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Clutter comes up short in PIAA finals

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Marc Billett

Jared McGill of Chestnut Ridge celebrates an 8-2 win over Christian Clutter of McGuffey in the 170-pound final of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships in Hershey Saturday.

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Marc Billett/For the Observer-Reporter

Jared McGill of Chestnut Ridge has Christian Clutter twisted in the 170-pound final of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships in Hershey Saturday. McGill won an 8-2 decision.

HERSHEY – The cameras flashed, the smiles were big and wide on the podium.

Even though the medal that hung around the neck of Christian Clutter was silver, not the preferred gold, there was much to celebrate.

Clutter dropped an 8-2 decision to Jared McGill of Chestnut Ridge Saturday in the 170-pound finals of the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Clutter and Jonathan Vargo of Bentworth were the only area wrestlers to medal in this tournament. Vargo finished fifth at 195 pounds after winning a 7-4 decision over Jeff Magin of Quaker Valley.

Clutter was attempting to become the first wrestler from McGuffey to win a state title since Jeff Breese won the 112-pound title in 2001. He is one of the few area athletes to have at least 4,000 yards rushing in football and at least 100 career wins in wrestling. His career path is football and he will attend Seton Hill in the fall.

So Clutter’s performance was pretty impressive for a football player.

“It was a little overwhelming being in the finals,” said Clutter. “It’s been a good experience. I know I’m going to Seton Hill for football but to compete against kids in a sport like this is special.”

McGill opened the match with that all-important first takedown and followed it with a reversal early in the second period for a 4-0 lead.

An escape and stalling point gave McGill a 6-0 lead. Clutter got on the scoreboard with a second stalling call on McGill. Clutter managed an escape before the buzzer.

“It wears on you physically and emotionally after three days,” said Clutter. “I’m happy with the way I wrestled.”

Clutter (43-4) reached the finals with two pins and a decision. He opened the tournament with a fall over Cameron Whisner of Kane in 3:33 and followed that by sticking Dave Galasso of Athens in 2:35.

A 3-2 decision over Derek Brown of Penn Cambria put Clutter in the finals.

“He was fourth here last year (at 170),” said McGuffey head coach Mark Caffrey. “He’s the hardest worker in the room and that usually pays off. … I know he wanted to win it all but fell a little short. He’s had a great year, football and wrestling-wise.

“He has great character. He’s one of the best overall guys I ever coached.”

Vargo (30-8) won his 100th career bout with a pin of Dane Csencsits of Saucon Valley. Following a 3-2 loss to Gaige Garcia of Southern Columbia, Vargo worked his way through the wrestlebacks until he ran into Geoff Magin of Quaker Valley for fifth place.

“I think I did very well in this tournament,” said Vargo. “I’m satisfied and went out on a winning note. I came in knowing anything can happen. As long as I wrestle my way, I knew I’d be fine.”

The bout was scoreless until Vargo escaped in the second period. Vargo turned Magin twice for three backpoints before giving up a four-point move in the final 10 seconds.

“Now, I’m going to celebrate,” said Vargo. “I’m going out and eat a whole lot.”

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