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Dragon matmen drop close one to Titusville

Warren’s Joey Arnold tries to turn Titusville’s Joe Jacobson during their 220-pound match at Warren Area High School, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. Arnold won a 13-5 major decision, but the Rockets defeated the Dragons, 43-34.

Titusville wrestlers pinned their way out of an early deficit to defeat Warren, 43-34, in the Joseph A. Massa Memorial Gymnasium Monday.

Four forfeits had the Dragons up 24-7 early, but the Rockets closed the match with four straight pins to get the win.

“We were beat by the better team,” Warren coach Dean Johnson said. “We knew those last three or four matches would be tough. We’ll learn from this and go on.”

Ryan Madigan (126), Alex Anderson (132) and Donovan Fiscus (138) picked up three of the four forfeits to start the match.

“We didn’t get to have (those three) go,” Johnson said. “They weren’t able to set the tone or get the crowd into it.”

Warren coaches wipe down John Fankhouser during an injury timeout in his 152-pound match against Titusville’s Jesse Titus at Warren Area High School, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. Titus began bleeding from the nose during the match and action had to be stopped to get both grapplers cleaned up.

Jared Rodgers got the Rockets (5-3) on the board with a major decision at 145. Jesse Titus and John Fankhouser battled at 152. Titus had a 4-0 advantage going into the third period. Fankhouser chose to start on bottom and got a quick reversal. Titus escaped, but Fankhouser got the takedown to close within one at 5-4. Titus took advantage of Fankhouser’s aggressiveness and reversed late to grab the 7-4 decision.

Nick Gorton picked up the final forfeit at 160 to put Warren (3-4) on top, 24-7. Zack Zinger wrestled up to 170 and took Levi Nosko to the limit. Nosko’s length proved too much and he decked Zinger late in the third period.

“Zack just couldn’t get his offense going,” Johnson said.

MaBrukhe Tagba and Sebastian Titus were even at 0-0 going into the second period. Titus chose to start the period on bottom and Tagba quickly took advantage to pick up the pinfall victory.

“I’ve got to give it to (Tagba),” Johnson said.

Warren’s Zack Zinger tries to escape the grasp of Titusville’s Levi Nosko during their 170-pound match in the Joseph A. Massa Memorial Gymnasium, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. Nosko picked up a third period pin to help lead the Rockets to a 43-34 win over the Dragons.

Parker Harvey picked up a quick pin for Titusville at 195, and Joey Arnold won a major decision over Joe Jacobson at 220 for Warren’s final points of the match.

Kaleb Dunlap (285), Zach Rodgers (106), Seth Donovan (113) and Hunter Thompson (120) each won via first or second period pinfall to complete the Rockets comeback.

“My hat’s off to Titusville,” Johnson said. “We got a little dose of reality tonight.”

Warren must quickly refocus. The Dragons are off today before welcoming Region 5 leading Erie Cathedral Prep Wednesday.

“Our main focus is Prep,” Johnson said.

As part of the 70th anniversary of Warren wrestling, the Dragons will honor all former coaches prior to the start of the varsity match Wednesday.

– – –

Titusville 43, Warren 34

126: Ryan Madigan (W) via forfeit

132: Alex Anderson (W) via forfeit

138: Donovan Fiscus (W) via forfeit

145: Jared Rodgers (T) maj. dec. Kyle Swick, 14-2

152: Jesse Titus (T) dec. John Fankhouser, 7-4

160: Nick Gorton (W) via forfeit

170: Levi Nosko (T) pin Zack Zinger, 5:32

182: MaBrukhe Tagba (W) pin Sebastian Titus, 2:33

195: Parker Harvey (T) pin Donovan Davies, 0:24

220: Joey Arnold (W) maj. dec. Joe Jacobson, 13-5

285: Kaleb Dunlap (T) pin Jacob Hayes, 4:15

106: Zach Rodgers (T) pin Connor Papalia, 2:46

113: Seth Donovan (T) pin Christian Papalia, 1:41

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