B) d. Bryndin Chamberlain, 7-4.

133: Parker Sentipal (B) major Colton Ryan, 8-0.

139: Gavin Suica (B) t.f. Colton Bumbarger, 21-5 (4:21).

145: Ty Aveni (C) p. Logan Noyes, 1:57.

152: Brady Collins (C) p. Jason Murray, :34.

160: Rudy Brown (B) d. Will Domico, 7-4.

172: Carter Freeland (C) p. Eric Kovach, 5:40.

189: Hunter Ressler (C) p. Aiden States, 2:49.

215: Carter Chamberlain (C) won by forfeit.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Burgettstown