Jack Rice has been looking for a big win to put Sheffield wrestling on the map.
The Wolverines may have grabbed that win Tuesday night with a 42-36 victory over Kane at Sheffield High School.
"This was a huge win for us," said Rice, whose Wolverines improve to 4-2 on the year after a strong showing at the Greenville Duals this weekend. "The guys have all been working hard, and we're starting to see the results of that."
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Times Observer photo by Ben Oviatt
Tough match
Sheffield’s Ricky Prosen tries to take down Kane standout Cody Blankenship during a dual match on Tuesday at Sheffield High School. Prosen lost via 7-1 decision, but Sheffield earned its fourth team win of the season to match last season’s win total.
After dropping the first two matches, and spotting the Wolves a 9-0 lead, Sheffield's Jason Rulander got his team on the board with a pin in the 132-pound weight class. Doug Grubbs followed that up with a pin of his own at 138 to improve his personal record to 6-0 on the year.
Kane would take the next two matches at 145 and 152 before a huge win from Collin Maines at 160 pulled the Wolverines back within striking distance.
Another Kane win via decision and a Sheffield forfeit in the 182-pound weight class gave the Wolves a little breathing room, but it would be short-lived.
The Wolverines took off, starting with a quick, 45-second pin by Dylan Straw. Not to be outdone, teammate Tyler Bertin pinned his opponent in just 34 seconds. A Kane forfeit at heavyweight set the stage for Tanner Barr, a freshman, to wrap up the win for the Wolverines with a pin at 106.
Kane, coming off a team tournament win, had beaten the Wolverines the past two seasons before Tuesday night's loss.
Sheffield will next be in action Thursday when they travel to Oswayo Valley for a non-league match.
Sheffield 42, Kane 36
120: Cody Blankenship (K) d. Ricky Prosen (S), 7-1
126: Jon Gelsick (K) p. Brandon Johnston (S), 3:48
132: Jason Rulander (S) p. Justin Westerbury (K), 2:32
138: Doug Grubbs (S) p. Hunter Yasurek (K), 3:40
145: Darren Brown (K) p. Adam Barr (S), 1:01
152: John Welch (K) d. Steve Gregerson (S), 7-1
160: Collin Maines (S) p. Joshua Johnson (K), 4:25
170: Evan DeLong (K) p. Cody Anderson (S), 1:04
182: Nate Moore (K) wbf.
195: Dylan Straw (S) p. Loren Kumher (K), 0:45
220: Tyler Bertin (S) p. Kelly Button (K), 0:34
HWT: Jeremy Ehrgott (S) wbf.
106: Tanner Barr (S) p. Seth Woodcock (K), 5:40
113: Tyler Blankenship (K) p. Kyle Holden (S), 5:20
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Warren 34, Meadville 24
MEADVILLE - Veteran coach Glenn Baldensperger said his Dragons didn't wrestle their best during Tuesday's season-opening showdown with the Meadville Bulldogs.
That being said, it was good enough for a win.
The Dragons (1-0) got some key bonus points in key matches and started the season 1-0 with a 34-24 victory Tuesday at Meadville Area High School.
"We didn't look as sharp as we could've, but it was nice to get a win without looking our best," said Baldensperger. "Despite not looking my best, I'm very pleased with how we wrestled for the first time out."
After spotting the Bulldogs a 12-0 lead, the Dragons got on the board with a major decision from Collin DeLattre at 126 pounds. D.J. Fehlman followed that up with a 15-0 technical fall win at 132 pounds and Jonah Hordusky pushed Warren ahead with an 11-1 major decision victory at 138 pounds.
After falling behind 13-12, Meadville jumped back ahead with a pin at 145 pounds, but Garrett Smead responded with a pin of his own at 152 pounds. Smead needed just 2:16 to deck the Bulldogs' Gavin Gaughan.
Cody Gunn wrestled well in a close decision loss at 160 pounds before Derek Reagle delivered what Baldensperger called "the biggest win of the night" with a second-period pin of his Bulldog opponent.
his Bulldog opponent.
"It was Derek's first varsity match and he battled back strong after getting taken down in the first period," said Baldensperger. "At that point in the match, it that pin goes the other way than the entire outcome of the match could've been turned around. It was a big win for Derek and a big win for our team."
Reagle's pin put Warren up 25-21 and Chris McNeal's pin at 182 pounds essentially clinched the match. A decision loss at 195 pounds was Warren's final loss of the evening and Alex Streich survived 1-0, triple overtime rideout for the decision win at 220 pounds.
The Dragons (1-0 in Region 4) return to the mat Thursday when perennial powerhouse Cathedral Prep visits Warren Area High School.
