Class of 2026
Claysburg-Kimmel 2000 Wrestling Team
For a long stretch, the Claysburg-Kimmel wrestling program was one of the best in the area and the state, and the 2000 Bulldog wrestling team was one of the best
The Bulldogs had a 14-3 record that season and capture the Tri-County League Tournament and Dual Meet championships, the District 6-2A Dual Meet and Tournament titles, and the Southwest Class 2A Regional championship.
The Bulldogs also took second at the PIAA State Wrestling tournament behind powerhouse Wyalusing.
The Bulldogs started the season with three impressive wins over Tri-County opponents Juniata Valley, Glendale, and Mount Union by a combined 162-36 heading into a match against District 6 powerhouse Philipsburg-Osceola. The Mounties topped the Bulldogs, 37-31.
Heading back into league matches, the Bulldogs won the next five matches with big victories.
The Bulldogs headed into a dual meet tournament, where they took on Wyalusing in the first match. They dropped the match, 40-21, but the Bulldogs won the consolation match against Ridgway, 40-21.
CK won the last three regular season matches, heading into the District 6-2A playoffs, where they topped Forest Hills, 42-15, and Penn Cambria, 34-22.
They advanced to the PIAA playoffs and were supposed to wrestle District 10’s Fort LeBoeuf at North Allegheny High School. A bomb threat forced the site to move to Blackhawk High School, but the Bison of Fort LeBoeuf were too much for the Bulldogs, 43-22.
Next up for the Bulldogs was the District 6-2A Individual Tournament, and the Bulldogs had five champions with Jarrett Musselman, Thad Benton, Ryan Ickes, Brandon Ickes, and Derek Tipton with Matthew Sell and Drew Claar both taking fourth place. The Bulldogs rolled to the team championship.
They kept on rolling at regionals with Musselman and Tipton winning regional titles, Ryan Ickes taking second, Benton was third, and Claar was fourth. The Bulldogs took the team title and all five advanced to the state tournament.
The Bulldogs had another strong performance with two state finalists in Musselman and Benton with Tipton taking third and Ryan Ickes was sixth. They had 65 points, trailing only Wyalusing in the team race.
Individuals on the team had outstanding careers with Musselman and Tipton grabbing individual state titles in other years, while Benton became a two-time NCAA Division II champion at Pitt-Johnstown. Ryan Ickes and Brandon Ickes also wrestled at UPJ.
The team was coached by Dave Marko, who is on the precipice of breaking the District 6 record for most dual meet wins, while Russ Knisely was a long-time assistant coach for the Bulldogs.
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For a long stretch, the Claysburg-Kimmel wrestling program was one of the best in the area and the state, and the 2000 Bulldog wrestling team was one of the best
The Bulldogs had a 14-3 record that season and capture the Tri-County League Tournament and Dual Meet championships, the District 6-2A Dual Meet and Tournament titles, and the Southwest Class 2A Regional championship.
The Bulldogs also took second at the PIAA State Wrestling tournament behind powerhouse Wyalusing.
The Bulldogs started the season with three impressive wins over Tri-County opponents Juniata Valley, Glendale, and Mount Union by a combined 162-36 heading into a match against District 6 powerhouse Philipsburg-Osceola. The Mounties topped the Bulldogs, 37-31.
Heading back into league matches, the Bulldogs won the next five matches with big victories.
The Bulldogs headed into a dual meet tournament, where they took on Wyalusing in the first match. They dropped the match, 40-21, but the Bulldogs won the consolation match against Ridgway, 40-21.
CK won the last three regular season matches, heading into the District 6-2A playoffs, where they topped Forest Hills, 42-15, and Penn Cambria, 34-22.
They advanced to the PIAA playoffs and were supposed to wrestle District 10’s Fort LeBoeuf at North Allegheny High School. A bomb threat forced the site to move to Blackhawk High School, but the Bison of Fort LeBoeuf were too much for the Bulldogs, 43-22.
Next up for the Bulldogs was the District 6-2A Individual Tournament, and the Bulldogs had five champions with Jarrett Musselman, Thad Benton, Ryan Ickes, Brandon Ickes, and Derek Tipton with Matthew Sell and Drew Claar both taking fourth place. The Bulldogs rolled to the team championship.
They kept on rolling at regionals with Musselman and Tipton winning regional titles, Ryan Ickes taking second, Benton was third, and Claar was fourth. The Bulldogs took the team title and all five advanced to the state tournament.
The Bulldogs had another strong performance with two state finalists in Musselman and Benton with Tipton taking third and Ryan Ickes was sixth. They had 65 points, trailing only Wyalusing in the team race.
Individuals on the team had outstanding careers with Musselman and Tipton grabbing individual state titles in other years, while Benton became a two-time NCAA Division II champion at Pitt-Johnstown. Ryan Ickes and Brandon Ickes also wrestled at UPJ.
The team was coached by Dave Marko, who is on the precipice of breaking the District 6 record for most dual meet wins, while Russ Knisely was a long-time assistant coach for the Bulldogs.
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