CURWENSVILLE – In a match that got off to a see-saw start, the Curwensville Area High School wrestling team finished strong, parlaying two forfeits, three hard-earned decisions and its third fall into a 43-13 win over Marion Center in front of a large Parents Night and Senior Night Patton Hall crowd Thursday night.
The once-beaten Golden Tide\’s sixth victory matches of the totals of each of coach Duane Wriglesworth II\’s first two squads.
Curwensville\’s pins by Jeff Thomas in the opening bout at 145, Jarrett Sloppy at 171 and Justin Johnston in the finale at 140 all came in the first period against what Wriglesworth labeled an improved Stinger squad.
\”I told the guys, \’Just don\’t underestimate these guys, let\’s go after bonus points,\’ and they did,\” he said.
Greg Koptchak (103) added a major decision to the bonus list, while Tyler Peters (119), Brett Sutika (125) and Wes McGarry (130) registered decisions and Derek Brothers (112) and Walter Koontz (285) received forfeits.
Marion Center, which had a pin, a major decision and a decision, probably is one of the most improved teams in the region, if not the state, with 10 wins in 25 dual meets after having no wins last season.
\”We knew they were good enough to beat us,\” Wriglesworth said. \”We\’ve got some kids sick and hurt, so we\’re very pleased with our effort.\”
Thomas got the Golden Tide rolling but taking down Jed Peterson with a fireman\’s carry, turning him with a half nelson and hooking up a cradle for the fall at 1:28.
The Stingers went ahead 7-6 on 152-pounder Casey LaVan\’s 4-3 squeaker over Brett McCracken and 160-pounder Bill Miller\’s 11-2 major decision against Justin Smith.
McCracken escaped and hit a snap-and-spin takedown for a 3-0 lead in the second period, but LaVan broke free with 15 seconds left and then escaped quickly in the third period before getting the winning takedown with 1:06 remaining.
\”McCracken just wasn\’t feeling well,\” Wriglesworth said. \”I\’m not making excuses for him, because he had one of the best kids on their team. LaVan\’s a quality opponent.\”
Miller took down Smith twice with double-legs in the first period and muscled for two more takedowns and a near fall.
The lead changed hands on quick falls in the next two matches. Curwensville\’s Sloppy used a throwby to get Kyle Condrick on the mat and then pinned him in 1:05 with a reverse half and press before Marion Center\’s Alex Winebark double-legged Matt Schultz to his back and ended the 189 bout in 20 seconds with a bar and press.
That left the Stingers holding a 13-12 lead, but the forfeit wins by Koontz and Brothers around Koptchak\’s major decision put the Golden Tide in control, 28-13.
Koptchak switched from a single to a double for the initial takedown a minute into his bout with Sasha Brudnock, but he led only 3-0 going to the final period, when he pulled away to a 9-0 victory with a takedown, penalty point and late near fall.
At 119, Peters built a 6-3 lead with takedowns and escapes in each of the first two periods, turned Ed Turner with a power half while riding with legs in the third period and prevailed 8-5.
Sutika followed with a comeback win against Adam Leasure, reversing and putting the Stinger on his back in the second overtime period for an 8-4 thriller. Leasure scored the first points on an escape and takedown in the second period of regulation, but Sutika reversed and then escaped early in the third period to force overtime.
\”That was the match of night,\” Wriglesworth said. \”Sutika was sick going into this match, and to pull out the win in overtime in the fashion he did is just outstanding. I\’m very proud of what he did.\”
McGarry came out of a flurry on top for a takedown and near fall with 44 seconds left in the first period and spent the rest of the 130 bout riding Cory Morris for a 4-0 win.
Johnston rushed into Kristopher Watkins for a quick takedown, but the final match had to be stopped while they shook off the effects off bumping heads. When action resumed, the Golden Tide senior turned the Stinger with a half and bar and notched a 20-second fall with what Wriglesworth called a \”wrist and a back pocket.\”
Embellishing its 6-1 record won\’t be easy for Curwensville down the stretch, starting with Saturday\’s 11:30 a.m. rematch with Ridgway (17-4) in the District 9 Class AA Team Championships semifinals at the DuBois Area High School. Brookville and Clearfield (12-4), which advanced to the Class AAA title match with a 35-29 win over DuBois Thursday night, await next week, followed by 9-AA top seed Redbank Valley (9-3) and Johnsonburg in makeup matches the following week.
Ridgway handed the Golden Tide its lone loss, 50-18, on Jan. 17.
\”We definitely know what they have,\” Wriglesworth said. \”It\’s a tough draw.\”
Curwensville 43, Marion Center 13
145 – Jeff Thomas, C, pinned Jed Peterson, 1:28. (6-0)
152 – Casey LaVan, MC, dec. Brett McCracken, 4-3. (6-3)
160 – Bill Miller, MC, major dec. Justin Smith, 11-2. (6-7)
171 – Jarrett Sloppy, C, pinned Kyle Condrick, 1:05. (12-7)
189 – Alex Winebark, MC, pinned Matt Schultz, :20. (12-13)
215 – No bout.
285 – Walter Koontz, C, won by forfeit. (18-13)
103 – Greg Koptchak, C, major dec. Sasha Brudnock, 9-0. (22-13)
112 – Derek Brothers C, won by forfeit. (28-13)
119 – Tyler Peters, C, dec. Ed Turner, 8-5. (31-13)
125 – Brett Sutika, C, dec. Adam Leasure, 8-4. (34-13)
130 – Wes McGarry, C, dec. Cory Morris, 4-0. (37-13)
135 – No bout.
140 – Justin Johnston, C, pinned Kristopher Watkins, :54. (43-13).
Referee – Bob Peters.