Warren 34, Meadville 24
285: Caleb Frazier (M) d. Kevin Barsness (W), 3-0
106: No match
113: Aaron Ehrgott (M) p. Glyn Mahood (W), 0:34
120: Derrick Ridgway (M) d. Seth Johnson (W), 5-4
126: Collin DeLattre (W) md. Brock Ridgway (M), 14-1
132: D.J. Fehlman (W) tf. Austin Barnes (M), 15-0
138: Jonah Hordusky (W) md. Chris Nottingham (M), 11-1
145: Zack Leuben (M) p. Mike Card (W), 2:47
152: Garrett Smead (W) p. Gavin Gaughan (M), 2:16
160: Cameron DeManson (M) d. Cody Gunn (W), 8-6
170: Derek Reagle (W) p. Joe Harding (M), 3:24
182: Chris McNeal (W) p. Louis Crawford (M), 4:57
195: Ben Bish (M) d. Steven Crone (W), 7-3
220: Alex Streich (W) d. Luke Carr (M), 1-0, 3OT
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Eisenhower 39, Corry 30
CORRY - The Knights opened their Region 3 team schedule in winning fashion, defeating Corry, 39-30, on Tuesday night at Corry High School.
"The term 'team effort' definately applies here," said Eisenhower coach Kiel Woodburn. "Every guy wrestled really well, and we pulled through in the tight matches."
After splitting a pair of forfeits to kick off the match, Eisenhower's Steven Haner earned a 12-11 decision over Corry's Jonathan Hammond in the 120-pound weight class and Jeb Fedorchuk pinned his opponent to give the Knights an early advantage.
Three victories by decision for Corry and forfeit wins for Louie Head and Coty Cantrell for Ike took the match to the 170-pound weight class, Corry's Shane Talbert defeated Robbie Wilston by a score of 4-1.
"That was actually one of the highlights of the night," said Woodburn. "Robbie jumped two weight classes (to 170) and lost a close decision where Corry was probably expecting a pin."
Senior captain Jake Johnson came back from a 6-3 deficit to pin his opponent, and Hunter Keppel earned a pin over James May to seal the win for the Knights.
Eisenhower will now visit county rival Youngsville Thursday night for a Region 3 match up with the Eagles.
Eisenhower 39, Corry 30
106: Parker Curtis (C) wbf.
113: Alex Wolcott (E) wbf.
120: Steven Haner (E) d. Jonathan Hammond (C), 12-11
126: Jeb Fedorchuk (E) p. Mark May (C)
132: Josh Sulka (C) d. Tyler Gourley (E), 6-5
138: Jake Bickerstaff (C) d. Graham Johnson (E), 8-5
145: Hunter Proctor (C) d. Richard Knisley (E), 6-5
152: Louie Head (E) wbf.
160: Coty Cantrell (E) wbf.
170: Shane Talbert (C) d. Robbie Wilston (E), 4-1
182: Alex Suydan (C) wbf.
195: Jake Johnson (E) p. Ryan Morris (C)
220: Hunter Keppel (E) p. James May (C)
HWT: Tim Suydan (C) p. Dylan Raines (E)
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North East 40, Youngsville 24
NORTH EAST - Youngsville held its own with North East on Tuesday, but it wasn't enough as the Eagles dropped their opening Region 3 dual match of the season by a score of 40-24.
The Eagles were able to walk away with five victories during Tuesday night's Region 3 match, including three via pinfall. Two additional Eagles won close decisions.
Youngsville's first win of the night was picked up by Jeremy Lyon with a second-period pin at 170. Jaykup Durlin decked his Grapepicker opponent in the second period at 220 pounds. Austin Slocum looked strong in a 7-5 decision at heavyweight for his second varsity win. But North East went on a string of four straight wins to take a big lead.
Sophomore Aaron Hoover - a returning district qualifier from a season ago - claimed a 4-1 win.
Tristan Gibson earned his first varsity win at 145, needing just one minute and five seconds to win.
The Eagles will try to bounce back from the loss on Friday when they host Eisenhower as the Backyard Brawl is taken to the wrestling mat.
"This match really did gauge where we need to be an what we to work on," said Youngsville coach Scott Ishman.
North East 40, Youngsville 24
160: Skarzenski (N) p. Zach Ishman (Y), 3:41
170: Jeremy Lyon (Y) p. Gonzalez (N), 3:27
182: Bryan (N) p. Stone Sivak (Y), 4:23
195: No match
220: Jaykup Durlin (Y) p. Stapp (N), 2:41
285: Austin Slocum (Y) d. Newara (N), 7-5
106: Benden (N) p. Hayden Victor (Y), 0:35
113: No match
120: Gray (N) p. Chandler Flinn (Y), 3:24
126: Ballew (N) p. Chester Ciukaj (Y), 1:22
132: Miller (N) wbf.
138: Aaron Hoover (Y) d. Williams (N), 4-1
145: Tristin Gibson (Y) p. Cobb (N), 1:05
152: Kocher (N) md. Chris Wilcox (Y), 14-5