TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Tripp Watson smiles after securing a win against Mifflin County on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2026, at Penns Valley. Watson posted one of the team's six bonus-point victories in Tuesday's win over Clearfield, helping cement its first undefeated regular season since 1966.

SPRING MILLS – It’s been quite a regular season for the Penns Valley wrestling team.

The Rams opened 2025-26 by cruising past Mifflin County, dominated their way to a Babbit Duals title two days later and proceeded to earn their second straight Centre County crown while starting 10-0. And on Tuesday night, they officially made it one for the history books.

Facing one of its biggest obstacles of the 2020s in Clearfield, who entered the match ranked No. 9 in the state, Penns Valley came right out of the gate firing on all cylinders. It opened the match with seven straight victories, four by fall or tech fall, to build up a 34-0 lead by its midpoint, a run which propelled it to a 38-23 win and its first undefeated regular season since 1966.

The victory also served as the team’s first win over the Bison since 2019. Neither historic implication was on the front of their minds entering the match. But it meant a lot when it was all said and done, as it checked another box in what’s been a strong two-year stretch for the program.

“It was really special because for a long time, our team has been fighting on the doorstep of what we just did tonight,” said senior Brayden Lisowski, who won his match at 172 by 9-1 major decision. “We’ve always been good enough and tonight, I really feel like we put the blocks together.”

“For a while now, they’ve always kind of had our number, and we’ve been right there with them. I respect them, their program, their tradition,” said head coach Joel Brinker on Clearfield. “To finish the year with us and Clearfield going into District Duals, it’s just nice to have that momentum, but trying to get back to it. Got to keep going.”

Following a win by forfeit from Cayden Myers at 107, sophomore Blake Brumbaugh would set the tone at 114, landing a double-legged shot out the gate to secure a quick takedown and ultimately needing a period and change to secure his team five points.

A six-point move gave him a 9-1 lead through the first minute and seven back points out of top upped it to 14 points through one. From there, one quick takedown in the second would grant him the 19-2 tech fall.

Through 107 and 121, a win by forfeit from Blake Brumbaugh and second-period pin from Conner Myers would up Penns Valley’s lead to 17-0 in the blink of an eye. The following bout would provide the biggest chance for turnover, as Clearfield came inches short of an upset, but the Rams’ run carried forward.

After entering the third period down 12-2 against sophomore Max Dinges – ranked No. 4 in the state at 127, Clearfield’s Bo Aveni would work a takedown into a late pin opportunity. But Dinges was able to keep his right shoulder off the mat, and Aveni’s adjustments wouldn’t land before the buzzer, as Dinges won by 12-10 decision.

With the Rams avoiding a nine-point swing and maintaining the shutout, it was only a matter of time before they clinched the match.

A dominant second period would seal the deal for Erik Carlile at 133, as the returning state qualifier racked up seven back points and two quick, wrap-around takedowns for a third-period tech fall over No. 29 Bryndin Chamberlain. Tripp Watson would follow him up with a second-period pin before Isaac Harpster capped the run with a hard-fought 7-3 decision.

“I think we’re a pretty good, balanced team overall,” said Brinker when asked about the team’s hot start. “The lightweights, we’ve got momentum coming up through. But this team’s great because they all wrestle hard for the full six minutes.”

That made it 34-0 with six bouts to go. And though Sawyer Fetterolf would endure the team’s first loss of the night in the ensuing match at 152 – a 9-4 decision, his effort in avoiding giving up bonus points to No. 12 Cash Diehl officially made Penns Valley’s lead insurmountable at 34-3.

Brayden Lisowski would make it six bonus-point victories for Penns Valley at 172, defeating No. 12 Colton Ryan by 9-1 major decision behind a strong first. That win rounded out the team’s wins at eight, granting it its tenth double-digit win of the season.

Clearfield’s silver linings came in the remaining matches, as the Bison won four of the last five. That included a particularly impressive one at 285, which saw Matthew Peace shake off a dislocated finger to secure a second-period tech fall that cut the team’s final deficit to 15.

With the win, the Rams capped their dual regular season with an 11-0 record and 5-0 record against Laurel Highlands competition. They’ll look to carry that momentum into their final regular-season tournament at Grove City High School on Saturday before turning their focus towards postseason.

“I’m just really proud of my teammates and all the work that we’ve put in when people can’t see it,” said Lisowski. “Bright light reveals all the hard work in the dark.”

“Just looking forward to District Duals. It’s an exciting time of the year coming up, so just want to be wrestling our best,” said Brinker. “We go to Fred Bell this weekend, so lots of wrestling to look forward to.”

Penns Valley 38, Clearfield 23

107: Cayden Myers (PV) won by forfeit. 114: Blake Brumbaugh (PV) tech fall over Jahaziah Dorsey (CLF), 19-2 (2:14). 121: Conner Myers (PV) pinned Paxton Parada (CLF), 3:06. 127: Max Dinges (PV) dec. Bo Aveni (CLF), 12-10. 133: Erik Carlile (PV) won by tech. fall over Bryndin Chamberlain (CLF), 19-3 4:19. 139: Tripp Watson (PV) pinned Jackson Shugarts (CLF), 2:53. 145: Isaac Harpster (PV) dec. Noah Troxell (CLF), 7-3. 152: Cash Diehl (CLF) dec. Sawyer Fetterolf (PV), 9-4. 160: Colton Bumbarger (CLF) pinned Seth Fetterolf (PV), 0:45. 172: Brayden Lisowski (PV) maj. dec. Colton Ryan (CLF), 9-1. 189: Brayden Wills (CLF) won by inj. default over Cael Smith (PV). 215: Ryan Ludwig (CLF) dec. Robert Martin (PV), 8-2. 285: Matthew Peace (CLF) won by tech. fall over Luke Tannis (PV), 15-0 (3:14)