BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — Wyalusing was able to use bonus points to pull away from Troy, 42-28, in NTL wrestling action on Tuesday.
The Rams scored five falls - Nick Woodruff (215), C.J. Carr (113), Ayden Hunsinger (126), Owen Hadlock (138), Jordan Lamb (160), and Brian Arnold (172) - and one forfeit to Zachary Fenton (285) to pick up the win.
Woodruff's pin in five seconds set a new school record for the Rams.
“I knew Troy was going to be a close one, and with a lot of close schools, a lot of it is win big, lose small type of thing,” said Wyalusing coach Micheal Earle. “I felt we got pins when we could get pins, and guys really battled hard not to get pinned.”
Wyalusing is coming off a strong performance at the Line Mountain Duals this weekend where they went 4-1, and they got Brian Arnold back in the line-up, too.
“We saw some teams that we wouldn’t normally see,” Earle said about the trip. “Some AAA teams that, you know, we really had to battle with, and the guys are on a good progression right now.”
Despite the setback, Troy coach Brandon Spiak was pleased with his team’s performance.
“We lost on the scoreboard tonight, but, overall, I’m happy with the way we wrestled a lot of good matches,” he said. “Like I said, the scoreboard says otherwise, but I’m happy with how we wrestled. I want guys battling for six straight minutes.”
Mason Woodward (189), and Konner Kerr (106) both had falls, with Kaleb Robinson (120) scoring a forfeit.
Seth Seymour (132) notched a major decision, while Jacob Hinman (145), and Jayden Renzo (152) had hard fought decisions.
Hinman edged Wyalusing’s Skyler Manahan 4-2, while Renzo won 7-0 over Hunter Manahan.
“Big matches,” remarked Spiak. “145, you’re probably going to see that in the postseason, you never know. It’s good to be able to make some adjustments now. 152, that was an overtime match a couple of weeks ago down at X-Caliber. Jayden has been working hard, pushing himself real hard, and, he got out to that 5-0 lead really early, and was able to work from there, but those are really big wins for us.”
The Trojans were without Josh Isbell, the third big dual meet they were missing one of their key starters. However, Spiak knows they just have to roll with the punches.
“It is what it is,” he remarked.
Woodward opened things with a pin over Wyalusing’s Alex Hunsinger in 3:36 at 189. He used two takedowns to build a 4-1 first period lead, then cradled Hunsinger up to go up 7-1. After getting another takedown to start the third period, he cradled Hunsinger up again, this time for the fall.
It didn’t take the Rams long to answer, though, as Woodruff pinned Troy’s Daniel Samuels in five seconds at 215, besting the old record of six seconds. He took him straight to his back on the whistle to get the quick six points.
Fenton then got a forfeit at 285 to put them up 12-6.
Troy struck back at 106 as Kerr pinned Wyalusing’s Evan Johnson in 46 seconds. Kerr got the takedown, then was able to set the bar, running it to turn Johnson for the fall.
At 113 Carr would get a fall over Troy’s Caleb Schwenk in 5:23. Carr got a quick takedown, then, after Schwenk scored an escape, Carr got the underhooks in, then snatched an ankle pick to get another takedown, and send Schwenk to his back for two more points to go up 6-1 in the first period.
Carr got two more back points in the second, then scored a takedown in the third to go up 10-1. He then flipped Schwenk on his back for the fall to put the Rams up 18-12.
Troy tied it at 18-18 as Robinson got his forfeit at 120.
At 126 Ayden Hunsinger got a quick fall over Troy’s Kenyon Slater in 1:48. He won a scramble to get two takedown points, then turned him for the pin.
Troy’s Seymour answered back at 132 with a 12-1 win over Wyalusing’s Cade McMicken. Seymour got two takedowns in the first, then used the power half to get three back points to go up 7-1. He would get another takedown in the second, then in the third went up 10-1 as McMicken was called for an illegal hold.
Seymour would get a final takedown, then ride McMicken out for the major decision.
Wyalusing’s lead was cut to 24-22, but at 138 Hadlock scored a fall over Troy’s Peyton Bellows in 1:22 to push it back to eight points, 30-22.
Then came the tight match-up at 145 between Hinman and Skyler Manahan. Hinman would get a first period takedown, first by getting to Manahan’s leg, the sliding behind him for the 2-0 first period lead.
In the second Manahan took bottom, and got to his feet. Hinman tried cradling him, but Manahan was able to step behind Hinman, and took him to the mat for the reversal. Manahan got the half in a couple a times, but Hinman fought it off to keep from giving up back points.
In the third Hinman started on bottom, and forced a stall point out of Manahan. The Ram eventually cut it, but couldn’t take him down, falling 4-2.
At 152 Renzo and Hunter Manahan got into a scramble. The two went down side by side on the mat, with Renzo getting on top for the takedown and three back points to go up 5-0.
Renzo rode him out in the second, then scored a second takedown in the third to win 7-0.
That cut Troy’s lead to 30-28 with two weights left.
At 160 Troy’s William Steele came out aggressive on Lamb, but Lamb did a good job defending Steele’s shots. Lamb then got one takedown on a go behind, then sprawled on a Steele shot, only to spin around for another takedown. He caught Steele’s arm, and was able to use that to turn him for three back points to go up 7-1.
After getting an escape to start the second, Lamb once again defended a Steele shot, then cradled him for the fall.
The victory secured the win for Wyalusing, putting them up 36-28.
In the final match at 172 Arnold scored a fall over Troy’s Lacy Hinman in 1:32. Arnold got the early takedown, then tried to turn her, but Hinman proved elusive. He finally got two back points, then laid her flat for the fall.
The match kicks off a busy week for the Trojans, as they travel to Sayre Thursday, then head to New Oxford on Friday and Saturday.
For Wyalusing, they’re off until Saturday, when they host Benton for a 1 p.m. non-league dual.
Earle hopes this is a good sign of things to come as they got some big league duals coming up.
“We have Towanda, Athens, and a lot of close matches,” he said. “We need to win the matches we can win, then we’ll be where we need to be at the end.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Wyalusing’s Ayden Hunsinger works for the fall on Troy’s Kenyon Slater…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
WYALUSING 42, TROY 28
189: Mason Woodward (T) fall Alex Hunsinger, 3:36
215: Nick Woodruff (T) fall Daniel Samuels, :05
285: Zachary Fenton (W) fft
106: Konner Kerr (T) fall Evan Johnson, :46
113: C.J. Carr (W) fall Caleb Schwenk, 5:23
120: Kaleb Robinson (T) fft
126: Ayden Hunsinger (W) fall Kenyon Slater, 1:48
132: Seth Seymour (T) maj. Cade McMicken, 12-1
138: Owen Hadlock (W) fall Peyton Bellows, 1:22
145: Jacob Hinman (T) dec. Skyler Manahan, 4-2
152: Jayden Renzo (T) dec. Hunter Manahan, 7-0
160: Jordan Lamb (W) fall William Steele, 2:37
172: Brian Arnold (W) fall Lacey Hinman, 1:32
