CURWENSVILLE — Two weeks ago was the last time the Golden Tide grapplers of Curwensville took to the mats in Patton Hall. That night, they ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, losing to west Branch 52-21.
Hoping to get things going off the right way in the new year, the Tide took to the same mat, and looked across the floor at the visiting Punxsutawney Chucks, all whom looked ready to put a victory both on their own records, along with the team.
The Chucks would win more matches in the circle, but it wasn’t enough. Of the first five bouts, four of them went to Curwensville due to forfeit. That gave the Tide an early advantage that would prove to be challenging to make up in later matches. Curwenvsille would hold on despite a push in the middle of the card to lock down the 46-25 victory.
The night was to begin at the 106 weight class, but neither team had a member make weight. But the next four classes from 113-132 all went to Curwensville via forfeit. Blake Passarelli, Seth Woodcock, Dylan Myers, and Ethan Collins all stepped to center circle and gave the Tide the quick 24-0 lead. But Punxsutawney quickly looked to make up for it.
When the action finally got started at 138 pounds, both Conner Giavedoni of the Chucks and Logan Charles of the Tide would go back and forth, with Charles holding a strong lead through the first four minutes. The 6-2 cushion began fading away in the final period, and when it seemed as though Charles possibly had it locked up, Giavedoni was able to gain back points just as the final buzzer went off, and it was enough to give him the 9-8 decision, putting Punxsutawney on the board.
Elijah Lambiotte would follow up the decision victory in quick fashion at 145 pounds, pinning Jordan Peters in less than a minute to get the first fall of the night. Curwensville responded in the next bout as Shae Bloom would pin Stone Smith to the mat at the 1:31 mark to put the Tide back up by 21.
Punxsutawney would not go away, and make a statement with the next two bouts at 160 and 170 pounds, starting when it took Kaleb Young only 26 seconds to get the pin on Tristen Bressler. Cody Smith followed that with an 11-0 major decision over Jeffrey Harvey, pulling the Chucks to within two pins of taking the lead.
One major decision was answered right back when Ben Junod dominated the 182 pound bout against John Mark Miller, taking the 12-2 victory and pushing the Tide’s lead to 34-19.
The final three bouts would all see pins, with two of the three going in favor of Curwensville. Alexander Neal would defeat Hunter Lancaster at the 4:14 mark of their 220 pound match. But, that was sandwiched betwen Kaleb Witherite’s pin of Shaun Herndon at 195, then James Lee getting the pin at 2:22 of the heavyweight class.
Curwensville (5-3) will continue their homestand at Patton Hall on Thursday night when they host Redbank Valley.
MATCH RECAP
- 106: No match, 0-0
- 113: Blake Passarelli (CV) wins via forfeit, 0-6
- 120: Seth Woodcock (CV) wins via forfeit, 0-12
- 126: Dylan Myers (CV) wins via forfeit, 0-18
- 132: Ethan Collins (CV) wins via forfeit, 0-24
- 138: Connor Giavedoni (PXY) 9-8 decision over Logan Charles (CV), 3-24
- 145: Elijah Lambiotte (PXY) pinned Jordan Peters (CV) 0:53, 9-24
- 152: Shae Bloom (CV) pinned Stone Smith (PXY) 1:31, 9-30
- 160: Kaleb Young (PXY) pinned Tristen Bressler (CV) 0:26, 15-30
- 170: Cody Smith (PXY) 11-0 major decision over Jeffrey Harvey (CV), 19-30
- 182: Ben Junod (CV) 12-2 major decision over John Mark Miller (PXY), 19-34
- 195: Kaleb Witherite (CV) pinned Shaun Herndon (PXY) 1:51, 19-40
- 220: Alexander Neal (PXY) pinned Hunter Lancaster (CV) 4:14, 25-40
- 285: James Lee (CV) pinned Garrett Bennett (PXY) 2:22, 25-46
Golden Tide Scoreboard:
Date Opponent Score Record
12/05 Mountaineer Tourney @ PO 110 pts. 6th
12/17 RIDGWAY 38 – 42 0 – 1
12/19 @ Redbank Valley Duals
vs. Keystone Oaks 45 – 33 1 – 1
vs. Oswayo Valley 66 – 17 2 – 1
vs. Slippery Rock 48 – 30 3 – 1
vs. Marion Center 28 – 37 3 – 2
vs. Smethport 45 – 15 4 – 2
12/22 WEST BRANCH 21 – 52 4 – 3
01/05 PUNXSUTAWNEY 46 – 25 5 – 3
01/07 REDBANK VALLEY
01/12 @ Clarion
01/22 @ Glendale
01/23 @ Clearfield Duals
01/26 @ Brookville
01/28 @ Mo Valley
01/29 & 30 Fred Bell Tourney @ Grove City
02/04 @ Cameron County
02/09 @ Johnsonburg
02/11 @ Brockway
02/26 & 27 District 9 AA Champs @Clfd HS
03/04 & 05 Northwest Regionals @ Sharon
03/10-03/12 PIAA States @ Hershey