Remaining strong within the OHSL Liberty division, the Cazenovia wrestling team totally dominated the lighter weight classes in Wednesday’s meet against Institute of Technology Central at Buckley Gym, prevailing by a score of 50-31.
In the eight weight classes from 99 to 145 pounds, the Lakers claimed seven victories, and though three of them were forfeits to Will Shephard (99), Carter Biviano (113) and Nick Petroff (126), there was plenty of mat action, too.
Dylan Evans, at 120 pounds, needed less than 90 seconds to pin Quinton Gatherings. In back-to-back matches, Joe Zambito (132 pounds) finished off Kenroy Thomas in 4:45 and Sam Langan, at 138 pounds, pinned Anthony Judge.
Elsewhere, Devin White, at 145 pounds, rolled past Jeff Nguyen 12-2, and Brad Lucas had a pin at 285 pounds as Logan Staiger, at 170 pounds, took 2:22 to pin Nathaniel Brown. Zack Maxwell (106 pounds) dropped a 14-9 decision to Javonte Kearsey.
Before meeting ITC, the Lakers went to the Groton Duals on Dec. 15 and emerged with a 4-1 record against five opponents.
Cazenovia beat the hosts from Groton, along with Moravia, Spencer-Van Etten and Southern Cayuga, but lost the decisive match to Central Square by a score of 46-34.
The match against the Red Hawks started out well, with Evans, at 120, beating Blake Engebretsen 10-5 in the season opener and Petroff pinning Zach Putnam at the end of the first period.
But that 9-0 lead vanished when Central Square won the next five matches, all by pins. Cazenovia broke that string when John Nannery, at 170, beat Zack Karl 14-5, but the Red Hawks answered with two more pins to clinch the match.
Finishing well, the Lakers saw Staiger pin D.J. Patchen in 1:45 and Lucas finish off Cody Stone in 3:33. In a tough 99-pound match, hephard edged past Jacob Garrow 4-2, and Biviano closed it out with a second-period pin over Dylan Wallace.
Just as Cazenovia was beating ITC, Chittenango, who faces the Lakers Jan. 3 at Buckley Gym, was busy taking charge against Skaneateles and emerging with a 59-21 victory over that other group of Lakers.
It was 24-0 before Skaneateles even got on the board. Jake Wilmer opened at 145 by pinning Adam Notarpole late in the second period before Tyler Lewis (152) pinned Lucas Sherman in 1:55. In 90 seconds, Correy Wilmer finished off Francis Lombardi as Antonio Cutrie got his pin over 170-pound opponent Russ Burkhardt in 3:07.
Justin Cox wrestled at 195, pinning Jacob Kipp 33 seconds into the third period. Cooper Young endured the closest match at 99, holding off Nevan Rourke 4-3.
Later in the meet, Connor Fredericks (113) got a pin over Max Collier in 3:32, preceding Wyatt Blanding’s 48-second pin of Dan O’Connell at 120. Will Young, at 132, won a tough 6-4 match over Andrew Newton and Matt Bixby (138) routed Mike Goetzmann in a 15-0 technical fall.
As the Bears rest during the holiday break, Cazenovia will wrestle next Thursday and Friday at Central Square during the Brett Dixon Memorial Duals.
