Whether it was a reflection of where the programs stood or a strong display of character, the Baldwinsville wrestling team found an exciting way to win its 2019-20 season opener.
The Bees trailed Hannibal by 15 points with three bouts left last Wednesday night, but won them all and, gaining the “criterium” point, defeated the Warriors 43-42.
Twelve bouts were in the books and Hannibal had won seven of them to create a 42-27 advantage before Jarred McMonagle accepted a forfeit at 99 pounds.
In the penultimate bout at 106 pounds, Aiden Cali claimed a tough 8-5 decision over Hannibal’s Jack Lamson, but that still meant it was 42-36 going into the 113-pound finale.
Needing a pin, Mason Clark got it, putting Ben Alton’ s shoulders on the mat 45 seconds into the second period, and since B’ville now had won eight bouts to Hannibal’s seven, it got the tie-breaker.
Max Naples had opened at 120 pounds by pinning Dominic Greenwood in 3:40, but the Warriors fout of the next five bouts, only interrupted at 145 pounds when Liam Fitzgerald edged Hunter Dumas 10-9.
B’ville began to comeback with Ryan Hemund’s 68-second pin over 160-pound opponent Drew Butterfield. Tyler Southworth got a forfeit at 170 pounds and Fred Pickard, at 195 pounds, pinned Elijah Wirth in 1:45.
When 285-pound heavyweight Naseim Perez lost 8-5 to Santana Salvador, it marked Hannibal’s last win before the Bees made its comeback in the lighter weight classes.
Then B’ville ventured to Cicero-North Syracuse on Saturday for the Andersen Tournament, where it finished ninth in a 19-team field with 78.5 points as Peru (162 points) took top honors.
Just one Bees wrestler got to the finals – Perez, who pinned Newark’s Connor Simizon in 2:19 in the semifinals, only to drop the title bout to Canastota’s Mike Leibl in a 59-second fall.
Cali got third place at 106, edging Fairport’s Chris Cialini 4-2 in the consolation bracket final. B’ville takes on West Genesee Wednesday before heading to the Phoenix Round Robin this Saturday at 10 a.m.
