Heading toward the holiday break, the Chittenango and Cazenovia wrestling teams were both active, but it was the Bears enjoying far more success.
In Wednesday night’s meet against East Syracuse-Minoa, the Bears cruised to a 62-12 victory, just as the Lakers, hosting Marcellus at Buckley Gym, suffered a 46-30 defeat to the Mustangs.
The problem for Cazenovia was that Marcellus, fresh off its victory over Liverpool in the Dec. 14 Falcon Duals at Fabius-Pompey, had top wrestlers in action from the start at 126 pounds, and it would win the first six matches.
Of those bouts, only Mike Marshall, at 152 pounds, got close, and he lost a 9-4 decision to Nathan Lukins. Paul McLaughlin (145 pounds) lasted all six minutes, but fell to Tristan Duger 10-2.
It was Alex Nannery, at 170 pounds, that finally put the Lakers in the scoring column, fighting past Kevin Morrissey 4-2, this before Mike Nourse (182 pounds), Hayden Polhams (195 pounds) and Brad Lucas (285 pounds) claimed forfeits.
Cazenovia claimed only two more mat titles. Alex Shephard, at 106 pounds, won when Alex Czerniak’s injury led to a default, while Carter Biviano (120 pounds) claimed a tight 5-3 decision over Ben Hood.
As this was going on, Chittenango was rolling past ESM, winning eight matches on the mat before Casey Placito (220 pounds), Abram Miles (285) and Cooper Young (106) claimed late forfeits.
Wyatt Blanding opened at 126 by pinning Jacob Shults midway through the second period, with Connor Fredericks (132) following with an 8-2 victory over Jeff Loder.
Matt Bixby, at 138, made it three in a row when he got a 17-2 technical fall over Alex Regan, and Will Young (145) earned a pin over Anthony Sardo 31 seconds into the second period.
Erik Ellefson started another Bears streak at 160 pounds, getting past Medo Pugonja 9-5. Three straight pins would follow as Nick Harrington (170) finished off Joe Monteleone in 1:38, Antonio Cutrie (182) pinned Ernest Carhart at the end of the first period and Justin Cox (195) took 2:58 to earn his fall over Mason Hausler.
Both sides would go to tournaments on Saturday – Chittenango to the Cuneen Doane Tournament in Walton, Cazenovia to the Groton Duals. Then the Bears would rest until 2014 as the Lakers, on Friday and Saturday, ventured to Central Square for the Brett Dixon Memorial Duals.
