By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
WAVERLY "" Waverly won six consecutive weight classes - two falls, and four forfeits - to overcome an early deficit, and post a 53-24 win over Whitney Point here Wednesday night in IAC Large School wrestling action.
"It's a good win," said Waverly coach Devan Witman.
"You never know what Whitney Point is coming in with. They are one of those teams that practices a lot of headlocks, and they can catch you in a lot of different ways," he noted. "We tried to practice our best sound technique.
"It wasn't our best wrestling tonight, but it was a good win for us," added Witman.
In the opening bout, Whitney Point's Hunter Ballard rallied from a 6-2 deficit to edge Waverly junior Austin Kimble, 8-7, at 152 pounds, to give the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead.
After Waverly senior Ethan Stotler received a forfeit at 160 pounds, Killian Prentice and Austin Quail registered falls for Whitney Point, at 170 and 182 pounds, respectively, to give them a 15-6 lead.
Junior Trevor Meyers started Waverly's decisive run with a pin of Ryan Quail in 2:45 at 195 pounds, and freshman Gage Tedesco overwhelmed Whitney Point's Colin Weeks for a fall in 22 seconds to give the Wolverines the lead for good, at 18-15.
"I know it's early, and there are still a lot of matches to go, but Trevor and Gage are putting together great years," said Witman. "We'll see where it goes in the next couple weeks because we're going to run into some hammers.
"They work extremely hard in the room," added Witman. "Those two are partners and the beat each other up. Now, they're starting to see some of those results out on the mat."
Senior Trent Skeens, at 285, freshman Connor Stotler (106), senior Madison Yeakel (113), and freshman Madison Ham (120) each received forfeits to give Waverly a 42-15 lead. (There was no match at 99 pounds.)
State-ranked Aidan Rosa ended Waverly's run with an 8-5 decision over senior Rylan Laforest, but needed a five-point move in the third period to rally.
"That one was a killer," said Witman. "Rylan got taken down early in the first, worked his way back, and led 5-3 in the third period. That's a situation where he has to know that he doesn't need the takedown.
"It was a funky position and he tried to force it, and score more more points than he needed, and it didn't work out for him.
"We fix that one mistake, and it's a different match," added Witman. "We see Whitney Point two or three more times. If we get that match-up again, I think it ends up completely different."
Sophomore Garrett Skeens put Waverly back on the winning track with a 15-0 technical fall of WP's Kristian Nilsen in 4:55. Skeens led 10-0 after the first period.
Sophomore Cole Stanton kept it going to the Wolverines, slapping a headlock on Devin Mardisosan, and scoring a 39-second fall to give Waverly a 53-18 lead.
"We found a move for Cole Stanton, he likes that headlock," said Witman. "It's interesting because he hits it so well.
"For
some reason, I can't get him to hit a high-crotch that well, but that
headlock is textbook; he get his hips through and has that guy
airborne," added Witman.
In exhibition matches, freshman Lilyparker Ennis and senior Austin Snider registered falls.
Waverly returns action Saturday at the Campbell-Savona Duals.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Trevor Meyers. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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WAVERLY 53, WHITNEY POINT 24
152: Hunter Ballard (WP) dec. Austin Kimble (W), 8-7;
160: Ethan Stotler (W) won by forfeit;
170: Killian Prentice (WP) by fall over Kaden Kipling (W), 1:37;
182: Austin Quail (WP) by fall over Andrew Kimble (W), 0:47;
195: Trevor Meyers (W) by fall over Ryan Quail (WP), 2:45;
220: Gage Tedesco (W) by fall over Colin Weeks (WP), 0:22;
285: Trent Skeens (W) won by forfeit;
99: No match;
106: Connor Stotler (W) won by forfeit;
113: Madison Yeakel (W) won by forfeit;
120: Mason Ham (W) won by forfeit;
126: Aiden Rosa (WP) dec. Rylan LaForest (W), 8-5;
132: Garrett Skeens (W) tech. fall over Kristian Nilson (WP), 15-0 @ 4:55;
138: Cole Stanton (W) by fall over Devin Mardirosan (WP), 0:39;
145: Jordan Canniff (WP) by fall over Braeden Hills (W), 0:16.
