BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — Three forfeits in their line-up put Canton in a hole, and Wyalusing made sure they didn’t climb out as they beat the Warriors, 52-20, during NTL wrestling action Tuesday.
The Rams won nine matches - three by forfeit, six on the mat - as they got some big come from behind victories in the upper weights to pull away.
“We had some good matches, we had some good wins,” said Wyalusing coach David Patrick. “Even the ones we lost I felt we were wrestling aggressive. At 107 I feel like we could win - it was a whole different change in that first period with a seven point swing, but some of the matches we won, we came out ahead of them in pins. I just think we’re training really well, we’re dieting real well, guys are just doing everything right.”
For Canton coach Garrett Wesneski, he knew they needed to make some things happen to stay in it, and they just couldn’t get the spark they needed.
“We’re shorthanded a little bit with guys out, and we’re going forfeit a weight or two, even if we had everybody, but the difference in the match was they got pins where they needed to, and we didn’t,” Wesneski said. “We had a couple matches where we needed more bonus points than we did, and then matches where we’re winning, and we get pinned. We’ve got to fix that stuff moving forward.”
Bostyn McMicken (127), Griffins Sheldon (139), Jonathan Earle (152), Holden Patrick (160), and Daniel Fox (215) all had falls, with Isaiah Harvey (114), Cole Patrick (133), and Brenden Wells (285) garnering forfeits.
Ethan Vanderpool (189) scored an 18-5 major over Blane Wesneski as their other win.
Carson Castle (121), and Carson Rockwell (172) had falls as Tommy Preston (145) scored a tech fall.
Levi Vermilya (107) opened the match with a 9-6 decision.
The opening match set the tone for the night as Vermilya used a takedown, and a full set of back points to go up 7-0 after one.
Wyalusing’s Logan Wood rode him out in the second, then got a takedown in the third to cut it to 7-3.
He called for locked hands, then Vermilya finally got out to make it 9-3. Wood would get a second escape, but couldn’t turn him for the 3-point difference.
Harvey’s forfeit got Wyalusing on the scoreboard as they took a 6-3 lead, but things turned towards Canton at 121.
Castle would get takedowns in the first and second period to go up 6-0. In the third Jones got an escape point, but a Castle takedown got him on top, and this time he finished for the fall in 5:33 as the Warriors retook the lead 9-6.
That didn’t last long as McMicken made quick work of Canton’s Henry Proseus, pinning him in 39 seconds to go up 12-9.
Patrick’s forfeit made it 18-9 in favor of the Rams.
At 139 Sheldon scored two first period takedowns before getting the fall in 1:42 over Gavin Sharp to extend the Wyalusing lead to 24-9.
Preston would cut into it, using a takedown, and four back points to go up 7-0 on Reuben Kinney after the first period. He got another set of near fall points for an 11-0 lead after four minutes.
In the third Preston would get an escape, and a takedown for the 15-0 final in 4:28 to make it 24-14.
Earle would strike back with a first period fall over Carson Tillotson in 1:57. He took control early with a takedown, and never gave it up.
Down 30-14 Canton needed a spark at 160, and at first it looked like Manual Halbfoerster was going to give it to them.
He got a takedown on Patrick, and even a set back of points for a 5-0 lead, but Patrick would get the reversal to cut it to 5-2.
In the second Patrick started on bottom, and scored another reversal before getting the fall in 3:46 to push the lead to 36-14.
Canton needed to win out if they were going to pull off the upset, with Rockwell keeping their chances alive.
He opened against Conner Earle with a takedown, and back points to go up 6-0. He would get the reversal in the second, then the fall in 2:54 for a 36-20 score.
At 189 Canton’s Blane Wesneski started off strong, getting the initial takedown on Vanderpool for a 3-0 lead.
Vanderpool, though, got the reversal, and a pair of near fall points to make it 4-3 after one period.
Vanderpool just kept scoring after that, getting an escape, a takedown, and a penalty point in the second.
He followed that up with three takedowns in the third as he tried for the tech fall, finishing with an 18-5 major to secure the win for Wyalusing.
At 215 it was the same story, as Canton’s Leland Pepper opened with a takedown, and four near fall points for a 7-0 lead.
Fox, though, would throw him on his back on a reversal, and get the fall in 1:37. Wells then took the forfeit for the 52-20 final.
This kicks off a busy week for Canton (5-7) as they have four matches in five days. Tuesday they travel to Sullivan County, on Friday they’re out at NEB, and on Saturday they host Towanda.
“We’re pretty much wrestling a big chunk of our season in these three to four weeks, and we just had a bunch of tournaments,” said Wesneski. “The main thing is, as long as we’re healthy, and wrestling our best come February 14. This is all practice, it is what it is. We’ve just got to be better, and keep working.”
Wyalusing (13-5) remains undefeated in NTL action with just two opponents left - Towanda on Friday, and Williamson the following week.
“We’ve got some big things coming up,” Patrick said. “Towanda on Friday, that’s always a highlight, but, right now, the holiday allowed us to heal up. We had some sickness, we’re past that, so now we’re training extra.”
WYALUSING 52, CANTON 20
107: Levi Vermilya (C) dec. Logan Wood, 9-6
114: Isaiah Harvey (W) fft
121: Carson Castle (C) fall Austin Jones, 5:33
127: Bostyn McMicken (W) fall Henry Proseus, :39
133: Cole Patrick (W) fft
139: Griffin Sheldon (W) fall Gavin Sharp, 1:42
145: Tommy Preston (C) tech. Reuben Kinney, 15-0, 4:28
152: Jonathan Earle (W) fall Carson Tillotson, 1:57
160: Holden Patrick (W) fall Manuel Halbfoerster, 3:46
172: Carson Rockwell (C) fall Conner Earle, 2:54
189: Ethan Vanderpool (W) maj. Blane Wesneski, 18-5
215: Daniel Fox (W) fall Leland Pepper, 1:36
285: Brenden Wells (W) fft
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
