Central Clarion Wrestling Mats Installed, Wildcats Compete for First Time after Rebranding

CLARION, Pa. (EYT/D9) — The schools are the same. The practice intensity is the same.

But the name and the colors are now different in the Central Clarion wrestling room.

The rebranding is complete.

On Tuesday, the new wrestling mats were installed, trading the orange and black of the Clarion Bobcats for the blue and orange of the Central Clarion Wildcats.

“The mats were down and ready for practice by 3:45 p.m.,” said Central Clarion coach Braun Gourley. “Our normal practice time. The Clarion Area School District funded the purchase of the new mats. We want to thank (superintendent Joe Carrico) for that.”

The decision was made in the offseason to change the name of the program to the Central Clarion Wildcats to fall in line with the football team co-op of Clarion, Clarion-Limestone and North Clarion, which is flourishing.

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The wrestling co-op between Clarion, Clarion-Limestone, North Clarion and Keystone is hoping to do the same.

“We are excited for the direction and future of the wrestling program,” Carrico said. “The kids are really working hard and the coaching staff has been training them to be champions.”

The rebrand has also included new Central Clarion singlets, which were designed by Gourley and his son, Mason, who is a junior on the team.

The Wildcats maiden voyage was a successful one on Saturday at the Hickory Wrestling Invitational.
Central Clarion placed 11th out of 28 teams in the prestigious tournament.

Three Wildcats placed.

Logan Powell was fifth at 133 pounds with a 5-2 record.

Heavyweight Josh Beal, a senior at Keystone, was also fifth, going 5-2 as well.

Brendon Wright was eighth at 145.

“Overall we wrestled well, but there are many areas that we look to improve,” Gourley said. “We have 19 on the varsity roster this season, our largest team in many year.”

(Dave McClaine of Clarion Sports Zone contributed to this report)