Blade
02-05-2010, 08:27 PM
The Rams edge Shamokin to advance.
WYALUSING - The Wyalusing Rams wrestling team, seeded second in the District IV, Class AA Dual Meet Tournament, followed the form chart Wednesday night by defeating Shamokin 36-25 to move into Saturday's quarterfinals at Milton.
Following the classic formula for success, the Rams took most of the wins that were expected and received important contributions from their supporting cast. The Shamokin Indians, meanwhile, looked like anything but a 15th place seed as they carried a one-point lead with only 103 and 112 pounds to go.
Unfortunately for Shamokin, the Indians were forced to forfeit at 103, leaving the final decision in the hands of a pair of freshman 112-pounders. Wyalusing's Davey Brown needed to avoid being pinned to seal his team's victory and he needed a win by decision to wash out any stigma attached to the preceding forfeit. Brown did better than that; he finished the night by pinning Shamokin's Davey Coller in 4:58 to end an evening of nail-biting for the Wyalusing faithful.
The match started with Wyalusing's Zach Dean and Bryan Brown registering major decisions to put the Rams ahead 8-0. Dean dominated Shamokin's Dane Shovlin 15-4 at 119 pounds and Bryan Brown controlled Chris Pauzer by a 9-0 count at 125. The heart of Shamokin's lineup was on deck, and 130-pounder Brandan Pesarchick registered a technical fall over Wyalusing's Ryan Hart with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Indians' Josh Lahr, returning from injury to fill the 135 pound slot, made a first period takedown stand up for a 2-1 decision over Joe Champluvier to knot the team, score at 8-8.
Things got grim for the green and gold as Shamokin's Derek Shingara pinned Tyler Thompson in 2:58 at 140 pounds and Lee Supsic decisioned Alan Blaisure 13-5 at 145, putting the Indians in front 18-8. Wyalusing needed both points on the scoreboard and a psychological lift. Fortunately, Taylor Woznicki was next up, and the 152-pounder handled Patrick Shinskie by a 16-5 count. Unbeaten Mike Cobb ran his record to 28-0 at 160 with a third period technical fall over a game but outclassed Josiah Stahl and the Rams were within one point at 18-17.
The turning point came at 171 pounds, when Wyalusing's Mike Clark and Shamokin's Chris Henly battled to a 1-1 draw before Clark converted a single-leg takedown early in the overtime period for a 3-1 victory and a 20-18 Ram lead. It would not be the last lead change as Shamokin's Kegan Polastre defeated Keith Howard 11-2 at 189 to put the Indians back on top. Clayton Force matched that major decision for Wyalusing with a 14-5 triumph over Joe Shaffer at 215, setting up the headline bout of the night between 285-pounders Wes Tillet of Shamokin and Pete Champluvier of Wyalusing, each with only three defeats on the season.
After a scoreless first period, Champluvier escaped, was taken down, and escaped again to leave a 2-2 tie after two periods. An escape and takedown by Tillet in the final period allowed the Shamokin heavyweight to run his record to 21-3, to give his team a one-point lead, and to set up Davey Brown's clincher in the evening's finale.
"It came right down to the very last match. You can't get any closer than that," said Wyalusing coach Gary Hailey, adding, "I knew Shamokin would come to wrestle. They're a tough, physical, aggressive team. They had tough schedule and they've had some injuries. I know Lahr has been out and they finally got him back tonight. Once they get healthy, they're pretty tough."
"I thought Joe Champluvier wrestled Lahr tough. Taylor (Woznicki) got us going, Cobb continued it, and of course Clark got that gutsy takedown in overtime, so the whole team pulled through," Hailey continued.
Mike Cobb, whose technical fall came after an apparent pin was not allowed, focused on the team aspect rather than individual statistics. "I thought I had the pin, so I tried my best to get it again, and I came up with a tech fall," he said, noting that the team needs to win three more times in Milton on Saturday to guarantee a trip to the state tournament in Hershey.
While the spotlight is familiar to Cobb, it was a new experience for Davey Brown.
"I'm a freshman and they said I had to step it up, so I did," he bottom-lined.
