Clutter finishes career with win in Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic
Joe Tuscano/Observer-Reporter
Christian Clutter, right, of McGuffey tries to turn Aaron Wolk of Horace Grealey in the 170-pound preliminary bout of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic Friday night. Clutter won 1-0.
Jonathan Vargo of Bentworth (right) is tangled with Ron Penhollow of Falconer, N.Y., in the 195-pound preliminary bout of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic Friday night. Penhollow won a 9-5 decision.
PITTSBURGH – There might be better ways to end a varsity career, but for Christian Clutter, this was pretty good.
Not only did the senior at McGuffey win his preliminary bout in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic Friday night, he was named the Class AA Wrestler of the Year by Wrestlingreport.com.
Clutter won a 1-0 decision in ultimate tiebreaker against the New York team’s Aaron Wolk of Horace Grealey at 170. Clutter was one of three local winners for the WPIAL in a 25-17 loss to New York in the preliminary match at Pitt’s Fitzgerald Field House.
In the feature dual meet, the United States defeated Pennsylvania for the eighth straight time and ninth time in the last 10 matches in this premiere exhibition event. This time, the score was 29-18.
Ken Hayman of Canon-McMillan and Scott Joll of Belle Vernon won their preliminary bouts but Colby Morris of Waynesburg and Jonathan Vargo of Bentworth were not so successful.
Clutter’s bout was scoreless until the ultimate tiebreaker stage. Wolk chose top and Clutter escaped with 15 seconds left in the 30-second period.
“I knew he was going to go top (in the ultimate tiebreaker),” said Clutter. “I watched some of his matches on FloWrestling. … I was prepared for him to do that.
“The people are definitely different here. I came from states to something like this. It’s nice to have them support you. This is a nice way to end my career.”
Morris dropped a 4-2 decision to New York’s Charlie Grygas of Duanesburg at 160. Grygas got a takedown in each of the two periods and allowed only two escapes to Morris.
“I’m pretty excited to be here but pretty bummed out I lost,” said Morris, who is undecided on a college. “I just went out there and tried to score points.”
Joll pinned NY’s Patrick Morris of Olean in 2:39 at 182. Joll took Morris down with 1:06 left in the first period, locked in a cradle along the edge of the mat and pinned him with 35 seconds remaining in the period.
“This is definitely fun,” said Joll, who is headed to West Virginia University in the fall. “Once I locked up the cradle, I knew I was going to get the pin as long as I stayed inbounds.”
Vargo of Bentworth lost a 9-5 decision to NY’s Rob Penhollow at 195 pounds.
“It’s a really nice event,” said Vargo, who like Morris is undecided on a college. “They told me wrestling out in front of a crowd like this is different, and it was. I really enjoyed it.”
Haymann won a 4-2 decision over New York’s Tyler Kellison of Christian Brothers Academy at 126 pounds. Kellison compiled a 140-30 record at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse.
“I’m so happy I got the opportunity to wrestle here in front of so many hometown fans,” said Hayman. “It was awesome out there. I had a lot of fans out there showing me some love.”
Hayman will wrestle at Pitt-Johnstown in the fall.
Washington County Comissioner Larry Maggi, who has been a wrestling official for 42 years, was one of four individuals inducted into the Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of of Fame.
Maggi was joined by Connellsville’s two-time state champion Ashtim Primus, the late Mike Wandrisco, a longtime wrestling official; and Alan Housner, a two-time WPIAL champion from Mt. Lebanon.
Gary Six, president of the McGuffey Wrestling Boosters Club, was given the Dr. Kurt J. Nellis Memorial Award given for community service and contribution to amateur wrestling.