Lions roar at Duals
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Lions roar at Duals
Lions roar at Duals
BY ERIC KNOPSNYDER
The Tribune-Democrat
Jim Clark’s Chestnut Ridge wrestling team was hoping to avenge a loss at the Richland Duals.
They did that and plenty more.
Chestnut Ridge went 7-0 on the weekend to win the championship, beating second-place Huntingdon – which topped the Lions in the event last season – and third-place North Star – which knocked off Clark’s squad earlier this season – on Saturday. The Lions also beat fourth-place James Wood (Va.) and Altoona on Saturday after winning three matches on Friday night.
“We wrestled real well,” Clark said. “Our goal was to come up here and win all seven duals. We knew it would be an extreme challenge with the teams that were here.”
Chestnut Ridge started the day with a 52-17 win over Altoona and then beat James Wood 47-15, setting up the showdown with Huntingdon, which had already beaten North Star.
“We lost to Huntingdon last year, so that was one that we were really excited to get a rematch with,” Clark said.
The Lions trailed the Bearcats 15-6 before Josh Neatrour’s 11-6 win over Addison Yingling started a streak of six consecutive victories for Chestnut Ridge. Chans Feather added a major decision while Josh Shane and Kyle Holderbaum picked up pins ahead of Gary Pfahler’s technical fall. Cameron Corle’s 5-2 win over Pete Mykut gave the Lions a 33-18 lead.
“We knew they were extremely tough, but our middleweights came back through and we got six wins in a row,” Clark said. “That gave us some momentum. They have some outstanding wrestlers, and it’s the same situation with North Star.”
The Lions also won six consecutive matches in their 49-22 victory over the Cougars. Shane started the run with a 7-2 decision over Richard Baker at 125 pounds. Feather and Holderbaum sandwiched falls around a forfeit win by Pfahler to give Chestnut Ridge a 27-3 lead. Corle added a major decision and Brennan Corle’s pin pushed the lead to 37-3.
“Our guys stepped it up and got the falls when they needed it,” Clark said. “It seems like we came together real well as a team.”
North Star coach Pat Berzonski wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance.
“Satisfied with third place? No way,” he said. “Not quite the day we wanted. We thought Huntingdon was a team that we were about a matchup away. We had a couple of close ones get away from us. When you wrestle quality teams like that, the close ones are always devastating to come out on losing end of them.”
Berzonski felt a little better about the fact that his team closed out the day with falls by Keegan Love and Joe Lascari to make the dual with Chestnut Ridge a little closer, but said that the Lions were just better on Saturday.
“Credit to them,” Berzonski said. “They stepped up and had a hell of a weekend. My hat’s off to Coach Clark and his guys, but obviously we have some things to work on.”
Pfahler, Shane and McDannell each went 7-0 on the weekend for the Lions.
BY ERIC KNOPSNYDER
The Tribune-Democrat
Jim Clark’s Chestnut Ridge wrestling team was hoping to avenge a loss at the Richland Duals.
They did that and plenty more.
Chestnut Ridge went 7-0 on the weekend to win the championship, beating second-place Huntingdon – which topped the Lions in the event last season – and third-place North Star – which knocked off Clark’s squad earlier this season – on Saturday. The Lions also beat fourth-place James Wood (Va.) and Altoona on Saturday after winning three matches on Friday night.
“We wrestled real well,” Clark said. “Our goal was to come up here and win all seven duals. We knew it would be an extreme challenge with the teams that were here.”
Chestnut Ridge started the day with a 52-17 win over Altoona and then beat James Wood 47-15, setting up the showdown with Huntingdon, which had already beaten North Star.
“We lost to Huntingdon last year, so that was one that we were really excited to get a rematch with,” Clark said.
The Lions trailed the Bearcats 15-6 before Josh Neatrour’s 11-6 win over Addison Yingling started a streak of six consecutive victories for Chestnut Ridge. Chans Feather added a major decision while Josh Shane and Kyle Holderbaum picked up pins ahead of Gary Pfahler’s technical fall. Cameron Corle’s 5-2 win over Pete Mykut gave the Lions a 33-18 lead.
“We knew they were extremely tough, but our middleweights came back through and we got six wins in a row,” Clark said. “That gave us some momentum. They have some outstanding wrestlers, and it’s the same situation with North Star.”
The Lions also won six consecutive matches in their 49-22 victory over the Cougars. Shane started the run with a 7-2 decision over Richard Baker at 125 pounds. Feather and Holderbaum sandwiched falls around a forfeit win by Pfahler to give Chestnut Ridge a 27-3 lead. Corle added a major decision and Brennan Corle’s pin pushed the lead to 37-3.
“Our guys stepped it up and got the falls when they needed it,” Clark said. “It seems like we came together real well as a team.”
North Star coach Pat Berzonski wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance.
“Satisfied with third place? No way,” he said. “Not quite the day we wanted. We thought Huntingdon was a team that we were about a matchup away. We had a couple of close ones get away from us. When you wrestle quality teams like that, the close ones are always devastating to come out on losing end of them.”
Berzonski felt a little better about the fact that his team closed out the day with falls by Keegan Love and Joe Lascari to make the dual with Chestnut Ridge a little closer, but said that the Lions were just better on Saturday.
“Credit to them,” Berzonski said. “They stepped up and had a hell of a weekend. My hat’s off to Coach Clark and his guys, but obviously we have some things to work on.”
Pfahler, Shane and McDannell each went 7-0 on the weekend for the Lions.
"The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren't being taught by many people other than football coaches these days....." Paul "Bear" Bryant