NTL WRESTLING: ATHENS RALLIES TO TOP CANTON, 39-33 (10 PHOTOS) (2025-01-07)

Valley Sports Report
CANTON — Athens dug itself a big hole with three early forfeits, but rallied by winning six of the final seven weight classes to pull out a 39-33 win over Canton here Tuesday night in NTL wrestling action.

Junior Leland Pepper gave the Warriors a big spark early with a first-period pin of Athens freshman Judah Nelson.

Canton then picked up forfeits at 285, 107, and 114 to stretch its lead to 24-0.

Wildcat sophomore Zaine Campbell started the comeback at 121 pounds with a 38-second fall of Henry Proseus at 121 pounds to close the gap to 24-6.

In one of only two matches to go a full six minutes, Canton senior Lyle Vermilya pulled out a hard-fought, 2-0, decision over junior Lucas Persun at 127 pounds to make it 27-6.

Sophomore Wyatt Clink really got things rolling for the Wildcats at 133 pounds with a pin of Ethan Brasington in 5:14 to cut the deficit to 27-12.

Junior Karson Sipley followed with a 60-second pin of Carson Tillotson at 139 pounds to make it 27-18, and freshman Treyton Barrett pulled out a wild, 13-10, decision over Canton's Tommy Preston at 145 to close the gap to 27-21.

Canton standout Carson Rockwell stopped the Athens momentum momentarily with a second-period pin of Hayden Mercer in the 152-pound match-up to put the Warriors up 33-21.

With the Wildcats set to pick up forfeits at 172 pounds (senior Ethan Elliott) and 189 pounds (sophomore Connor Davidson), the match came down to the 160-pound bout, and Athens sophomore Brendan Cooke came through with a 69-second fall.

The Wildcats, now 4-0, return to action Thursday when they host Troy at 6 p.m.

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IN PHOTO 1 and TOP PHOTO: Athens sophomore Zaine Campbell. ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOE CARREON.

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ATHENS 39, CANTON 33
215: Leland Pepper (C) by fall over Judah Nason (A), 0:46;
285: Levi Landau (C) won by forfeit;
107: Carson Castle (C) won by forfeit;
114: Levi Vermilya (C) won by forfeit;
121: Zaine Campbell (A) by fall over Henry Proseus (C), 0:38;
127: Lyle Vermilya (C) dec. Lucas Persun (A), 2-0;
133: Wyatt Clink (A) by fall over Ethan Brasington (C), 5:14;
139: Karson Sipley (A) by fall over Carson Tillotson (C), 1:00;
145: Treyton Barrett (A) dec. Tommy Preston (C), 13-10;
152: Carson Rockwell (C) by fall over Hayden Mercer (A), 2:31;
160: Brendan Cooke (A) by fall over Lawerence Halbfoerster (C), 1:09;
172: Ethan Elliott (A) won by forfeit;
189: Connor Davidson (A) won by forfeit.


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