For the Baldwinsville wrestling team, the wait was quite worth it.
Twice, the Bees’ showdown with Cicero-North Syracuse for first place in the CNY Counties League National division was postponed, as snow and cold weather made both sides bide their time. Finally, the moment arrived on Friday night at the Baker High School gymnasium – and the Bees seized it, getting a big victory from Pat Nasoni and, overall, doing enough to beat the Northstars 34-32 to run its streak of consecutive league wins to 25. If ever there was a chance for that streak to fall, it was here, because CNS was a confident group after advancing to the semifinals of the Section III Dual meet – an event where the Bees were eliminated in the first round. Still, B’ville was fiercely determined to protect its win streak and its long-held place atop the league, and quickly went to a 7-0 lead in the first two matches. Anthony Rafkis opened at 140 pounds by dominating Tom Peterson 12-2, and Antonio Peck (145 pounds) followed with a hard-fought 4-2 decision over Kiel Dyer. CNS countered with two close decisions and a pin to move ahead 12-7 as James Eustice, at 152 pounds, fell to Jordan Ramos 7-5 and, two matches later, Joe Nasoni (171 pounds) battled against James Segars, but lost 5-3. That set up Pat Nasoni’s big moment, in the 189-pound match against Ariel Anoceto. For the most part, Anoceto dominated, and with a 15-7 lead was going to add at least four points to the Northstars’ margin. But with 10 seconds left, Nasoni made a stunning move and pinned Anoceto. It was a 10-point swing, and suddenly B’ville was back in front 13-12. Quickly, the Bees fell behind again, 21-13, after Brian Honsinger (215 pounds) lost to Matt Mastro 4-0 and CNS’s Clayton D’Onofrio claimed a 285-pound forfeit. But Kevin Paul (96 pounds) knocked off Drew Dyer 9-2 and, at 103 pounds, Tim Sposato pinned Joe Copani in 90 seconds, and the Bees now had a 22-21 lead. It was also key that Chad McArdell, at 112 pounds, and Connor Ross, at 125 pounds, stay on the mat and avoid technical falls or pins – which they did, limiting CNS’s gains from those wins as Joey Shaheen (119 pounds) claimed a forfeit. So B’ville only trailed by one, 28-27, heading into the last two matches. Jacob Norton then delivered another big pin at 130 pounds, finishing off Jacob Murdock 48 seconds into the second period, to put his side up 33-28. Thus, all Ryan McArdell had to do in the 135-pound finale was stay on the mat for six minutes against Matt Dunham, avoiding a six-point pin or a five-point technical fall that would allow CNS to get the critieria point for eight wins in a 15 matches. McArdell did just that, staying close all match long and only losing the small 6-3 decision – but winning the larger team battle for the Bees. B’ville is not done seeing the Northstars, though, for it will go back to CNS next Saturday for the Section III Class AA championship meet, following Wednesday’s tune-up against Oswego.