Area wrestlers looking ahead to D9

High school wrestlers at Cameron County and Coudersport are winding down the regular season, with many of them preparing for the PIAA District 9 Championships Feb. 23-24 at Clarion University's Waldo Tippin Gymnasium.

The two schools returned from long layoffs to square off for an abbreviated match on Thursday night in Emporium. The Red Raiders got the better of it, 54-12.

After Falcon sophomore Rich Keagle gave his team a 6- 0 lead with a pin in 76 seconds at 189, heavyweight Chad Schatz and Tyler Bidwell (119) recorded pins. Those falls, combined with forfeits, put the Raiders up 36-6.

Coudersport's undefeated freshman, Dirk Cowburn, was hoping for some action at 145, but Cameron County forfeited.

Raiders Hunter Bardo (152) and Taylor Songer (160) followed with quick pins to close out a match that included less than eight minutes of actual mat time.

Cameron County heads to Smethport on Tuesday night for a match against a tough Hubber squad.

Coudersport has a home match on Tuesday against Bradford, then hosts Smethport next Friday night in the regular season finale.