Bald Eagle Area rallies for win over Brookville in battle of top-15 Class 2A wrestling teams
Brookville coach Dave Klepfer and Bald Eagle Area coach Ron Guenot each had a similar response to what Thursday night’s dual meant for their teams.
It didn’t matter when it occurred, but putting two programs like the Eagles and Raiders, which have a combined 1,400-plus dual wins, together for a dual meet would be exciting.
The pair squared off in a top-15 battle with the Eagles coming out on top and defending their home gym, 45-23.
“The hype was big with us being ranked No. 9 in the state and they were ranked 12th,” Bald Eagle junior Jeffre Pifer said. “We knew it was going to be close, but I guess it didn’t come out that way, since we got the pins there where we needed it.”
Guenot added: “It is just good for the sport. It was a lot of fun, two good teams going at it. It is exciting for the fans, but mostly the kids. We are just thankful that Brookville agreed to come down, and wrestle us this year. Hopefully, we’ll return the favor next year and go up their way.”
Klepfer said: “We want to test ourselves against these types of teams. It just didn’t work out tonight. We’ll get back to work and see what happens as the season goes on. Maybe, we’ll get another crack at them down the road.”
BEA had to battle to get its win, but Guenot and his staff knew coming into the dual that if they wanted to win, they had to make some moves in the lineup. The move they made was bumping Pifer from 138 pounds to 145 pounds.
Pifer said he’s become accustomed to the move after being bumped around the lineup last year — anywhere from 132 pounds to 145 pounds. The move ended up paying off, too.
With Brookville leading the dual 23-20, Pifer came on the mat against a familiar opponent in Brecken Cieleski.
Pifer got a takedown, and slowly worked into a cross-face cradle. He rolled Cielseki to his back for the fall in 1:11.
“It was awesome. They wanted to bump me up, so I could get the extra points,” the junior said. “I went for it. I’m just happy that we got a big win tonight.”
Guenot added: “Cieleski is a good wrestler, but Jeffre stepped up tonight. He wrestled him last year in freestyle, and won the match then. He did it again tonight, the pin was just extra bonus. We weren’t expecting the fall there, but Jeffre is a dangerous wrestler.”
Klepfer also believed that Pifer’s pin was the defining moment of the dual.
Pifer’s victory began a stretch of five straight wins for the Eagles to close out the dual and complete the rally. Mason Reese followed Pifer with a fall of his own in 1:20.
Cameron Dubbs picked up a 3-2 win at 160 pounds. However, there was a controversial call where it appeared as though Dubbs was awarded a reversal, even though time had expired on the clock. The official checked with the scorekeepers and the call stood.
“You get some of them,” Klepfer said. “It was one of those deals, where it was a tough spot, a loud gym, one referee, it makes things a little bit tough. No fault on anyone. It would’ve been nice to get that one.”
Caleb Close followed the 160-pound match by racking up a 9-0 major decision to seal the dual for the Eagles with one bout left. It was 39-23 BEA.
Senior Noah Foltz closed the dual out with a pin in 2:40.
Before the dual began, senior Matthew Knepp was awarded an $185,000 scholarship from the United States Marines to any university he decides to go to once graduating from BEA. Knepp, who is heading to Penn State, was part of a special group of students who received this scholarship — less than five percent who apply get the award.
Knepp had to quickly put that excitement aside as he began the dual for the Eagles at 215 pounds. It seemed the excitement threw Knepp of his game, for a little bit.
“I think it was hard for him. He was so pumped up and excited,” Guenot said with a laugh, “but I think it was kind of a negative thing. Too bad we started at 215, but it worked out in the end. He was just so wired when he went out there that it took him a little bit to settle in, and he did.”
Knepp trailed 8-2 after the first period against Caden Marshall, but seemed to settle in in the second period. He earned a reversal and collected three near-fall points, but Marshall picked up a reversal of his own to lead 10-7.
In the third period, Knepp picked up his third reversal of the bout. This time he racked up seven near-fall points to earn a 16-10 victory.
“He’s just an outstanding kid and a hard worker. He’s a great teammate, person and student,” Guenot said. “I’m proud that I’m his coach. I know he’s going to be successful in whatever he does in the future.”
After Brookville’s Bailey Miller picked up a fall in 30 seconds at heavyweight, the Eagles strung together three straight victories to reclaim the dual’s lead.
Gavin Guenot pinned the Raiders’ Chris Carroll at 106 pounds. Lucas Fye, who was nearly pinned as he and Jared Popson locked up dueling cradles, ended up racking up a 16-1 technical fall in 5:28.
Coen Bainey took just 47 seconds to dispatch Logan Oakes at 120 pounds. BEA lead 20-6 at that point.
Momentum swung into Brookville’s favor the next three bouts.
Cole Householder pinned the Eagles’ Owen Johnson in 1:48. Owen Reinsel pinned Grace Stem in 54 seconds. Brayden Kunselman racked up a 15-0 technical fall of Kevin Taylor in 3:52, giving the Raiders the lead before Pifer took the mat.
“We are just going to build on it. We are going to continue to get better and not be satisfied with this result,” Guenot said of the win. “We talk about this being a journey. We just made a memory on that journey. It was a total team effort.
“The fight that the guys showed. A couple of times, we got into positions where we had to fight off our back. Lucas battled and refused to give up there. Overall, the fight of the kids and the way they wrestled for whatever it took, I’m proud of that.”
Bald Eagle Area 45, Brookville 23
Thursday at Wingate
215: Matthew Knepp, BEA, dec. Caden Marshall, 16-10
285: Bailey Miller, B, pinned Eric Clark, :30
106: Gavin Guenot, BEA, pinned Chris Carroll, 2:35
113: Lucas Fye, BEA, tech. fall Jared Popson, 16-1 (5:28)
120: Coen Bainey, BEA, pinned Logan Oakes, :47
126: Cole Householder, B, pinned Owen Johnson, 1:48
132: Owen Reinsel, B, pinned Grace Stem, :54
138: Brayden Kunselman, B, tech. fall Kevin Taylor, 15-0 (3:52)
145: Jeffre Pifer, BEA, pinned Brecken Cieleski, 1:11
152: Mason Reese, BEA, pinned Josh Popson, 1:20
160: Cameron Dubbs, BEA, dec. Carson Weaver, 3-2
172: Caleb Close, BEA, major dec. Easton Belfiore, 9-0
189: Noah Foltz, BEA, pinned Bryce Weaver, 2:40
Takedowns: B 6, BEA 8
Records: Brookville 7-1, BEA 2-0
Next match: Bald Eagle Area at Trojan Wars, Chambersburg HS, Dec. 29, 9 a.m.
