Bellefonte tops Bald Eagle in rivalry Match

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: December 20, 2019

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – A rivalry renewed!

The Bellefonte/Bald Eagle Area wrestlers renewed its rivalry Thursday at the Bald Eagle gym.

It lived up to the hype as it was standing room only to see these friendly foes battle for bragging rights.

Though the match was a close one, the Red Raiders were able to muscle out a 42-30 victory over the Eagles.

“Anytime you can walk out of this gym with a win it’s a good thing. Bald Eagle has a great history and a great program,” said Bellefonte coach Mike Maney. “Overall, I don’t think it was our greatest performance. We were sloppy in some places. We got out of position and that sort of cost us in some spots. I think sometime the emotion gets caught up in it too. We just got to work on something’s, fine tune. Overall, I’m happy with the teams efforts.”

The match started 182-pounds and Bellefonte right to work as Ethan Rossman pinned Bald Eagle’s Matt Knepp at 3:31.

The Red Raiders took care of the 195-pound weight class as Max Berrier held on for a close 3-2 decision over Chandler Burns.

Bellefonte’s Tyler Benner took the 200-pound weight match as he won by forfeit, building up a quick 15-0 run.

But the Eagles returned the favor, going on a run of their own.

“Overall, I thought we wrestled with a lot of heart and a lot of grit and that’s what we want from them. They wrestle to the final whistle,” said Bald Eagle coach Ron Guenot. “So as effort goes I’m pretty proud of how the guys wrestled. Yeah we came up a little bit short but the effort was there.”

Bald Eagle won its first match at 285pounds as David Close pinned the Red Raiders’ Tyler Putnam at :47, making it a 15-6 deficit.

106 – pounder Coen Bainey made it a 15-12 contest as the Eagle mat-man pinned Garrett Charles at 1:16.

Bald Eagle tied the match at the 113 – pounder Jeffre Pifer muscled out a 7-3 decision over Red Raider Aiden O’Shea.

120 – Lane Aikey (B) dec. Cooper Gilham, 6-2.

At 126, Bellefonte’s Aaron Little picked up an easy win via a forfeit.

Bellefonte jumped back into the lead at 132 pounds. Jude Swisher pinned Grace Stem with 21 ticks into the match.

138 – pounder Alex Coppolo pinned Zander Ballock (BEA), 4:44 to go ahead 36-15.

Veteran Eagle Gage McClenahan pinned in grand fashion against Eagle Brody Martin also at :21, making it 36-21.

At 152, Drew Koleno brought the Eagles even closer as he pinned Alec Bossert at 2.36.

160 – pounder Ethan Richner put the match on ice for the Red Raiders as he pinned Colton Comly At 1:22.

With nothing but pride on the line, Bald Eagles’ 170 – pounder Noah Foltz won a convincing decision Stephen Ivicic, 10-3.

Bellefonte 42, Bald Eagle Area 30