NEW BETHLEHEM — Some followers of Redbank Valley High School wrestling believe the 2012-13 team has the potential to be one of the best in school history, and the District 9 Class AA power displayed that talent again Thursday night in a 57-15 win over Curwensville.
The Bulldogs, who made their presence known by placing 10th among 33 mostly-Class AAA teams in the prestigious King of the Mountain Tournament and then knocked off defending D-9 Class AA dual meet champion Brookville 36-33 and dominated 14 guests in the 42nd annual Redbank Valley Christmas Tournament in December, racked up six falls and three major decisions among their 10 on-the-mat wins.
They also had one regular decision, Cal Haines edging Ricky Magnuson 3-1 at 220 pounds in one of the meet’s only two close bouts, and received one forfeit in their third dual victory.
For Curwensville (4-5), 126 pounder Jake Lancaster and heavyweight Brad Stubbs registered pins while freshman Jason Koptchak (4-6) posted his first mat win, besting Ryan Kube 7-5 at 106.
Lancaster, continuing the momentum he initiated at the Coudersport Duals last Saturday, made Mitch Blose his sixth consecutive fall victim to climb over the .500 mark at 7-6. His 43-second pin was the fastest of the match.
Stubbs (7-2) avenged a 14-10 loss to Ben Carillo in the 2012 district consolation finals by flattening the Bulldog junior in 1:29. Stubbs pinned Carillo in 19 seconds in last year’s dual meet.
In two of the feature bouts, Redbank Valley’s Ty Haines (10-2) earned a 10-0 major decision over Trey McKenzie (10-3) at 145 and Cole Shirey (9-3) pinned Zach Tibbens (7-4) 40 seconds into the second period at 160.
The Bulldogs prevailed in four other bouts pairing wrestlers with winning records, including Haines (7-3) over Magnuson (4-4).
Brandon Bailey (10-5) and Aaron Hook (11-1) got the hosts off to an 8-0 start with major decisions at 170 and 182, respectively. Bailey triumphed 11-2 over Nate Wriglesworth (7-7) and Hook logged an 8-0 shutout against Austin Pollick (4-3).
Reigning 113-pound district champion Willis Gruver (10-3) made it 23-9 when he pinned Sam Bressler (7-5) in 46 seconds.
Tanner Altobelli (120), Austin Schreckengost (132), Luke Gallo (138) and Keshon Truitt (152) were the other Bulldogs with falls against the Golden Tide.
Curwensville will attempt to even its record again Thursday at Ridgway.
Redbank Valley 57, Curwensville 15
170 – Brandon Bailey, RV, major dec. Nate Wriglesworth, 11-2. (RV 4-0)
182 – Aaron Hook, RV, major dec. Austin Pollick, 8-0. (RV 8-0)
195 – Luke Hinderliter, RV, won by forfeit. (RV 14-0)
220 – Cal Haines, RV, dec. Ricky Magnuson, 3-1. (RV 17-0)
285 – Brad Stubbs, C, pinned Ben Carillo, 1:29. (RV 17-6)
106 – Jason Koptchak, C, dec. Ryan Kube, 7-5. (RV 17-9)
113 – Willis Gruver, RV, pinned Sam Bressler, :46. (RV 23-9)
120 –Tanner Altobelli, RV, pinned Tyler Mays, 3:40. (RV 29-9)
126 – Jake Lancaster, C, pinned Mitch Blose, :43. (RV 29-15)
132 – Austin Schreckengost, RV, pinned Brandon Sass, 5:41. (RV 35-15)
138 – Luke Gallo, RV, pinned Pat Shearer, :50. (RV 41-15)
145 – Ty Haines, RV, major dec. Trey McKenzie, 10-0. (RV 45-15)
152 – Keshon Truitt, RV, pinned Dakota Royer, :50. (RV 51-15)
160 – Cole Shirey, RV, pinned Zach Tibbens, 2:40. (RV 57-15)
Golden Tide Scoreboard:
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 12/08 | @ Mountaineer Tourney | 6th | 0 – 0 |
| 12/11 | @ West Branch | 13 – 64 | 0 – 1 |
| 12/13 | BROCKWAY | 48 – 32 | 1 – 1 |
| 01/03 | @ Punxsutawney | 30 – 49 | 1 – 2 |
| 01/05 | @ Coudersport Duals | ||
| vs. Lewisburg | 21 – 60 | 1 – 3 | |
| vs. Coudersport | 51 – 26 | 2 – 3 | |
| vs. Maplewood | 24 – 51 | 2 – 4 | |
| vs. Cameron County | 42 – 40 | 3 – 4 | |
| vs. Sheffield | 60 – 24 | 4 – 4 | |
| 01/10 | @ Redbank Valley | 15 – 57 | 4 – 5 |
| 01/17 | @ Ridgway |
