The Golden Falcons are currently the No. 4 team in New York’s Division 2, according to New York Wrestling News, and defended their home gym with a 42-28 win over the Knights.

“We saw what we wanted to see and now we know what we need to work on,” Black said. “This was a good experience for them. There were positives and negatives.”

The match was not without controversy.

Falconer (9-0) led Eisenhower (1-1), 12-9, going into the 145-pound match. The Knights’ Garrett Head squared off with the Golden Falcons’ Nick Saeger. Saeger looked like he was going to put Head on his back, but Head was able to reverse into a takedown of his own and held a 4-2 lead after the first. Head’s escape was the only score in the second and he took a 5-2 advantage into the final two minutes. Saeger got a quick escape to start the period, but Head grabbed a takedown to make it 7-3. Saeger escaped and had a takedown of his own to pull within one at 7-6. Head escaped for an 8-6 advantage. With less than 5 seconds remaining in the match, Saeger shot to try to tie. He was able to put Head to the mat with 1 second remaining on the clock.

Eisenhower’s Logan Jaquay locks up Falconer’s Brodie Little during their 113-pound match at Falconer Central School, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Jaquay took down Little multiple times in the first period before putting his shoulders to the mat in the second.

The capacity crowd erupted and the volume was so loud the officials were unable to hear the final buzzer and counted Head down for a near fall, gaining Saeger an additional two points and the 10-8 win.

“To lose one like that, it’s tough,” Black said. “Those things are going to happen sometimes and we’ve got to pick the other guys up. This was a learning experience.”

Easton Hedman got things started quickly for the Knights at 120 with a first-period pin of Steven Lamb. Falconer’s Joey Pilliteri returned the favor at 126 with a pinfall victory over Jake Williams in the second.

Falconer’s Hunter Teboe took a 4-3 lead into the third against Gannon Jaquay at 132. Jaquay started the period in the down position and got a late reversal to pick up the 5-4 win and put the Knights up 9-6. Jimmy Kramer put the Golden Falcons back on top with a first-period pin of Josh Bortz at 138.

“Easton and Gannon really got things going for us,” Black said.

Eisenhower’s Alex Barnett tries to turn Falconer’s Jacob Booth during their match at Falconer Central School, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Barnett picked up a 21-7 win over Booth, but the Golden Falcons defeated the Knights, 42-28.

Falconer grabbed the momentum following the 145-pound match and Mack Mikula put the Golden Falcons ahead 21-9 with a pinfall win over Nate Holt in the second period at 152.

At 160, Alex Barnett nearly picked up some crucial bonus points, but ended with a 21-7 major decision win over Jacob Booth.

Falconer got the points right back with Jordan Dustin’s 6-1 decision over Ethan Chambers at 170, Hudson Jordan’s pinfall win over Tristen Wilcox at 182 and Collin Beichner’s win via forfeit at 195.

Neither Cael Black nor Chase Johnson was able to score in the first period of their match at 220. Black took the down position to start the second and got a reversal to go up 2-0. Johnson took down in the third and escaped to make it 2-1. Johnson tried to emulate Saeger’s win and tried for a single leg with seconds remaining in the match. Black was able to fend off Johnson and grab the 2-1 win.

Joe Bauer was dominant in his first outing of the season as he picked up a second-period pin over Collin Mower.

Falconer grabbed another forfeit win at 106.

Logan Jaquay closed out the match with a clinical dissection of Brodie Little. Jaquay took down Little at will through the first period, even reversing Little’s single leg attempt into a near fall. He wasted little time ending the match in the second with a pinfall victory.

Despite the final score, Black was pleased with how his team performed against a strong opponent with a raucous crowd.

“This is a nice rivalry to have,” he said. “I think every kid needs their own Army-Navy game. You can’t duplicate this kind of atmosphere. I want to thank all the fans who came out tonight.”

The Knights now turn their attention to Salamanca, New York and the STOWA Tournament today and Saturday.

“It’s not a lot of time to regroup,” Black said. “But we’ll be able to take a look at some things next week.”

– – –

Results

120: Easton Hedman (E) pin Steven Lamb, 1:18

126: Joey Pilliteri (F) pin Jake Williams, 3:52

132: Gannon Jaquay (E) dec. Hunter Teboe, 5-4

138: Jimmy Kramer (F) pin Josh Bortz, 0:33

145: Nick Saeger (F) dec. Garrett Head, 10-8

152: Mack Mikula (F) pin Nate Holt, 3:15

160: Alex Barnett (E) maj. dec. Jacob Booth, 21-7

170: Jordan Dustin (F) dec. Ethan Chambers, 6-1

182: Hudson Johnson (F) pin Tristen Wilcox, 1:13

195: Collin Beichner (F) via forfeit

220: Cael Black (E) dec. Chase Johnson, 2-1

285: Joe Bauer (E) pin Collin Mower, 3:07

99: No contest

106: Jon Brockelbank (F) via forfeit

113: Logan Jaquay (E) pin Brodie Little, 2:39