BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
TOWANDA — Towanda wrestling continued to roll through the NTL with a 58-13 win over Canton on Hall of Fame Friday.
The Knights won 10 of 13 matches, eight of them by fall or forfeit, as they get one win away from a league title.
“That was our goal at the beginning of the year, to repeat as league champions,” said Towanda coach Bill Sexton. “We’ve kind of methodically gone through the league here, and we’ve got one to go. Hopefully, we’re ready to go next week because I know Athens will be ready to wrestle us.”
Jayden Stranger (114), Hagen Jones (127), Gage Evans (133), Wyatt Stranger (139), Riley Vanderpool (152), and Rylee Sluyter (160) all scored falls for the Knights as Sawyer Robinson (215), and Mason Higley (285) had forfeits.
Reese Sluyter (145), and Chase Geurin (172) both scored technical falls.
For Canton Levi Vermilya (107), and Leland Pepper (189) both had technical falls, while Lyle Vermilya (121) pulled out a late win over Curtis Maynard, 8-6, in what was the match of the night.
“I thought we got a good workman like effort out of our kids going out there tonight,” said Sexton. “Even in the losses we got a good effort.”
Stranger opened the match with a first period fall over Canton’s Carson Castle for a 6-0 Towanda lead.
Then came the thriller at 121 with Maynard getting a double leg takedown in the first period for a 3-1 lead. Vermilya cut it to 3-2 with a second period escape, but Maynard went up 6-2 with another takedown in the third.
The veteran Vermilya, though, pulled it out as he got control of Maynard with a head-lock coming out of a scramble, and scored two quick back points to take the 2-point lead. He rode Maynard out from there for the decision to cut it to 6-3.
After that it was all Towanda for the next seven matches as Evans pinned Ethan Brasington in 1:59, Stranger pinned Carson Tillotson in 53 seconds, and Reese Sluyter scored a 17-2 technical fall over Tommy Preston in 5:52.
Vanderpool pinned Manuel Halbfoerster in 1:12, Rylee Sluyter pinned Lawrence Halbfoerster in 1:28, and Geurin scored a 20-5 technical fall over Blane Wesneski in 4:24.
Pepper stopped the run with an 18-3 technical fall of his own over Caleb Austin in 3:36.
Robinson and Higley then recorded forfeits, followed by Levi Vermilya’s 19-2 technical fall in 1:54 as they ended at the lightest weight class.
Before the match Towanda inducted three new members into their Wrestling Hall of Fame: Cody Wheeler, Jass Sheets, and Clay Charlesworth.
Canton hosts Sullivan County on Tuesday while Towanda will look to wrap up the league on Wednesday as they welcome Athens.
TOWANDA 58, CANTON 13
114: Jayden Stranger (T) fall Carson Castle, :50
121: Lyle Vermilya (C) dec. Curtis Maynard, 8-6
127: Hagen Jones (T) fall Henry Proseus, :24
133: Gage Evans (T) fall Ethan Brasington, 1:59
139: Wyatt Stranger (T) fall Carson Tillotson, :53
145: Reese Sluyter (T) tech. Tommy Preston, 17-2, 5:52
152: Riley Vanderpool (T) fall Manuel Halbfoerster, 1:12
160: Rylee Sluyter (T) fall Lawrence Halbfoerster, 1:28
172: Chase Geurin (T) tech. Blane Wesneski, 20-5, 4:24
189: Leland Pepper (C) tech. Caleb Austin, 18-3, 3:36
215: Sawyer Robinson (T) fft
285: Mason Higley (T) fft
107: Levi Vermilya (C) tech. Mason Harbst, 19-2, 1:54
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING, RORY MANNING, & ELENA MANNING
