1986 – national champs cutline -
Photo cutline below - Kneeling L-R, Tim Wescoat, Ken Haselrig, Randy Richard. Standing L-R, Bob Bubb, Scott Hall, Garry Barton, Les Bressler, Gary Horner.
1986 TEAM & NATIONAL CHAMPS HONORED/EAGLES LOSE 45-0 TO #7 OKLAHOMA STATE
CLARION, PA: Clarion senior captain
Tyler Bedelyon (Lewistown) and freshman Austin Matthews (Greenville/Reynolds) had early leads and wrestled well, but the powerful 7th ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys won all ten matches and defeated Clarion 45-0 on Saturday afternoon
in NCAA Division I Wrestling.
Held at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium, the enthusiastic Golden Eagle crowd of just over 1,500 cheered as members of the undefeated (17-0-1) and NCAA D-I third ranked 1986 Golden
Eagle team, as well as Clarion’s first national champion Les Bressler (1970 – NAIA) and first NCAA Champion (1972)
Garry Barton, plus Hall of Fame coach Bob Bubb introduced in pre-match ceremonies.
Clarion’s record dropped to 9-14 and Oklahoma State raised its record to 9-4.
Clarion opened the dual with
Hunter Jones losing a very competitive 13-5 major decision to #12 ranked Eddie Climara at 125.
Sam Sherlock lost an 18-3 technical fall at 133, then captain Tyler Bedelyon stepped in and brought te Golden Eagle crowd to its feet.
Bedelyon scored a takedown, cradled #19 ranked Collica and put the Cowboy to his back for an opening four-point move and a 4-0 lead. Collica escaped, but Bedelyon scored his second takedown and led 6-1. Collica reversed back in the final seconds of the
first to pull within 6-3. Collica reversed Bedelyon and scored a three-point near fall for an 8-6 lead, but Bedelyon reversed back in the final seconds of the second to tie the match 8-8. A takedown with about 50-seconds left in the third gave Collica a 10-8
lead, but Bedelyon scored a late reversal to tie the score at 10-10. Collica escaped and had 2:30 of riding time to win 12-10.
After
Justin Arthur lost 14-5 to Josh Kindig at 149, freshman Austin Matthews came out strong against #2 ranked Alex Dieringer at 157. Matthews scored a counter takedown to led 2-0 early in the first, but Dieringer escaped to make it 2-1 Matthews.
Dieringer scored two takedowns and a Matthews escape showed Dieringer leading 5-3 after one period. Dieringer escaped in the second and Matthews and escape to open the third had the score at 6-4 late in the third. Matthews tried for a takedown but gave up
a takedown and back points to lose 1-4 – but the score was closer than it looked against the #2 ranked wrestler in the nation at 157.
The Cowboys scored three falls and a technical fall between 165 and 197. Clarion heavyweight
Evan Daley lost a 5-3 decision at 285 to backup Ethan Driver and the Cowboys posted a 45-0 victory.
CLARION NOTES: 2-time All-American Ken Haselrig, All-American Gary Horner, Randy Richard, Tim Wescoat, Scott Hall and former head coach Bob Bubb represented the 1986 team in
pre-match ceremonies.
125- #12 Eddie Klimara (OSU) maj. dec. Hunter Jones (CL) 13-5
133- #4 Jon Morrison (OSU) t. fall Sam Sherlock (CL) 18-3 7:00
141- #19 Anthony Collica (OSU) dec. Tyler Bedelyon (CL) 12-10
149- #9 Josh Kindig (OSU) maj. dec. Justin Arthur (CL) 14-5
157- #2 Alex Dieringer (OSU) dec. Austin Matthews (CL) 11-4
165- #5 Tyler Caldwell (OSU) wbf Michael Pavasko (CL) 4:34
174- #2 Chris Perry (OSU) wbf Ryan Darch (CL) 4:05
184- Nolan Boyd (OSU) t. fall Dustin Conti (CL) 17-2 7:00
197- Kyle Crutchmer (OSU) wbf Daniel Sutherland (CL) 1:33
285- Ethan Driver (OSU) dec. Evan Daley (CL) 5-3