Once the first period of their 195-pound match was over, Warren’s Brandon Daugharty and Eisenhower’s Josh Parker got to work. Parker reversed Daugharty midway through the third for a pinfall win that gave the Knights all the momentum and they took it and ran to a 50-23 win over the Dragons in the John M. Neese Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday.

Cael Black and Jesse Gourley followed with first period pins of their own to give Eisenhower an 18-0 lead that seemed to stun the visitors.

“Coach (Kris) Black does a great job,” Warren coach Paul Striech said. “They out-wrestled us in nearly every facet.”

Parker held a 2-0 edge after the first period, but Daugharty was able to grab a 4-2 lead after two. Parker chose to start the third in the down position and worked his way to the edge of the mat. At that point he flipped Daugharty and cinched him up for the pin. The home fans in the standing room only crowd erupted and the Knights carried that momentum into the next two matches.

Warren’s Alex Anderson and the Dragons will be at the Northwest AAA Regional at Altoona Fieldhouse on Friday and Saturday.

“That was pretty nice,” Black said. “Josh was down and came back. Even when they’re down, our guys give good effort. Josh got us going.”

“That was huge,” Streich added. “That was a 50/50 match, but we expect to get the win.”

Cael Black wasted little time keeping the momentum as he decked Jake Hayes in 42 seconds. Gourley did him one better and put Tristan Dolan’s shoulders to the mat in 41 seconds.

“Cael and Jesse did a good job setting the tone,” Coach Black said.

Christian Papalia got the Dragons on the board with a 12-4 major decision over Anthony Rivera at 106. Josh Letko doubled Warren’s score with another major at 113. Letko topped Ethan Nizzi, 14-6, to cut the Eisenhower lead to 18-8.

Eisenhower’s Cael Black turns Warren’s Jake Hayes during their 220-pound match.

“Nizzi and Rivera did a good job not giving up more bonus,” Black said.

Kam Farrana picked up a forfeit win at 120 to stretch the Knights’ lead to 24-8.

The capacity crowd got to see one of the most anticipated bouts of the season at 126 when Warren’s Ryan Madigan, 21-3 entering Tuesday, squared off with Eisenhower’s Logan Jaquay, 27-0.

Jaquay’s quickness was on display early as he was able to get in on Madigan for a takedown and near fall. Madigan got the escape, but Jaquay was able to secure another take down for a 7-1 lead after the first period. Jaquay got another take down and near fall to start the second, but Madigan was able to reverse into a near fall of his own. Jaquay reversed again and led 14-5 after two. Jaquay started in the down position for the third, escaped and grabbed another take down. Madigan escaped, but Jaquay shot in for a take down and near fall to pick up the 21-6 tech fall.

“These are two quality guys and you’ve got to put them on the mat together,” Black said. “We (coaches) wanted it, and Logan wanted it. This was a big win for him. Ryan is tough. You can see the difference in their styles. Ryan did a good job early on the elbow, but Logan adjusted and worked his way out.”

The Eisenhower student section celebrates a pin by their Knights.

Easton Hedman picked up Eisenhower’s third first-period pin of the night when he decked Nick Pennucci at 132 to put the Knights on top, 35-8.

Alex Anderson avenged a loss at the Southern Tier Wrestling Officials Association tournament with a 7-1 decision over Gannon Jaquay at 138.

Alex Hummel (145) and Josh Bortz (152) picked up Eisenhower’s fifth and sixth pins of the match with wins over Joe Letko and Kyle Swick, respectively.

Steven Reilly held on for a 6-5 decision over Landon Douvlos at 160 for Eisenhower’s final points of the match.

Joey Arnold (170) and Zack Zinger (182) closed out the match with first-period pins over Mikael Beaver and Jeremyah Aiken, respectively.

Ike’s Logan Jaquay and Warren’s Ryan Madigan hug after their 126-pound match.

“There’s a lot of pressure,” Arnold said of wrestling in front of the raucus crowd. “But you’ve got to learn to shine. It really helps the mindset when you go into districts and on to regionals, I think, to deal with that pressure.”

While the annual rivalry match between the two teams always draws a big crowd, those on hand Tuesday were there for more than just a match. Both teams, and their fans, were encouraged to wear white in support of Warren coach Dean Johnson’s battle with cancer (see sidebar). Though the two teams are fierce rivals on the mat, they share a mutual respect off it.

“We workout together and are friends . . . until we step on the mat,” Arnold said. “It means a lot to have them do this.”

“The reason for the crowd was more important than the match,” Black said. “People came out for Dean. Everyone had white on. This is what high school athletics should be about.”

Streich knew from the start his team would have to overcome the strategic aspect of the match.

Warren’s Zack Zinger eyes up Eisenhower’s Jeremyah Aiken during their 182-pound match.

“We lost the coin flip and they got to dictate the matchups,” he said. “Coach Black has spent years mastering the matchups.”

“We knew they had Arnold and Zinger coming back around at 170 and 182 and we would need a lead going into those matches,” Black said. “Getting that 18 was huge to start.”

Both teams are back in action Thursday in road matchups.

Warren travels to Titusville while Eisenhower heads to Seneca.

——

EISENHOWER 50, WARREN 23

195: Josh Parker (E) pin Bradon Daugharty, 4:54

220: Cael Black (E) pin Jake Hayes, 0:42

285: Jesse Gourley (E) pin Tristan Dolan, 0:41

106: Christian Papalia (W) maj. dec. Anthony Rivera, 12-4

113: Josh Letko (W) maj. dec. Ethan Nizzi, 14-6

120: Kam Farrana (E) via forfeit

126: Logan Jaquay (E) tech fall Ryan Madigan, 21-6

132: Easton Hedman (E) pin Nick Pennucci, 1:44

138: Alex Anderson (W) dec. Gannon Jaquay, 7-1

145: Alex Hummel (E) pin Joe Letko, 3:46

152: Josh Bortz (E) pin Kyle Swick, 4:50

160: Steven Reilly (E) dec. Landon Douvlos, 6-5

170: Joey Arnold (W) pin Mikael Beaver, 1:22

182: Zack Zinger (W) pin Jeremyah Aiken, 0:59

– – – 

JUNIOR HIGH: EISENHOWER 27, BEATY 16

80lbs Adika Fiscus W won by fall over Griffin Williams

115 lbs Trentin Anthony W lost by fall to Cole Kellogg

122 Lucas Douvlos W won by fall over Derek Childs

130 Parker Shene W lost by fall to Tucker Lindell

145 Parker Anderson W lost to Shawn Pascuzzi 3-8

170 Brodie McElhatten W lost to Justin Darr by fall

190 Conner Zaffino W won by fall over Jacob Sleeman

Exb Ryan Fitzsimmons W lost to Griffin Williams by fall

Sky Kophazy W lost to Cole Kellogg by fall

Damien Sanchez W lost to Tucker Lindell by fall

Parker Shene W lost to Shawn Pascuzzi 2-10

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No