Just on the surface, the Jordan-Elbridge wrestling team knocking off Port Byron 42-41 with a pin in the final bout of the evening was exciting enough, but put in context of the week’s events, it was even more remarkable.
Four days earlier, the entire J-E community was plunged into mourning when senior Alex Parkolap suddenly passed away at age 17.
Parkolap had gone 14-7 on the mat a season ago and was a firm foundation as the program battled through lean years and low participation numbers. He also served as a volunteer coach for youth wrestling programs during the summer.
Now, with the memory of Parkolap as a prime motivator, J-E went after Port Byron, starting when Landry LaFleur, at 152 pounds, rallied from a 5-2 deficit and pinned Leland Summer midway through the third period.
Port Byron won the next four bouts, but the fact that Ryan Rivenburgh (195 pounds) lost in a technical fall, which counted for five points, and not a pin, which counted for six, would mean a lot later.
Max Bondgren’s pin of Eric Hickey in 81 seconds at 220 pounds got the Eagles going, as did forfeits to Kyle Gersbacher (285 pounds), Jessi Tripp (99 pounds) and Jared Alpha (106 pounds). Then Derek Quigley pinned Gabe Newton near the end of the first period at 113, and J-E had a 36-23 lead.
Not done yet, the Panthers rode a pin by Joe Powers at 120 pounds and a forfeit to Greg Hawuczyk at 126 pounds to make up the gap, and went in front in the penultimate bout at 138 pounds when Tyler Parker pinned J-E’s Marion Quigley.
So through 14 bouts, J-E trailed the Panthers 41-36. Thus, when Steve Tripp, at 145 pounds, took to the mat to face Kyler Hall, he had to get a pin to assure a victory. Taking control, Tripp worked at it until, with 1:13 left in the third period, he pinned Hall to get all six points he needed.
Then, like all the other J-E wrestlers who had won a bout, Tripp pointed up to the sky, a tribute to Parkolap that made the Eagles’ first win over Port Byron in six years even sweeter.
J-E was supposed to compete on Saturday in the Brett Dixon Memorial Duals at Central Square, but pulled out so they could attend Parkolap’s calling hours.
West Genesee lost last Wednesday to Baldwinsville, 58-19, dropping the first five bouts before Brady Ryan, at 138, edged Tyler Patrick 10-6. The Wildcats had three other wins on the mat, all of them in a row.
It started at 160, when Victor Elias shut out John Eustice 12-0. Griffin Sasso then survived a thriller at 170 to edge Nick Lakomski 8-7 as Jarryd Souffront won his bout at 182 in an 8-2 decision over Dennis Kral. Nate Wade claimed a forfeit at 99.
Then the Wildcats finished fifth in the seven-team Phoenix Round Robin on Saturday, with 132.5 points as B’ville finished second with 153 points, half a point behind Liverpool’s total of 153.5 points – and the Bees and Warriors face each other this week as WG hosts Cicero-North Syracuse.
