COLLEGE WRESTLING: TIOGA GRAD WORTHING ADVANCES TO DAY 2 OF MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (2021-02-26)

Valley Sports Report
TRENTON, N.J. - Tioga grad John Worthing, a redshirt freshman on the Clarion wrestling team, is still alive in wrestlebacks after Day 1 of the Mid-American Conference wrestling championships here Friday at the Cure Insurance Arena.

Worthing, who won a New York State title two years ago at 138 pounds, was unseeded in the 174-pound weight class. He entered the tournament with a 6-4 record, including an 0-1 mark in MAC duals.

Worthing opened the day with a 7-3 setback against third-seed Mason Kauffman of Northern Illinois

Kauffman scored a takedown 51 seconds into the bout. After Kauffman was warned for stalling, Worhting escaped and the duo remained on their feet for the final 1:50 of the first period.

Kauffman escaped 10 seconds into the second period, and registered another takedown to make it 5-1. Worthing escaped and the pair remained on their feet for the final 61 seconds.

Worthing escaped off the third-period whistle to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Kauffman locked up the decision with a takedown with 5 seconds remaining.

In the first round of the consolation bracket, Worthing scored a takedown in sudden-victory for an 11-9 win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville's Kevin Gschwendtner.

Worthing recorded a pair of first-period takedowns and led 4-2. He scored a quick reversal to start the second period for a 6-2 lead, but Gschwendtner answered with a reversal to make it 6-4.

Worthing escaped for a 7-4 lead, but gave up a takedown with 9 seconds left in the second period.

Gschwendtner recorded an escape and a takedown for a 9-7 lead midway through the third period, but Worthing escaped with 28 seconds left to trim the deficit to 9-8. He received a riding-time point to tie the bout at 9-9 and force overtime.

Worthing scored the winning takedown just 16 seconds into the extra session.

Worthing continued his winning ways in the second round of consolations with a 15-5 major decision of Ohio's Logan Stanley.

Worthing scored a quick takedown, but gave up an escape, then a takedown with 4 seconds remaining in the first period, and trailed 3-2 entering the second period.

Worthing started the second period on top and turned Stanley to his back for four near-fall points and a 6-3 lead. Stanley, however, was able to score a reversal with 29 seconds left to trim Worthing's lead to 6-5 heading into the final two minutes.

Worthing scored a quick reversal to start the second period, then chose bottom after an injury stoppage by Stanley gave him the option of top, bottom, or neutral.

About a minute later, Worthing escaped to take a 9-5 lead, then scored a takedown and four more near-fall points. Worthing had Stanley in danger for the final 34 seconds of the bout.

Worthing, who is guaranteed of a top-8 finish will face Cleveland State University's Anthony Rice in the consolation quarterfinals Saturday morning.

The winner will face Edinboro's sixth-seeded Jacob Oliver in the consolation semifinals.

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IN PHOTO: John Worthing.