BROOKVILLE, N.Y. --- The Golden Eagle wrestling team closed out a long run of road matches to start the 2022-23 dual season, picking up two more wins on Saturday afternoon. Clarion routed VMI (34-4) and Long Island (33-6) to improve to 6-3 in dual matches this year, including three straight wins.
 
The wins cap a stretch where the squad grew quite accustomed to long bus rides, though now the tables will turn in that respect. Five of the next six Clarion dual matches will be held in Tippin Gym, starting with a Mid-American Conference (MAC) dual against George Mason on Friday, January 20, followed two days later with a home match against Lock Haven.
 
Recaps of the Golden Eagles' victories today are below:
 
Clarion 34, VMI 4
           
125 - Logan Mazzeo (Clarion) over Anthony Burke (VMI) (Dec 7-1)
133 - Koen Kish (Clarion) over Dyson Dunham (VMI) (Dec 4-1)
141 - Seth Koleno (Clarion) over Freddy Junko (VMI) (SV-1 5-3)
149 - Kyle Schickel (Clarion) over Noah Roulo (VMI) (MD 12-3)
157 - Josh Yost (VMI) over Trevor Elfvin (Clarion) (MD 12-4)
165 - Cam Pine (Clarion) over Braxton Lewis (VMI) (MD 17-3)
174 - John Worthing (Clarion) over Jon Hoover (VMI) (TF 18-2 7:00)
184 - Will Feldkamp (Clarion) over Zach Brown (VMI) (Fall 0:47)
197 - Ty Bagoly (Clarion) over Tyler Mousaw (VMI) (Dec 8-3)
285 - Austin Chapman (Clarion) over Josh Evans (VMI) (Dec 7-3)
 
Recap: The Golden Eagles won nine of the 10 bouts contested against the Keydets, starting with decisions from Logan Mazzeo and Koen Kish at 125 and 133 pounds respectively. Seth Koleno kept that momentum going in the 141-pound bout, finding a way to top Freddy Junko in sudden victory. The two were caught in a scramble 30 seconds into the overtime period, but Koleno managed to roll his way loose and brought Junko to his back for the decisive takedown.
 
The teams traded major decisions in the next two bouts, with Kyle Schickel increasing the lead to 13-0 after posting a 12-3 score on Noah Roulo. The Clarion points came fast and furious after the 157-pound bout, starting with Cam Pine's win over Braxton Lewis. Pine came away with a major decision after trying to cut Lewis loose to work for the technical fall, but John Worthing was able to turn the trick at 174 pounds, beating Jon Hoover by a 17-2 score. Will Feldkamp capped off the streak of bonus point wins, fighting off a front headlock from Zach Brown and turning it into a pin just 47 seconds into the bout.
 
Ty Bagoly and Austin Chapman wrapped up the win for the Golden Eagles, earning wins at 197 and 285 pounds. Bagoly built a lead with two takedowns in the first period and continued to tack on in his 8-3 decision, and Chapman ensured his win over Josh Evans with a last second takedown at 7-3.
 
Clarion 33, Long Island 6
 
125 - Robert Sagaris (LIU) over Logan Mazzeo (Clarion) (Dec 6-3)
133 - Kaelan Francois (LIU) over Koen Kish (Clarion) (SV-1 10-8)
141 - Seth Koleno (Clarion) over Devin Matthews (LIU) (Dec 5-4)
149 - Kyle Schickel (Clarion) over Drew Witham (LIU) (Dec 6-1)
157 - Trevor Elfvin (Clarion) over Rhise Royster (LIU) (Dec 9-5)
165 - Cam Pine (Clarion) over Blake Bahna (LIU) (Dec 11-5)
174 - John Worthing (Clarion) over Anthony Franden (LIU) (Fall 6:27)
184 - Will Feldkamp (Clarion) over Gavin Claro (LIU) (Fall 0:54)
197 - Ty Bagoly (Clarion) over Joseph LoPresti (LIU) (Fall 0:32)
285 - Austin Chapman (Clarion) over Aeden Begue (LIU) (Dec 5-3)
 
Recap: The Sharks struck first in this team match, winning by decisions in the first two weights and very nearly taking the third. Koleno avoided a loss to Devin Matthews with a gutsy finish late in the third period. The senior whittled down Matthews' riding time advantage that had been accrued through the match, and took him down to tie the score at 3-3. Matthews escaped with 30 seconds left to re-take the lead, and Koleno narrowly avoided a takedown by Matthews with 10 seconds left. On the reset, Koleno snagged Matthews' arm and pulled him down with only seconds remaining for a 5-4 decision.
 
As it turned out, that victory opened the floodgates for Clarion. The Golden Eagles won the remaining seven bouts on the match, giving them eight straight to wrap the dual. Schickel kept the streak going with a workmanlike 6-1 decision over Drew Witham, giving way to a spirited win by Trevor Elfvin at 157 pounds. Elfvin trailed by a 5-2 score heading into the third period, but cut that down to 5-3 after escaping from his starting defensive position. The bout turned with 30 seconds left, with Royster coming incredibly close to a takedown of Elfvin. Stuck on his backside and fighting to keep control, Elfvin muscled Royster with an underhook and flipped him to his back. What was a 5-3 deficit turned into a 9-5 win as Elfvin got the takedown and a four-point near fall.
 
Pine beat Blake Bahna by an 11-5 decision to give Clarion a 12-6 lead, and that led to three consecutive wins by fall for the Golden Eagles. Worthing pinned Anthony Franden late in the third period after building a 7-1 lead. He released Franden for an escape and then countered Franden's quick shot, catching him and bringing him to his back for the fall. Feldkamp made quick work of Gavin Claro, taking his opponent down just seconds into the bout and squeezing the life out of him before getting the fall. Closing out the trifecta was Bagoly, who came in on a double-leg on Joe LoPresti and quickly locked up the cradle.
 
Those pins put the result out of reach for the Sharks, but Chapman put the cherry on top with a 5-3 decision over Aeden Begue.