On the brink of a big win within the CNY Counties League National division, the Cicero-North Syracuse wrestling team got caught in the end last Wednesday night, falling to West Genesee 31-26 in a closely-fought meet.
Both teams came into the meet with 3-0 league marks, and the Northstars were at home — but that only counted for so much.
Jordan Ramos (135 pounds) and James Segars (140 pounds) both lost close decisions at the start —Ramos 4-2 to Mike Young, Segars 3-1 to Erik Krohl.
In a battle of strong 145-pound wrestlers, Todd Hagger beat Heitham Wady 7-2 to put CNS on the board, and Anthony Kite (152 pounds) followed with a 20-5 technical fall over Sean Clary to give the Northstars the lead.
WG won the next two contests, but that lead didn’t last, either, as Jack Hotaling (189 pounds) took just 57 seconds to pin Dillon Goldman and Austin Morris, wrestling at 215 pounds, finished off Peter Schoneck in 42 seconds.
Again, the Wildcats climbed back into it with a pair of decisions, but when Kiel Dyer (119 pounds) pinned Brett Henderson in 2:52, CNS had a 26-22 advantage. One more win would do the trick.
CNS never got it, though, as Robert Brandt (125 pounds) got pinned and, in a dramatic 130-pound finale, Matt Dunham stayed in it all the way, but lost to Jon Fetterolf 6-4.
On Friday and Saturday, the Northstars go to Canastota for the Richard New Memorial Tournament.
