CLARION, Pa. -- The Golden Eagles wrestling team hosted American for their senior day and final dual meet of the season. The Golden Eagles unfortunately fell to American by a score of 26-10.

Before the action began the Golden Eagles honored the following 9 seniors: John Altieri, Patrick Cutchember, Ethan Finch, Joey Fischer, Chandler Ho, Jack Martinec, Stephen Martinec, John Meyers, Ethan Wiant.

In his final home dual for the Golden Eagles Joey Fischer took the mat for the Golden Eagles at 133 pounds in the 2nd match of the dual meet. After a scoreless first period, Fischer chose the down position after Colin Martin deferred his choice to the 3rd period. Half a minute into the second period, Fischer escaped from Martin to take a 1-0 lead. The score remained 1-0 heading into the final period where Martin chose the down position to start the period. Martin escaped quickly to tie the match up at 1. As the clock ticked down to the wire, Fischer scored a takedown in a scramble position with 30 seconds remaining grabbing a 4-1 lead. Martin escaped with 20 seconds left but was unable to score any points. Fischer earned the 4-2 decision victory and increased the Clarion lead to 6-0.

No. 33 Travis Clawson started the match for the Golden Eagles at 125 pounds. Clawson got the offense early and scored a takedown through a scramble position to make it 3-0 early in the 1st period. JJ Peace scored an escape with 45 seconds left, making it a 3-1 match where the score remained headed to the 2nd period. Clawson deferred his choice to the final period, and Peace chose the down position. Clawson managed to ride out Peace for the entire period, keeping his 3-1 lead heading into the final period. Clawson chose the down position to start the period, and Peace opted for an optional start and let Clawson up immediately, increasing his lead to 4-1. Clawson further increased his lead with 40 seconds left in the match with another takedown on a go-behind. Clawson finished the match on top, taking an 8-1 decision victory after a riding time point was added. Clarion took the early 3-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles lost the next 3 matches in the dual. Scott Johnson took the mat for the Golden Eagles at 141 pounds. He dropped his match to Raymond Lopez losing by a 17-5 major decision. At 149 pounds, Oliver Fairchild dropped a hard-fought 7-3 decision against American's Leo Maestas. Wesley Barnes was defeated at 157 pounds by Kaden Milheim in a 5-0 decision. American took the lead midway through the dual 10-6.

Alejandro Herrera-Rondon looked to swing the momentum back in the Golden Eagles favor at 165 pounds. After a scoreless 1st period, Herrera-Rondon chose the down position and earned a quick escape with a Granby roll to put himself in the lead, 1-0. Midway through the 2nd period, Herrera-Rondon finished a takedown on American's Gavin Cohen after a scramble position in a double leg. He climbed Cohen's back and was able to add two near-fall points to take a 6-0 lead. Herrera-Rondon added one more point just before the end of the period due to 2 stall calls on Cohen in the last 25 seconds of the period. He went into the final period with a 7-0 lead. Cohen chose neutral to begin the final period, needing two takedowns to take the lead. But it was again Herrera-Rondon back on the offense, securing another takedown to increase his lead to 10-0. A riding time point added at the end of the match secured an 11-0 major decision victory for Herrera-Rondon. The match was tied up at 10 heading into the 174-pound match.

The Golden Eagles lost the last 4 matches in the dual meet. At 174 pounds, Gabe Lilly secured a crucial late match takedown to keep it to just a decision defeat against Hunter Hohman 11-5. Giving American the 13-10 lead. Adrian Gacek faced No. 28 Caleb Campos at 184 pounds. Gacek fell to Campos via a 10-1 major decision victory. This further increased American's lead to 17-10. Ethan Wiant lost via a 7-0 decision against Caleb Close at 197 pounds. American's Emmanuel Ulrich won via forfeit at 285 pounds securing the 26-10 victory for the Eagles.

The Golden Eagles will compete next at the MAC Championships in Buffalo, New York, starting on March 6th.

American 26 | Clarion 10
125: No. 33 Travis Clawson (Clarion) def. JJ Peace (American) Dec. 8-1 | Clarion 3-0
133: Joey Fischer (Clarion) def. Colin Martin (American) Dec. 4-2 | Clarion 6-0
141: Raymond Lopez (American) def. Scott Johnson (Clarion) MD 17-5 | Clarion 6-4
149: Leo Maestas (American) def. Oliver Fairchild (Clarion) Dec. 7-3 | American 7-6
157: Kaden Milheim (American) def. Wesley Barnes (Clarion) Dec. 5-0 | American 10-6
165: Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (Clarion) def. Gavin Cohen (American) MD 11-0 | Tied 10-10
174: Hunter Hohman (American) def. Gabe Lilly (Clarion) Dec. 11-5 | American 13-10
184: No. 28 Caleb Campos (American) def. Adrian Gacek (Clarion) MD 10-1 | American 17-10
197: Caleb Close (American) def. Ethan Wiant (Clarion) Dec. 7-0 | American 20-10
285: Emmanuel Ulrich (American) def. Clarion by Forfeit | American 26-10