Exactly one week before Christmas, it was time for the two Lakers wrestling teams to get together.
And the showdown Thursday night between Cazenovia and Skaneateles proved quite good, too, with the visitors from Cazenovia roaring out in front with wins in five consecutive bouts, and then having to withstand a late Skaneateles charge to pull out a 34-30 victory.
What each side shared was a close defeat to Marcellus in the weeks leading up to their meeting. Skaneateles had gone first, taking a 39-31 loss on Dec. 4, and exactly one week later it was Cazenovia’s turn to come up just short in a two-point, 32-30 defeat.
Now, with Cazenovia and Skaneateles together, that made it three consecutive Thursday nights of important league action. But when the meet got started at 170 pounds and Alex Curr defeated Pat Greenfield 8-2, Cazenovia had intentions of deciding the team battle early.
Following Curr, John Nannery, at 182 pounds, pinned Joey McIntyre in 49 seconds, and the visiting Lakers made it four straight when Skaneateles had to forfeit bouts at 195 and 220 pounds to Brian Silfer and Kevin Frega. Then, at 285 pounds, Hayden Polhamus seized the lead on T.J. Greenfield and did not let Greenfield get on the board in a 4-0 decision.
Now trailing 24-0, Skaneateles had to get something – and did, once the cycle turned to the lower weight classes.
J.W. Simmons began the host Lakers’ rally at 99 pounds, pinning Jacob Wells midway through the second period. A 106-pound classic followed, with Christian Daley and Sam Deleone battling into overtime before a takedown helped Daley prevail 5-3.
With the lead cut to 24-9, Cazenovia answered with Will Khalil, at 113 pounds, holding off Max Collier 4-1, which proved more important when Skaneateles’ Max Collier won his 120-pound match over Will Shephard in a 7-2 decision.
Yet another six-minute match saw Matt McLaughlin, at 126 pounds, give the visiting three crucial points with a 4-2 win over Matt Goetzmann. That made it 30-12, but Skaneateles was far from done.
Starting at 132 pounds, the host Lakers won three straight. Josh Brillo pinned Zach Maxwell in 3:01, followed by Maverick Janes (138 pounds) shutting out Billy Heselden 2-0 and Mike Goetzmann, at 145 pounds, pinning Dominick King in just 55 seconds.
All of a sudden, Cazenovia found itself clinging to a 30-27 lead with two bouts left. But needing just one more match to clinch it, the visiting Lakers got it from Paul McLaughlin (152 pounds). who beat Ian Frackelton 11-0 before Skaneateles closed the meet at 160 pounds with Andrew Newton beating Alex Nannery in yet another 2-0 decision.
