Five days after finishing third to Baldwinsville and Mexico in its own invitational meet, the Cazenovia wrestling team resumed action in the OHSL Liberty division, and found more success.
The Lakers took on Syracuse’s Institute of Technology Central last Thursday night at Buckley Gym, and with a full lineup pulled away for a 61-22 victory over the Eagles.
In the 138-pound opener, Dominick King held off Ben Tinelli 6-4, but ITC countered by winning the next two bouts to briefly go in front, 10-3.
But Alex Nannery’s first-period pin over 160-pound opponent Damian Mesa began yet another Laker surge by it stars in the higher weight classes.
Alex Curr, at 170 pounds, got close to a technical fall, but still blanked Naujalic Walker 13-0, while John Nannery (182 pounds) took just 55 seconds to pin Nahjir Dean and Kevin Frega (195 pounds) finished off Esrayel Flowers in 1:41.
Hayden Polhamus got his fastest pin of the season at 285 pounds, a 17-second effort against Devinear Mason, before forfeits to Jacob Wells (99 pounds), Sam Deleon (106 pounds), Will Khalil (113 pounds) and Matt McLaughlin (120 pounds). Zack Maxwell, at 126 pounds, earned one more Laker title, pinning Mehki Shepherd 31 seconds into the second period.
A night earlier, Chittenango faced OHSL Liberty division leader Marcellus, and led with four bouts left, only to see its smaller roster make a difference at an inopportune time during a 44-29 defeat to the Mustangs.
Trailing 8-0 early, Chittenango got on the board when Wyatt Blanding, at 138, beat Tristan Duger 7-1, after which Matt Bixby (145 pounds) won a tough 7-1 decision over Nick Distefano. Will Young (152 pounds) claimed a forfeit and Connor Fredericks, wrestling at 160, fought past Nate Long 7-3.
Each of the next three bouts was forfeited – two to Marcellus, one to Chittenango’s Antonio Cutrie (195) – but Isaiah Prado wrestled at 220 pounds, outscoring Garrett Furnia 11-6 before Justin Cox (285) earned an impressive 15-0 technical fall over Alexsandr Popov.
Four bouts remained, and the Bears led 29-20, but it would not score again, forced to forfeit two more matches and see Mason Benedict (99) and Eddie Houle (126) take pins.
