Time Warner Sports deemed that Wednesday night’s wrestling showdown between rivals Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool was important enough for a live broadcast. And the television audience got quite a show.
Trailing with two matches to go, the Northstars used pins in both of those contests to beat the Warriors 33-24 and improve to 4-1 on the season. CNS got the initial jump, at 140 pounds, when Matt Dunham beat Jacob Bottino 10-4. Also, Andrew Osborne (152 pounds) pinned Mende Cukalevski in 1:31 and Todd Hagger, at 160 pounds, took just 1:07 to finish off Matt Call. Liverpool did get on the board at 145 pounds, where Derek Eason needed all six minutes to edge past James Segars 4-2. But more Warrior success lay ahead. In fact, starting at 171 pounds, Liverpool would take win six of seven matches. Joe Pizzuto began the charge, beating Ariel Anoceto 6-2, while Brendan Capria (189 pounds) needed an overtime takedown to beat Noah Whritenour 6-4 and Mike Reed (215 pounds) earned a 7-4 decision over Matt Mastro. Following a forfeit to CNS’s Dan Ciciarelli (103 pounds), Liverpool began another streak at 112 pounds, where Casey Guilfoil topped Tony Battista 10-5. Nate Hathaway (119 pounds) gained his team’s lone pin of the night, earning the fall over Jacob Murdock with 35 seconds left to tie the match 21-21 When Tyler Eason, at 125 pounds, edged Alex Barry 8-7, Liverpool went in front 24-21. A win of any margin in either of the remaining matches would mean victory – but CNS would answer. Kiel Dyer put the Northstars back in front, 27-24, at 130 pounds, taking 3:16 to pin Dom Lizzio. They were now tied at seven matches each. Thus, even if Emir Hulic only earned a three-point decision over Patrick Dyer in the 135-pound finale, Liverpool would get the criteria point and win by one. It never got close to that point. Dyer took just 39 seconds to pin Hulic, and the close meet was decided in the Northstars’ favor. CNS goes to the Teike-Bernabi Tournament at Spencerport on Dec. 29 and 30, then starts the new year at the Jan. 2 Camden Dual Meet. Liverpool is going to the Dec. 28-29 Kenneth Haines Memorial Tournament at SUNY-Oswego.