CLARION, Pa.--- The Golden Eagle wrestling team finalized its starting lineup to kick off the 2023-24 season, as they hosted their annual Blue-Gold wrestle-offs. The Gold team defeated the Blue team by a score of 26-20 in an exciting set of matches, with six starting positions settled on Thursday night in Tippin Gym.
 
The Blue team earned more victories that had bonus points attached with a pin and two major decisions, but the difference was Gold's quantity of wins. The latter finished with eight bout victories, compared to Blue's five.

The first bonus point victory came in the second match of the night, as Joey Fischer won by tech fall over Clayton Bashor with a flurry of quick takedowns and turns, wrapping the match in the second period. In another exhibition, David McClelland defeated Easton Toth in the only fall of the night, putting Toth on his back just 1:55 into the first period.
 
As far as the wrestle-offs were concerned, Ethan Wiant locked up his spot at 197 pounds by defeating Brett Wittmann twice in as many matches. The two competitors were evenly-matched to the point that both matches extended past the given seven minutes and into overtime. In the first match, Wiant won by a score of 5-2 after he got a hard-fought takedown in sudden victory. The second match featured a Wiant takedown after a wild scramble in overtime, allowing him to win 4-1.
 
At 133 pounds, freshman Scott Johnson earned his spot in the lineup with a tightly contested 6-4 victory over Jack Martinec. Kyle Schickel maintained his hold on a spot at 149 pounds with a win over Brady Worthing, earning a quick opening takedown and eventually winning the match by an 8-1 score. In the deciding match at 157 pounds, Alejandro Herrera-Rondon locked in his spot with a 6-3 victory over John Altieri, showing his toughness in the top position with 2:34 in riding time.
 
Eli Brinsky earned a starting spot at 165 pounds with an overtime win over Wesley Barnes. In the extra frame, Barnes came in on a single-leg against Brinsky but the latter kept his balance, hopping on one foot before finding the perfect opportunity to make it a scramble situation and picking up the decisive takedown. 2023 NCAA qualifier John Worthing got his first taste of action for the season defeating Ayden Miller in the deciding wrestle-off at 174 pounds by a score of 11-4. Likewise, senior Cam Pine showed he was ready for the jump in weight class, locking in his spot at 184 by defeating freshman Adrian Gacek in a major decision.
 
197: Ethan Wiant (Gold) def. Brett Wittmann (Blue) SV-1 5-2
Exhibition: Joey Fischer (Gold) def. Clayton Bashor (Blue) TF 16-0 4:43
133: Scott Johnson (Gold) def. Jack Martinec (Blue) Dec. 6-4
149: Kyle Schickel (Blue) def. Brady Worthing (Gold) Dec. 4-1
Exhibition: David McClelland (Blue) def. Easton Toth (Gold) Fall 1:55
157: Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (Gold) def. John Altieri (Blue) Dec. 6-3
165: Eli Brinsky (Blue) def. Wesley Barnes (Gold) Dec. 5-2
Exhibition: Lavinsky Collins def. Trevor Elfvin Dec. 10-4
197: Ethan Wiant (Gold) def. Brett Wittmann (Blue) SV-1 4-1
Exhibition: Deegan Ross (Gold) def. Gavin Wilmoth (Blue) Dec. 5-1
174: John Worthing (Gold) def. Ayden Miller (Blue) Dec. 11-4
184: Cam Pine (Blue) def. Adrian Gacek (Gold) MD 11-2
Exhibition: Connor Jacobs (Blue) def. Patrick Cutchember (Gold)  MD 15-3