In the team’s first dual match of 2017, Bradford High head coach Jamey Miller is happy with his team’s improvement.
Despite the upward trend, the Owls dropped a 62-13 decision to visiting Coudersport in Allegheny Mountain Wrestling League action Thursday night.
“Every last one of them showed some improvement,” Miller said. “Our experienced guys continue to step up every time they step out on the mat.”
Coudersport won six of the nine matches wrestled and also took five forfeits.
“Even our inexperienced guys up on top wrestled hard,” Miller said. “Overall, I really can’t complain about it. We just have to get some more experience. With the injuries that we’ve got and the injuries that we’ve had, overall I’m pleased. The score doesn’t reflect what happened tonight.”
Bradford drops to 1-2 in league action, while the Falcons are a perfect 3-0.
Coudersport head coach John Bishel was pleased for his team to just get back on the mat after a lengthy winter break, as the Falcons hadn’t wrestled since before Christmas and didn’t compete in a holiday tournament.
“It seemed like we haven’t wrestled in forever, since right before the Christmas break,” Bishel said. “It was nice to get a little bit of the rust off before duals tournament on Saturday.”
The match of the night may have been at 126 pounds, with Bradford’s Colby Keane taking down Trevor Olney, 4-3, in a hard-fought fight. Keane came out and scored two quick points then opened the third period with a takedown, before holding on for the win.
“The match of the night,” Bishel said, “which we were hoping to see, was between Colby and Trevor. I’m a little disappointed with that outcome. I tip my hat to Colby.”
Another close match came at 152 pounds, as Coudersport’s David Kudrick came out on top against Bradford’s Derek Sunafrank by a 3-2 margin.
Despite the loss, Miller felt Sunafrank wrestled well and had a chance to win at the end, but time ran out.
“Derek Sunafrank wrestling as well as he did against Kudrick,” Miller said, “and almost pulling it out…he was within half a second of popping that head, but time ran out, which would have made it a win for him.”
Bradford won two other matches – both by technical falls – at 132 pounds, with Tyler Thompson’s 15-0 win over Thomas Wilson and Jaron Ambrose’s 17-0 win against Chase Fuller at 145 pounds to start the night.
Coudersport’s Dustin Kudrick, Isaac Wright and Corey Thompson all won by pin. Gage Arnold took down Bradford’s Colton Fuller by technical fall.
Bradford heads to Smethport on Tuesday, while Coudersport hosts its duals Saturday.
For Miller, by this point in the season the goal is to stay healthy and get his wrestlers as ready for the postseason as possible.
“Everything is about getting as tough a match for everybody as we can get and get ready for the postseason,” Miller said, “and hopefully come to districts and they’re ready for it.”
COUDERSPORT 62, BRADFORD 13
106 – Chris Davis (C) won by forfeit
113 – Donovan Olney (C) won by forfeit
120 – Brynen Kisiel (C) won by forfeit
126 – Colby Keane (B) decisioned Trevor Olney, 4-3
132 – Tyler Thompson (B) technical pinned Thomas Wilson, 15-0
138 – Dustin Kudrick (C) pinned Kyle Hartman, 5:49
145 – Jaron Ambrose (B) technical pinned Chase Fuller, 17-0
152 – David Kudrick (C) decisioned Derek Sunafrank, 3-2
160 – Gage Arnold (C) technical pinned Colton Fuller, 19-2
170 – Isaac Wright (C) pinned Chance McGuire, 3:17
182 – Elijah Ayers (C) pinned Hunter Gray, 1:19
195 – Troy McKeone (C) won by forfeit
220 – Corey Thompson (C) pinned Austin McCracken, 1:58
HWT – Jeffrey Gunn (C) won by forfeit
