For its last home outing of the 2013-14 season, the Skaneateles wrestling team welcomed four opponents to its dual meet on Saturday – and managed to beat them all, improving its regular-season mark to 18-3 in the process.
The effort went beyond the mats, too. All proceeds from the tournament, which added up to more than $1,000, benefited the “More Than A Game” Foundation that helps research at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.
As to the wrestling itself, Skaneateles opened against Mynderse Academy, from Seneca Falls, and prevailed 60-20. A 69-7 rout of Oneida followed, and the Lakers made it three-for-three by rolling past the Cato-Meridian Blue Devils 64-15.
This set up the final between the Lakers and its neighbors from Auburn, also with a 3-0 mark. Fired up to wrestle in front of a home crowd, Skaneateles won it, battling past the Maroons 42-29.
In the 126-pound opener, Matt Goetzmann lost a technical fall to Brian Gomez and, after a forfeit to Josh Brillo (132 pounds), Maverick Janes dropped his 138-pound bout to Auburn’s Jeff Thurston in a 7-5 thriller.
At 145 pounds, Mike Goetzmann fought past Chase Van Duyne 3-1. Andrew Newton (152 pounds) followed with a second-period pin over Aiden Rubeck before Francis Lombardi, at 160 pounds, dropped a 10-8 decision to Trent Valentino.
Skaneateles stretched its lead to 18-11 when Pat Greenfield (171 pounds) edged Ed Pickard 6-5, but Auburn closed back to one, 18-17, when Brandon Malone pinned Joey McIntyre.
Needing a cushion, the Lakers got it from Connor Gray (195 pounds) and Cooper Pitman (220 pounds), as Gray pinned John Leone 23 seconds into the third period and Pitman took six fewer seconds to pin Corey Swan.
That made it 30-17, and after a trade of forfeits, and Nevan Rourke, at 106 pounds, lost to Austin Duger 8-3, which made it 36-26. Any Maroons chance ended, though, when Joey Brillo (113 pounds) pinned Brady Parry in 3:30 in the penultimate match before Max Collier lost the 120-pound finale to Jack Hogan 4-0.
Overall, several Lakers went 4-0 on the day, including Newton, Gray, Pitman, Joey Brillo, Josh Brillo and Mike Goetzmann. Collier and Greenfield were both 3-1 as J.W. Simmons and Christian Daley had 2-2 marks, with Rourke and Janes also winning twice,
Most Outstanding Wrestler honors for the other teams went to Jack Hogan (Auburn), A.J. Vargas (Oneida) and Chris Wein (Cato-Meridian). With so many undefeated Lakers, it was difficult to choose one MOW, so Gray and Pitman shared the honors.
Just before the dual meet, Skaneateles had a non-league meet against Cato-Meridian last Thursday night, and had little trouble with it, taking out the Blue Devils 57-18.
Five different Lakers earned pins, none quicker than Pitman’s 20-second romp over Keith Hendrix, while Joey Brillo (113) needed just 54 seconds to finish off Ryan Snyder.
Josh Brillo worked a bit longer at 132, but still pinned Dylan Bortle in 1:34. Gray earned his pin over Seth House in 3:17 as Matt Goetzmann, at 126, waited to pin Dakota Green until the midway point of the third period.
Collier participated in the closest bout at 120 pounds, hanging on to beat Darren Cook 10-8, while Mike Goetzmann (145 pounds) lost to Kyle Spratt 6-2 and Greenfield had an 8-3 defeat to Nick Sharp. Simmons, Rourke (106 pounds), Janes and Newton all claimed forfeits.
The Lakers finish its league schedule Wednesday, against Syracuse’s Institute of Technology Central, and then start the post-season Saturday by going to Port Byron for the Onondaga High School League Liberty/Patriot Tournament.
