AMESVILLE — The Curwensville Area High School wrestling team clinched at least a .500 record with a 42-27 victory over host Moshannon Valley Saturday morning.
Having a full lineup was a key for the Golden Tide, which benefited from four forfeits in climbing to 6-5.
Derek Brothers at 103 pounds and Justin Smith at 145 had falls, while Tyler Peters at 112 and Justin Johnston at 140 contributed decisions. The Black Knights had no opponents for Brett Sutika at 119, Jeff Thomas at 130, Nick Sipes at 189 and Brandon Padgett at 215.
Curwensville coach Duane Wriglesworth II was in a much better mood than he was after Thursday night\’s very disappointing 45-11 loss to archrival Clearfield.
\”We wanted to finish up on a winning note with two matches left and now we\’ve got the .500 season secured, so we\’re happy with that,\” he said. \”We were shooting for that, but it\’s been kind of an up-and-down year. We still have several guys out of the lineup right now. Hopefully, we\’ll be at full strength going into districts.\”
The Golden Tide, without Brett McCracken (145), Jesse Hoover (160-171), Nathan Russell (215) and Joe Hawkins (215-285) available, led all the way after Padgett received a forfeit in the first match.
After Black Knight heavyweight Andy Stine (19-9) beat Nick Caldwell 7-4, Brothers (24-5) pinned Nathan Jacoby in 2:56, Peters (18-14) shut out Joel Walstrom 4-0 with a takedown and reversal and Sutika (16-10) got his forfeit to make it 21-3.
\”Brothers looked good and Peters must have tilted Walstrom half a dozen times but couldn\’t get any back points because Walstrom kept sitting up,\” Wriglesworth said. \”Peters was giving up a lot of height there.\”
The forfeit win by Thomas (17-11), Johnston\’s solid 6-2 victory over Shane Davis and Smith\’s fall in 3:52 against Brian Jasper assured Curwensville of the win with a 36-15 lead and Sipes (23-2) in line for a forfeit in the final match.
\”Johnston had a nice match, and I was pretty happy with Smith,\” Wriglesworth said. \”He really worked what we call a bunches series, going underneath to the far elbow, pulling the guy to his side, then going around the head while pulling the wrist and elbow before slipping in a back half.\”
Mo Valley\’s other winners were Mark Godin (125), undefeated Ryan Jacoby (25-0 at 135) and Ron Queen (22-5 at 171) by falls and Caleb Selvage (152) and Shane Murarik (160) by decisions.
Selvage overcame two takedowns by Matt Holland to win 8-4 with a reversal and near fall in the second period and a takedown late in the third period, while Murarik edged Jarrett Sloppy 3-1 in a takedown in the final seconds.
\”Holland and Sloppy both had several shots and couldn\’t finish,\” Wriglesworth pointed out.
The Golden Tide will host Brookville Tuesday in its final dual meet. It will be Parents Night and Senior Night.
Curwensville 42, Moshannon Valley 27
215 — Brandon Padgett, C, won by forfeit. (6-0) 285 — Andy Stine, MV, dec. Nick Caldwell, 7-4. (6-3) 103 — Derek Brothers, C, pinned Nathan Jacoby, 2:56. (12-3) 112 — Tyler Peters, C, dec. Joel Walstrom, 4-0. (15-3) 119 — Brett Sutika, C, won by forfeit. (21-3) 125 — Mark Godin, MV, pinned Kristy Newpher, :51. (21-9) 130 — Jeff Thomas, C, won by forfeit. (27-9) 135 — Ryan Jacoby, MV, pinned Duane Wriglesworth, :44. (27-15) 140 — Justin Johnston, C, dec. Shane Davis, 6-2. (30-15) 145 — Justin Smith, C, pinned Brian Jasper, 3:52. (36-15) 152 — Caleb Selvage, MV, dec. Matt Holland, 8-4. (36-18) 160 — Shane Murarik, MV, dec. Jarrett Sloppy, 3-1. (36-21) 171 — Ron Queen, MV, pinned Bob Ciamacco, 1:09. (36-27) 189 — Nick Sipes, C, won by forfeit. (42-27)