From productive start to dramatic ending, the Cicero-North Syracuse wrestling team took the long and scenic path to the top of the CNY Counties League National division standings.
In fact, the Northstars had to win each of its last four matches — and get a pin at the end — to rally past first-place Baldwinsville and earn a 28-27 victory, by far the most exciting and dramatic moment of the entire CNS season
With four matches to go, CNS trailed 27-10. Any defeat, from this point forward, would mean the Bees would prevail, so the Northstars had to step up.
Eric Lester got it going, at 130 pounds, earning a 12-7 decision to Pete Cole. Then Jamie French (135 pounds) caused a jolt when he pinned Joe Semf in just 90 seconds, cutting the margin to 27-19.
Any win would keep the Northstars alive, but Todd Hagger, at 140 pounds, found himself in a major struggle against B’ville’s Nate Russell. By limiting Russell to a single escape, Hagger prevailed 2-1, so it was now 27-22.
Good as all those wins were, it would not mean a victory unless Anthony Dolson, in the final match at 145 pounds, earned a pin over David Richards — a decision would not be enough.
Dolson built a lead in the first period, then made his big move in the middle part of the second period. At the 3:05 mark, Dolson put Richards’ shoulders on the ground and earned the full six points, giving CNS an exciting come-from-behind win.
All of this was set up by the Northstars’ propensity to win the close matches. This surfaced in the opening contest at 152 pounds, where Jacob Pfeifer beat Sean Hennigan 9-5, while Chris Hovis (160 pounds) held on to beat Andrew Giormini 5-4.
Jamie Sacco kept this going at 215 pounds, edging Kyle Sheridan 6-4, the only CNS win in a string where B’ville won seven times in eight matches, setting up the exciting final act.
This came after the Northstars went to Fonda-Fultonville and earned 180.5 points for a third-place finish in that school’s tournament on Jan. 19. Only Johnstown (238 points) and Schuylerville (195.5 points) fared better.
Hagger, the champion at 140 pounds, took Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. Dolson prevailed at 145 pounds, while Patrick Dyer earned the 119-pound title and Hovis claimed the championship at 160 pounds.
Sacco reached the 215-pound final, while French earned third place at 135 pounds and Pfeiffer finished fourth at 152 pounds.
CNS will try and follow up the win over Baldwinsville by hosting Fayetteville-Manlius on Wednesday night and a junior varsity tournament on Saturday at 9 a.m.
