Since it was Alumni Night, the West Genesee wrestling team hoped that it would not spoil the occasion with a defeat, especially to its neighbors from Marcellus.
But the Mustangs were far from accommodating, prevailing in Thursday night’s showdown 48-23 as it continued to work toward the Feb. 1 Onondaga High School League Liberty/Patriot Tournament at Port Byron.
Early on, it went back and forth. Nate Long, at 152 pounds, put the Mustangs on the board with a 13-2 romp over Liam Kotas, but WG’s Shayne Middleton (160 pounds) countered by stopping Nate Lukins in a tough 8-6 decision.
In another exchange, Marcellus’ Kevin Morrissey (170 pounds) edged Pete Zhobolov 2-1 before a forfeit to Dalton Elias (182 pounds) and Keisean Canery, at 195 pounds, getting a 20-4 technical fall over Cory Garvey.
The next four bouts were all forfeits, three of them to Marcellus, one for WG, but once action resumed at 113 pounds, the Mustangs, up 25-20, put it away.
Ben Hood, at 113, beat Casey Bedell in a 17-1 technical fall, while Sam Rice (120 pounds) got his team’s first pin, finishing off Mike Linton in 1:50.
A tense 126-pound bout saw Zach Ruggles gain three big points for Marcellus, edging Tyler Heggelke 4-3, and Tristan Duger (132 pounds) followed with a 10-5 clincher over Odae Badwan. WG’s Yvan Kouakou did win his 138-pound match over Nick Distefano 3-2, but Dan Tierney (145 pounds) pinned Tyler Bedell in 1:40 to end it.
This came a night after WG lost, 55-18, at Fayetteville-Manlius, which started well as Linton claimed a forfeit, Heggelke routed Jack Kinsella 12-2 and Badwan pinned Jordan Nebilowitz.
But the Hornets won 10 of the remaining 11 bouts, with only Zach Valerino (285 pounds) breaking the spell with a pin over Malik Jones. Kotas lost, 5-4, to Kyle Elander at 160, with Elias close as well in a 5-2 loss to Tim Byrnes.
