Curwensville Wins Three of Five Wrestling Matches Against Mo Valley

HOUTZDALE – The Curwensville Golden Tide traveled to wrestle Moshannon Valley on Friday, and though they didn’t have the manpower to win the match, giving up six forfeits, they won three of the five actual bouts wrestled. The flu was in full force in Curwensville this week, and several key wrestlers didn’t make the trip.

After giving up a forfeit to start the match at 182, Curwensville sophomore Gage Roos (1-20) quickly found himself on his back and was pinned by Mo Valley’s Frank Warholic in just 26 seconds. After another forfeit at 220, Moshannon Valley led the match 18-0.

Then Golden Tide senior Steve McClure (23-2) met up against Black Knight Trae Kitko at 285, where McClure was able to open up his offense, scoring two takedowns and looking good on top. “Kitko’s a good wrestler.” said Coach Swatsworth. “But I thought Steve dominated that match. We were working on a lot of things, and he showed me a lot of things tonight.”

The next match wrestled was at 120 pounds, where Curwensville junior Blake Passarelli (22-4) wrestled a dead even match against Mo Valley’s Joe Ball. While Passarelli had better offense, Ball had outstanding defense, countering multiple takedown attempts. Deep in the third period, the match was tied at 1-1 when Ball and Passarelli got in a tremendous flurry that Passarelli eventually came out on top of. As time expired, there was some pushing and shoving from Ball’s end, and Mo Valley was deducted a team point. Some of the audience was booing, as they were sure Ball had also gotten his own takedown, but the referee asserted his view that Passarelli had maintained a wizzer and had improved his position from nearly being taken down.

“I understand where [he’s] coming from.” said Coach Dean Swatsworth. “When you’re out there on the mat, your energy’s high. You have to keep that composure. But emotions run. I know how it is. And right there is what wrestling is all about. Scrambles like that. I thought they both wrestled pretty well, and one wrong move from either wrestler is what determined who won.”

After that match, the score was 23-6, Moshannon Valley. Following three more forfeits, Curwensville sophomore Adam Straw (11-8) looked savage, smelling blood after getting an early takedown and attacking relentlessly until he got the fall in just 45 seconds over Black Knight Austin Sly. “We need to do more of that!” said an excited Coach Swatsworth. This brought the team score to 23-12, Mo Valley.

After two more forfeits, Mo Valley’s Max Demko pinned Curwensville’s Nick Holbert (4-9) in 40 seconds. “Holbert [has been sick]. He’s been out since yesterday. It’s his first year and he’s aggressive. That’s what I like. I hope he sticks with it here the next few seasons. He’s only a sophomore, and this is his first year.”

Overall, Coach Swatsworth was happy. The final score was 47-18, Mo Valley, but some of Curwensville’s best wrestlers didn’t get to wrestle, and some of Moshannon Valley’s wrestlers didn’t get to wrestle. Of the matches that were wrestled, Curwensville won where they should have. Curwensville will return to action Tuesday when they travel to Indiana.

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Current Records as of 02/09/18

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