UNION CITY - Beat them on the mat.
That was Youngsville wrestling coach Scott Ishman's preseason goal and that's exactly what his Eagles did to Union City Wednesday at Union City High School.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, giving away 18 points in forfeits to the Bears was simply too much to overcome during a 43-31 loss that drops Youngsville to 4-6 on the season.
"On the mat, we beat them," said Ishman. "The kids knew coming out we were giving up 18 points, but I can't say enough for how hard they battled. Knowing we were giving up points, we worked hard for all the bonuses we could get, but some of the bounces just didn't go our way tonight."
Ishman was pleased with the strong start 182-pounder Sage Sivak provided the team. Back on the mat in 2011-12 after missing last season, Sivak opened the night with a third period pin of the Bears' Nick Thomco.
After a Bears forfeit win at 195 pounds, the Eagles went back on top when Jaykup Durlin earned a 6-4 decision victory over Storm McDonald to run his season record to 13-1.
Fact Box
No result was available by press time for the Sheffield at Smethport wrestling match.
Union City got a major decision at heavyweight and a forfeit at 106 pounds before the Eagles got things going in their direction once more.
Both Aaron Hoover (113 pounds) and Chester Ciukaj (120 pounds) worked hard in earning pins in their respective matches. The back-to-back pins by the Eagles gave the visitors a 21-16 advantage with half the weight classes completed.
"Chester and Aaron both won very tight battles with their opponents," said Ishman. "They battled hard, stayed with it and got a couple of important pins for us."
Union City responded to Youngsville's run with pins of their own at 126 and 132 pounds. However, at 138 pounds, Hunter Proctor got the Eagles back on the winning track with a 13-4 major decision of the Bears' Jake Kolodziejczak.
Three of the final four matches of the night would end with Union City wins. The lone exception was Jeremy Lyon who wrestled well in earning a second period pin at 160 pounds.
What was perhaps the match of the night was saved for last as Youngsville's Josh Lewis and Union City's Tim Vargo squared off. The grapplers were neck and neck throughout the match and stood tied 2-2 late in the third before Vargo worked a takedown and emerged with a 4-2 decision.
"Both of those guys are really amazing wrestlers," said Ishman. "Unless one of them bumps up or down a weight class, they are going to be seeing each other at sections and districts this season."
The Eagles will try to rebound from the loss Wednesday when they visit Eisenhower for the annual rivalry match.
UNION CITY 43, YOUNGSVILLE 31
182: Sage Sivak (Y) p. Nick Tomcho (U), 4:43
195: Steven Coulter (U) wbf.
220: Jaykup Durlin (Y) d. Storm McDonald (U), 6-4
285: Jeff Burger (U) md. Stephen Beattie (Y), 18-9
106: Alyssa Swab (U) wbf.
113: Aaron Hoover (Y) p. Pat Burns (U), 5:19
120: Chester Ciukaj (Y) p. Scott Steenrod (U), 4:37
126: Dustin Tomcho (U) p. Judi Lewis (Y), 2:34
132: Tyler Lindsley (U) p. Chandler Flinn (Y), 0:29
138: Hunter Proctor (Y) md. Jake Kolodziejczak (U), 13-4
145: Josh Reinke (U) wbf.
152: Jared Brooks (U) p. Zach Ishman (Y), 5:54
160: Jeremy Lyon (Y) p. Stacey Lindstrom (U), 2:23
170: Tim Vargo (U) d. Josh Lewis (Y), 4-2
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Meadville 36, Warren 34
MEADVILLE - When coaches preach that every second counts, this is a prime example. A pin instead of decision - every point - can mean the difference between a win or loss for the team in high school wrestling.
Bonus points cost Warren on Wednesday in a 36-34 Region 4 loss at Meadville.
Warren did have some noteworthy efforts, even in individual losses, including pins by Robert Brown at heavyweight in 43 seconds, Drew Williams at 145 in 1:57, and Cody Gunn at 160 in 4:09 (up 8-3 at time of pin). Other wins for Warren included Jonah Hordusky, who gave up the first takedown of the match at 132 before 12 near-fall points in a 17-2 technical-fall win. Anthony Molinaro stepped up to earn at 8-4 decision at 138 for Warren (1-4 in region). Finally, Alex Streich earned a 4-2 decision at 195, but Warren trailed 36-31 entering the last match.
Warren coach Glenn Baldensperger noted that Mike Crone and Collin DeLattre showed heart in losses. Crone was pinned in 4:42 in the third period to Meadville's Jimmy Shields, the third-rated wrestler in District 10 Class AAA at 220. DeLattre fought hard until the end in a 7-1 decision to Zach Luben at 120.
Warren's Garrett Smead bumped up to 152 and was wrestling Louis Crawford well before a takedown with seconds remaining cost him the decision. Warren 106-pounder Seth Johnson was trailing 5-2 in the third period before being pinned.
Warren also lost a team point during the match. No further details were reported.
Meadville 36, Warren 34
220: Jimmy Shields (M) p. Mike Crone, 4:42
285: Robert Brown (W) p. Caleb Prater, :43
106: Aaron Ehrgott (M) p. Seth Johnson, 4:35
113: JaQuai Boyd (M) p. Nate Park, 1:56
120: Zach Luben (M) dec. Collin DeLattre, 7-1
126: DJ Fehlman (W) wbf
132: Jonah Hordusky (W) tech fall. Brock Ridgeway, 17-2
138 Anthony Molinaro (W) dec. Brandon Owens, 8-4
145: Drew Williams (W) p. Patrick Adams, 1:57
152: Louis Crawford (M) dec. Garrett Smead, 11-9
160: Cody Gunn (W) p. Kris Nottingham, 4:09
171: Zack Towers (M) p. Hunter Mohney, :19
182: Mangus Lillienskjold (M) p. Dan Henry, :59
195: Alex Streich (W) dec. Luke Carr, 4-2
Exhibition match
Steven Kibbey (W) p. Gavon Guanzon
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Eisenhower 66, Iroquois 9
LAWRENCE PARK - Eisenhower won five of seven matches on the mat, and got seven forfeits, en route to a 66-9 Region 3 win over Iroquois.
"I mean we're fixing some of our problems," said Eisenhower coach Kris Black. "We still have a lot of work to do."
After three forfeit wins to start the match, Steven Haner earned a pin at 106 to make the score 24-0 Ike.
Dylan Baker and Levi Stanko had back-to-back pins at 126 and 132, respectively.
"I thought Robbie Wilston looked good (in a pin at 145)," said Black. "Levi Stanko is starting to come along, and Dylan Baker looked good at 126."
The match was all but over when Trevor Spicer earned a 28-second pin in the final bout at 182.
Eisenhower 66, Iroquois 9
195: Jake Johnson (E) wbf
220: Kenny Peters (E) wbf
285: Dylan Raines (E) wbf
106. Steven Haner (E) p. Andrew Fachiti, 2:51
113: Double forfeit
120: Jeb Fedorchuk (E) wbf
126: Dylan Baker (E) p. Kyle Laniswicz, 3:30
132: Levi Stanko (E) p. Jake Kruicz, 1:48
138: John Nuhfer (I) dec. Tim Lange (E), 6-4
145: Robbie Wilston (E) p. Donald Richard, 2:59
152: Richard Knisley (E) wbf
160: Clay Coffaro (E) wbf
170: Elliot Davidson (I) p. Cody Raines, :23
182: Trevor Spicer (E) p. Nick Gibbons, :28