CLARION, Pa. --- It was a dual where the majority of the bouts were decided by slim margins, but the Golden Eagles wrestling team falling by a 32-7 score to Cal Baptist in Tippin Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Five of the 10 bouts on the mat went for bonus points, but the other five matches were as close as could be as the Golden Eagles and Lancers showcased some competitive, gritty wrestling. One such bout came at 197 pounds, where Ethan Wiant outlasted Eli Sheeren for a 2-1 decision that was less about style and more about strength. Neither wrestler scored in the first period and Wiant applied a tough ride to start the second period, holding Sheeren down for 1:28 to build up a riding time advantage.
 
That gave way to Wiant's choice to start the third period, and he elected to start in the defensive position to try and even up the match. He escaped Sheeren's ride after just 18 seconds, allowing him to maintain more than a minute of riding time while also tying the score. Wiant held off Sheeren for the remainder of the bout for the 2-1 decision.
 
Scott Johnson claimed the other victory of the day for Clarion, taking a major decision over Hunter Leaker in the 133-pound bout. It was another bout that started without any scoring in the first period, with Johnson getting a takedown late in the second period to take a 3-1 lead. The redshirt freshman led 4-1 after an escape to start the third period, and 40 seconds into the third period caught Leake to a tough position for a takedown and a four-point near fall. That gave Johnson an 11-1 advantage, and with the addition of the riding time point at the end he took home the major decision.
 
The Lancers were successful in the remainder of the matches on the mat, including wins by fall in the first and penultimate matches of the day. Drayden Morton earned a fall in the 165-pound bout and Paul Kelly in the 149-pound match as the Lancers built their advantage. John Worthing lost a tight contest at 174 pounds to Carter Schmidt, losing in a 5-4 decision, while Patrick Cutchember came up just short in a 10-7 decision loss to Nathan Haas. John Altieri competed well in the final match of the day but lost by 8-6 decision to Jeremy Ginter.
                 
Cal Baptist 32, Clarion 7
165 - Drayden Morton (California Baptist) over Wesley Barnes (Clarion) (Fall 1:30)
174 - Carter Schmidt (California Baptist) over John Worthing (Clarion) (Dec 5-4)
184 - Nathan Haas (California Baptist) over Patrick Cutchember (Clarion) (Dec 10-7)
197 - Ethan Wiant (Clarion) over Eli Sheeren (California Baptist) (Dec 2-1)
285 - Tristan Kemp (California Baptist) over Austin Chapman (Clarion) (MD 9-1)
125 - Mitchell Neiner (California Baptist) over Weston Pisarchick (Clarion) (Dec 7-3)
133 - Scott Johnson (Clarion) over Hunter Leake (California Baptist) (MD 12-2)
141 - Elijah Griffin (California Baptist) over Gianni Silvestri (Clarion) (MD 13-1)
149 - Paul Kelly (California Baptist) over Kyle Schickel (Clarion) (Fall 2:21)
157 - Jeremy Ginter (California Baptist) over John Altieri (Clarion) (Dec 8-6)