COUDERSPORT - Sheffield is making strides, and was a match or two away from a tight District 9 contest against host Coudersport on Tuesday.
After a forfeit win at 220, sophomore Eric Moreno tied the match at 12-12 for Sheffield with a hard-fought pin at 285. With a number in Sheffield's lineup bumping up a weight, Moreno fought Coudy's Jesse Lincoln until the final minute of the third period. He was down 4-3.
Ricky Prosen earned a wild 19-7 major decision at 120 three matches later and a forfeit win gave Sheffield a 22-18 lead with six matches left.
Coudersport won five of those six matches. Coudy's lead was too big to overcome when Sheffield's Anthony Jones ended the match with a pin in 1:29 at 171.
Sheffield coach Jack Rice said one of those five losses was a good performance by Tyler Brisson at 132 in a 5-4 decision loss to Ben Ragosta.
"We're just really young and inexperienced, and taking baby steps," said Rice, Whose Wolverines (0-3) are at the Redbank Valley Tournament on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 29 and 30.
Coudersport 44, Sheffield 28
182: Jeremy Sedorchuk (C) p. Jacob Gorton, 4:36
195: Forest Tuttle (C) p. Robert Koetzel, :44
220: Hunter Jones (S) wbf.
285: Eric Moreno (S) p. Jesse Lincoln, 5:03
106: Jacob Swede (C) wbf.
113: No match.
120: Ricky Prosen (S) maj dec. Cory Snook, 19-7
126: Brandon Johnston (S) wbf.
132: Ben Ragosta (C) dec. Tyler Brisson, 5-4
138: Cody Bova (C) p. Collin Maines, 4:45
145: Kyle Bova (C) tech. fall. Doug Grubbs, 17-1, 5:00
152: Nick Ayers (C) p. Dakota Bailey, 2:50
160: Clayton Wilson (C) p. Steven Gregerson, :40
171: Anthony Jones (S) p. Zack Elenchin, :1:29