CURWENSVILLE – After the first three bouts Tuesday night the Johnsonburg wrestling squad held a 9-6 lead over Curwensville. Then the waters rose and the Tide literally swallowed the Rams by outscoring them 49-0 until the final bout at 140.
The 55-15 thumping ensured the Golden Tide of a 10 win season as they stretched their overall record to 10-6. Johnsonburg, who did give up four forfeits along the way, fell to 6-13 for the 2008-09 season.
Curwensville head coach Duane Wriglesworth was obviously very pleased with his team\’s performance, “We are really wrestling well at this point of the season and beating Johnsonburg, who always gives us trouble, is very satisfying. I just can’t praise the squad enough on how well they have been wrestling.”
Jeff Thomas got the Tide started with a forfeit at 145 but the Rams won the next two matches to forge ahead 9-6. At 152 Josh Woodford turned Curwensville’s Kyle Kyler for the fall in 3:45 and the Rams Michael Paladino eked out a 5-4 decision over Justin Smith to put the visitors out in front at Patton Hall.
Curwensville picked up three straight forfeits at 171, 189 and 215 before heavyweight Walter Koontz of the Tide pinned Chad Hefright just 38 seconds into their bout giving Curwensville a commanding 30-9 margin.
The ever improving Greg Koptchak raised some eyebrows from Tide fans when he turned and pinned Cody Schreiber at the 103 pound weight class in 2:29.
The Tide now had an overwhelming lead, 36-9, with three feature bouts just ahead that was well worth the price of admission and more.
The Rams sent out unbeaten Jesse Wolfe, 22-0 to face freshman Jake Keller at 112. Wolfe had edged Keller in the January 3 match at the Coudersport duals, 6-5, which the Tide also won 37-24.
Keller picked up the first period takedown to go into the second period up 2-0. Wolfe started down and reversed the Tide underclassman only to have Keller get a reversal of his own to go up 4-2 after two periods. Wolfe gave the escape to Keller to start the final 2 minutes to fall behind 5-2 before taking down the Tide lightweight to make it 5-4. Once again Keller was given the escape by Wolfe who couldn’t get the takedown to tie it up as Keller pulled off a major win, 6-4. Keller is now 18-5 on the year.
Derek Brothers of Curwensville picked up his 19th win against two losses as he bested Quinton O’Rourke 6-0 who dropped to 19-4. Brothers had also shutout O’Rourke in their first bout, 2-0.
Then it was Golden Tide senior, Tyler Peters, who put the large crowd on the edge of their seats. Peters, at 125, had lost to Max Zimmerman of the Rams 6-3 in the Tide’s first match with Johnsonburg. Not on this night though as Peters picked up a hard fought, gutsy 4-2 win. Zimmerman dropped to 18-3.
Curwensville picked up two more wins on the night as Jeff Smallwood, at 130, gained a 9-1 major decision win and Brett Sutika, at 135, showed Kenny Gadley of the Rams the lights with a pin in 2:30.
The final match saw Preston Mahoney of Johnsonburg pinning Wes McGarry in 4:35 to set the final score at 55-15 in favor of the Golden Tide.
The Tide will next be in action on Wednesday night when they host Moshannon Valley.
SUMMARY:
145 Jeff Thomas, C won by Forfeit 6 0
152 Josh Woodford, J pinned Kyle Kyler, C 3:45 6 6
160 Michael Paladino, J dec Justin Smith, C 5-4 6 9
171 Zack Dimmick, C won by Forfeit 12 9
189 Jonathan Michaels, C won by Forfeit 18 9
215 Nathan Russell, C won by Forfeit 24 9
285 Walter Koontz, C pinned Chad Hefright, J :38 30 9
103 Greg Koptchak, C pinned Cody Schreiber, J 2:29 36 9
112 Jake Keller, C dec Jesse Wolfe, J 6-4 39 9
119 Derek Brothers, C dec Quinton O’Rourke, J 6-0 42 9
125 Tyler Peters, C dec Max Zimmerman, J 4-2 45 9
130 Jeff Smallwood, C major dec Zac Wolfe, J 9-1 49 9
135 Brett Sutika, C pinned Kenny Gadley, J 2:30 55 9
140 Preston Mahoney, J pinned Wes McGarry, C 4:35 55 15