By Al Robinson (Sports Writer)
Published: February 4, 2010
WYALUSING - The Wyalusing Rams wrestling team, seeded second in the District IV, Class AA Dual Meet Tournament, followed the form chart Wednesday night by defeating Shamokin 36-25 to move into Saturday's quarterfinals at Milton.
Following the classic formula for success, the Rams took most of the wins that were expected and received important contributions from their supporting cast. The Shamokin Indians, meanwhile, looked like anything but a 15th place seed as they carried a one-point lead with only 103 and 112 pounds to go.
Unfortunately for Shamokin, the Indians were forced to forfeit at 103, leaving the final decision in the hands of a pair of freshman 112-pounders. Wyalusing's Davey Brown needed to avoid being pinned to seal his team's victory and he needed a win by decision to wash out any stigma attached to the preceding forfeit. Brown did better than that; he finished the night by pinning Shamokin's Davey Coller in 4:58 to end an evening of nail-biting for the Wyalusing faithful.
The match started with Wyalusing's Zach Dean and Bryan Brown registering major decisions to put the Rams ahead 8-0. Dean dominated Shamokin's Dane Shovlin 15-4 at 119 pounds and Bryan Brown controlled Chris Pauzer by a 9-0 count at 125. The heart of Shamokin's lineup was on deck, and 130-pounder Brandan Pesarchick registered a technical fall over Wyalusing's Ryan Hart with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Indians' Josh Lahr, returning from injury to fill the 135 pound slot, made a first period takedown stand up for a 2-1 decision over Joe Champluvier to knot the team, score at 8-8.
Things got grim for the green and gold as Shamokin's Derek Shingara pinned Tyler Thompson in 2:58 at 140 pounds and Lee Supsic decisioned Alan Blaisure 13-5 at 145, putting the Indians in front 18-8. Wyalusing needed both points on the scoreboard and a psychological lift. Fortunately, Taylor Woznicki was next up, and the 152-pounder handled Patrick Shinskie by a 16-5 count. Unbeaten Mike Cobb ran his record to 28-0 at 160 with a third period technical fall over a game but outclassed Josiah Stahl and the Rams were within one point at 18-17.
The turning point came at 171 pounds, when Wyalusing's Mike Clark and Shamokin's Chris Henly battled to a 1-1 draw before Clark converted a single-leg takedown early in the overtime period for a 3-1 victory and a 20-18 Ram lead. It would not be the last lead change as Shamokin's Kegan Polastre defeated Keith Howard 11-2 at 189 to put the Indians back on top. Clayton Force matched that major decision for Wyalusing with a 14-5 triumph over Joe Shaffer at 215, setting up the headline bout of the night between 285-pounders Wes Tillet of Shamokin and Pete Champluvier of Wyalusing, each with only three defeats on the season.
After a scoreless first period, Champluvier escaped, was taken down, and escaped again to leave a 2-2 tie after two periods. An escape and takedown by Tillet in the final period allowed the Shamokin heavyweight to run his record to 21-3, to give his team a one-point lead, and to set up Davey Brown's clincher in the evening's finale.
"It came right down to the very last match. You can't get any closer than that," said Wyalusing coach Gary Hailey, adding, "I knew Shamokin would come to wrestle. They're a tough, physical, aggressive team. They had tough schedule and they've had some injuries. I know Lahr has been out and they finally got him back tonight. Once they get healthy, they're pretty tough."
"I thought Joe Champluvier wrestled Lahr tough. Taylor (Woznicki) got us going, Cobb continued it, and of course Clark got that gutsy takedown in overtime, so the whole team pulled through," Hailey continued.
Mike Cobb, whose technical fall came after an apparent pin was not allowed, focused on the team aspect rather than individual statistics. "I thought I had the pin, so I tried my best to get it again, and I came up with a tech fall," he said, noting that the team needs to win three more times in Milton on Saturday to guarantee a trip to the state tournament in Hershey.
While the spotlight is familiar to Cobb, it was a new experience for Davey Brown.
"I'm a freshman and they said I had to step it up, so I did," he bottom-lined.
By Al Robinson (Sports Writer)
Published: February 4, 2010