Why Corry's wrestling team has enjoyed this season, and could again next season

The post-match comments by Corry wrestling coach Travis Proper and Beavers middleweight Cody Proper were said with certainty.

The father and son separately sounded more confident than cocky at the conclusion of the team’s regular season. Each anticipated the season would be a sensational one before it began.

Based on Corry’s dual record, they were accurate.

Corry, at 6-0, secured first place in District 10’s Region 3 standings with Wednesday’s lopsided home win vs. Seneca. While the Bobcats’ short-handed roster forced them to forfeit seven matches, the Beavers’ on-mat results still accounted for 33 points in their 75-0 victory. William Allen’s 13-3 major decision over Seneca’s Dominic Buscemi at 139 pounds was the dual’s lone match that lasted a full 6 minutes.

Wednesday’s region-clinching win also left the Beavers with an 11-1 overall for its regular season.

“We’re kind of at where we're hoping to be,” Travis Proper said. “The kids are definitely having a great year and hope to continue that (success) into the postseason.”

Overwhelming outcomes

Corry averaged 54 points over its 11 victories. Some were so one-sided that Wednesday’s dual with Seneca wasn’t even its largest by shutout.

The Beavers recorded the maximum 78 points against Youngsville on Dec. 21.

However, Corry could counter the claim of weak dual competition based on its tournament results. The Beavers were team champions for last month’s Southmoreland Holiday Classic at Alverton and this month’s Patrick J. Morales Memorial Tournament at Falconer, New York.

Corry, by 23 points, also was a close second to Fort LeBoeuf at Hickory’s season-opening tournament.

Travis Proper anticipated such across-the-board results were possible last summer.

“I knew we were going to be a strong team coming back,” he said. “We only lost two seniors (from the 2022-23 team) and only lost by two points to Reynolds in the semifinals (of the district’s Class 2A team tournament).”

Feeling great going forward

Cody Proper also felt optimistic about Corry’s present and future.

Isaiah Clipson, Gabe Scouten and Logan Hodak are the only seniors listed on the Beavers’ current roster. Of that trio, Hodak (18-11 as a lightweight) is the only established starter.

The rest are underclassmen, including Cody Proper and Kael Albers. The juniors are two of seven Beavers who have won at least 21 matches.

“We’re all in the (wrestling) room, so I know we’re always working hard,” Proper said. "We work our rear ends off, and that really shows when we wrestle.”

Albers opened the Beavers’ rout of Seneca with a pin of George Hoag in their 215 match. It counted as both his team-leading 30th victory and 27th fall.

“This is all unbelievable,” Albers said. “I feel like we’re going to be strong over the next few years because we’re a young team. We’re all very excited.”

Lamech Albers, Owen Nickerson, Mason Savitz, Steven Willis and Allen are Corry’s other wrestlers with 20-plus victories.

More: Reynolds' Logan Stewart tops voting in District 10 Midseason Breakout Wrestler poll

An unexpected opponent

The largest shock Corry experienced this season was the team responsible for its lone dual loss.

That would be Bishop McCort, a Johnstown program the PIAA reinstated this season after a two-year postseason ban over alleged recruiting and transfer violations.

The Crimson Crushers, led by national prep star Bo Bassett (36-0 at 139), improved to 12-0 with a 61-12 victory at Corry on Jan. 20. The dual highlighted the seven-team Beaver Brawls dual event.

Travis Proper thought it was a prank call when he initially heard from Bill Bassett, Bo Bassett’s father.

“He asked if they could be in our duals,” Proper said. “We had four or five quality teams entered, but nobody in (McCort’s) caliber. Bill said that was fine because nobody local (to Johnstown) would wrestle them anymore.

“I said, ‘If your guys want to come to our mats, we’re all for it.’”

An Albers pin at 215 and Carson Braswell’s forfeit victory at 114 accounted for Corry’s 12 points in its loss to McCort. The Crushers’ Josh Spontak pinned Cody Proper in the second period of the dual’s 145 opener.

It was a loss Proper tolerated more than most in his career record of 85-46.

“They (McCort’s wrestlers) were always trying to score on offense,” he said. “They were comfortable wrestling in every position.”

“That’s the point I want to get to.”

What’s next?

Corry, as one of the district’s four 2A champions, automatically qualified for this week’s team tournament. However, the Beavers will receive a first-round bye and must wait until after Wednesday’s round-of-16 duals to learn who they’ll face in Saturday’s quarterfinals.

All remaining rounds will be held that day at Sharon.

Albers was grateful to those in the Corry community who backed the Beavers’ past and future appearances.

“We thank everyone for their support,” he said. “We look forward to the end of this season.”

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Corry high school wrestlers record big wins as Region 3 champions