With close to a full roster, the Baldwinsville wrestling team made its way to Phoenix last Wednesday night and, in an early-season test, acquitted itself well, despite the 43-36 defeat to the Firebirds.
Three different times, the Bees earned pins in less than a minute, none quicker than 182 pounds, where Dom Sposato needed only 16 seconds to finish off Isaiah Scruton.
Cole Accordino’s pin over 138-pound opponent Mason Barrington took just 37 seconds, with Janen Prince (132 pounds) getting his fall over Damien Palmer in 45 seconds.
B’ville’s only other mat win came at 285 pounds, where Billy Loadwick earned his pin over Zach Green 43 seconds into the second period. Forfeits went to Jarred McMonagle at 99 pounds and Mason Clark at 106 pounds.
Phoenix still took nine of the 15 bouts on the card. That included a pair close decisions as B’ville’s Mike Litiza, at 285 pounds, dropped a 17-13 thriller to Donovan Dygert and Nate Hahn (152 pounds) had an 8-6 defeat to Colton Winks.
Aiden Cali (113 pounds) and Tyler Southworth (145 pounds) were pinned, with neither Zack Richardson (120 pounds) nor Max Naples (126 pounds) able to earn points in their bouts. Luke Eberl (195 pounds) ran into three-time state finalist and 2018 state champion Ross McFarland and lost a 16-0 technical fall.
On Saturday, the Bees took part in the General Brown Duals, where it went 3-2, starting with a 45-33 win over Mexico before the host General Brown Lions beat them 52-33.
B’ville recovered in the third match, handling Ogdensburg 48-30, and then defeated South Lewis 56-34, only to run into Carthage in the final round and lose 58-15 as the Comets, with a 5-0 mark, took the team title.
The Bees open its Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division slate Wednesday against West Genesee before returning to Phoenix this Saturday for the Firebirds’ annual Round Robin tournament.
