TITUSVILLE - The forfeits also find a way to make it sting.
Warren outwrestled Titusville on the mat Tuesday, but a forfeit at 106 pounds - the final weight class of the evening - allowed the Rockets a 39-36 victory at Titusville Area High School.
"We wrestled hard and looked to get some bouns points early on in the match," said Warren coach Glenn Baldensperger. "The guys worked hard and we had some chances down the stretch, but we didn't get it done."
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Times Observer photo by Tyson Himes
Heavyweight clash
Sheffield’s Slater Traister, left, locks up with a Bradford wrestler Tuesday night at Sheffield High School.
Warren's usual 106-pounder, Seth Johnson, set the tone for the Dragons early on, moving up a weight class and delivering a first period to give Warren a 6-0 lead.
"That match really got things started on the right foot," said Baldensperger. "Seth was giving up some weight, but wrestled extremely well."
Standout freshman D.J. Fehlman (20-3) - District 10's top ranked Class AAA wrestler at 120 pounds - backed his ranking up with a second period pin of Zach Donovan at 120 pounds. Donovan entered the bout ranked fourth in the district.
Fehlman's pin gave the Dragons a 12-0 lead before Titusville earned a pin at 132 pounds. The momentum quickly returned to Warren's side when 132-pounder Jonah Hordusky worked a 5-0 decision victory over his Rockets opposition.
The Dragons threatened to put the match away early, building the lead to 24-6 with wins at 138 and 145 pounds. Senior Drew Williams was a winner via major decision, 12-1, and 145-pounder Garrett Smead won in dominant fashion, earning a technical fall victory in the third period.
Starting at 152 pounds, the Rockets began to work their way back into the match. Titusville wrestlers won the next three bouts, earning three straight pins and tying the match at 24-24.
Chris McNeal stopped the bleeding with a pin in 59 seconds at 182 pounds and freshman Alex Streich followed with the biggest win of his brief varsity career at 195 pounds. Streich's pin gave the Dragons a 36-24 lead with three weight classes remaining.
"Alex and his opponent were tied 0-0 after the first period and Alex worked on top to start the second," said Baldensperger. "He did a nice job working his kid to his back and getting us a big pin. For a freshman to be working so hard and putting so much time in is great. I'm glad to see him getting the results he's looking for."
One more individual victory would've sealed the team win for the Dragons, but it wasn't meant to be. The Rockets got a pin at 220 pounds and decision at 285 pounds to close to within 36-33 with one bout remaining. It was there the Rockets were awarded a forfeit and, thus, the 39-36 victory.
The Dragons (5-7) return to action Wednesday, January 25, at Cathedral Prep.
Titusville 39, Warren 36
113: Seth Johnson (W) p. Magcen (T), 1:26
120: D.J. Fehlman (W) p. Donovan (T), 3:06
126: Burns (T) p. Kyle Shorts (W), 0:17
132: Jonah Hordusky (W) d. Bish (T), 5-0
138: Drew Williams (W) md. Hogue (T), 12-1
145: Garrett Smead (W) tf. Ensle (T), 17-0
152: Lee (T) p. Steven Kibbey (W), 0:59
160: Brunst (T) p. Cody Gunn (W), 2:28
170: DeRose (T) p. Henry (W), 1:49
182: Chris McNeal (W) p. Nicola (T), 0:59
195: Alex Streich (W) p. Lore (T), 3:51
220: Warner (T) p. Mike Crone (W), 1:59
285: Stefaniszyn (T) d. Robert Brown (W), 5-1
106: Chase (T) wbf.
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Bradford 36, Sheffield 30
Bradford won on the mat and on the scoreboard, 36-30, at Sheffield on Tuesday.
Bradford only brought six wrestlers, but they made every match count.
Heavyweight Slater Traister was pinned early in the second period by Dakota Sera in the first match after nearly pinning his opponent in the first period. He had a Bradford wrestler on his back, but he escaped after a few tense moments.
Either a win in the first match of the night or last would have given Sheffield the team victory, which shows how close the match was.
In the last match of the night, Sheffield's Anthony Jones wrestled tough early on. He had a 2-1 lead on Dylan Lamberson going into the second period when he began to grapple with the Bradford wrestler. He went for a leg hook from a standing position and was caught in a neck wrench and pinned with 55 seconds left in the period.
"Anthony Jones is a good wrestler, but he got caught and it cost him," said Sheffield coach Jack Rice, whose Wolverines are 2-9 in dual matches.
"I could have bumped up my 152 to 160 to get the tie," he said. "We need the mat time. We're just short on starters right now."
Bradford 36, Sheffield 30
220: Zawatski (B) wbf.
285: Sera (B) p. Slater Traister, 2:26
106: No match.
113: Ricky Prosen (S) wbf.
120: Brandon Johnston (S) wbf.
126: Tyler Brisson (S) wbf.
132: Zach Britton (B) p. Adam Barr, :59.
138: Collin Maines (S) wbf.
152: VanGuilder (B) p. Steven Gregerson, 3:12
160: No match.
170: Lamberson (B) p. Anthony Jones, 3:05
182: Robert Koetzle (S) wbf.
195: Kyle Landon (B) wbf.