Skaneateles — Perhaps there was a better and more exciting way for the Skaneateles wrestling team to begin its 2015-16 season – but that might prove hard to find.
Up against a long-time rival in Marcellus Wednesday night, the Lakers led early, fell behind, and continued to go back and forth until a decisive victory in the final bout of the evening helped Skaneateles defeat the Mustangs 39-36.
Through 14 of the 15 bouts, Marcellus held a 36-33 lead. Each side had won seven times, so when Joey McIntyre took to the mat for Skaneateles in the 196-pound finale against Marcellus opponent Ryan Pierce, he knew he needed any kind of victory, since the critierium point would go in the Lakers’ favor, even if a decision resulted in a 36-36 tie.
McIntyre didn’t need any reminders, quickly taking charge against Pierce. In just 65 seconds, McIntyre had Pierce’s shoulders on the mat for the pin, a full six points and a sweet Skaneateles victory that capped off an epic battle.
The tone was set in the 220-pound opener, when Pat Greenfield worked through six tough minutes to edge Kern Linder 3-1. Right after, T.J. Greenfield (220 pounds) pinned Aleksandr Popov late in the first period, and an exchange of forfeits left Skaneateles in front 15-6.
Now the Mustangs answered with back-to-back pins to lead, 18-15, before Nevan Rourke, at 126 pounds, put his side back in front with a fall over Sam Rice 26 seconds into the third period.
Marcellus responded with Josh Widrick’s last-second pin over Dan O’Connell at 132 pounds and a 138-pound battle where Joey Brillo and Ben Hood battled to the wire, but Brillo lost, 4-3, leaving Skaneateles behind, 27-21, with six bouts remaining.
Enter Matt Goetzmann, at 145 pounds, who shut out Mike Heron 4-0 before Mike Goetzmann took over at 152 pounds and beat Tristan Duger 7-1, tying it again at 27-27. An exchange of pins followed, Lucas Sherman (160 pounds) losing to Nick Distefano, but Josh O’Hara (170 pounds) pinning Casey Ezzo midway through the second period.
continued — Two bouts remained, and it was 33-33. No matter what Ian Frackelton did at 182 pounds, he couldn’t lose the team match, but he hung in for all six minutes in a 7-1 defeat to Nate Lukins, which set the stage for McIntyre to carry the Lakers to victory.
To follow this up, Skaneateles traveled to the APW/Pulaski Duals on Saturday and went a perfect 5-0 against a quintet of opponents.
First, the Lakers routed host APW/Pulaski 67-12, and then beat Syracuse’s Institute of Technology Central 64-16 before an 84-0 shutout of Jordan-Elbridge. To close it out, Skaneateles beat Sandy Creek 63-15 and toppled Marathon 60-15.
Rourke, who was undefeated at 126, was named his team’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. He was one of seven different Lakers, along with McIntyre, Brillo, Pat Greenfield, Hannah Drake (99 pounds), J.W. Simmons (106 pounds) and Christian Daley (113 pounds), to go 5-0 on the day.
Frackleton and Matt Goetzmann were both 4-0, with Greenfield, Lucas Sherman and Mike Goetzmann each at 4-1. O’Connell and Kiersten Farley (120 pounds) sported 2-1 records, with Josh O’Hara and Bo Arold splitting their two matches.
Skaneateles looks for another win Thursday night, at Hannibal, before traveling to Saturday’s Portville Invitational.
