Unbeaten Colonials down Mustangs
UNIONTOWN-The Albert Gallatin Colonials wrestling team remained unbeaten in dual meet competition, going on the road last night to defeat Laurel Highlands 61-15 in a Section 2-AAA contest. The Colonials (4-0, 9-0) received four forfeits and got pins from John Thomas, Matt Lowry, Cody Mitchell, Tom Gates and Dave Mitchell.
The Mustangs (0-4) picked up pins from Eric Minerd and Allen Wontroba.
The match started at the 285-pound weight class with Minerd facing Jeremiah Karpency. Minerd scored a quick takedown in the first before giving up an escape. In the second period, Karpency started on the bottom and got another escape to tie the match at 2-2.
In the third, Minerd started on the bottom and got an escape, then a takedown, before giving up an escape. Minerd then caught Karpency taking a shot and turned him for the pin at 5:59 of the match giving the Mustangs a 6-0 lead.
“Laurel Highlands has some solid wrestlers, and I told my guys we’ve got to be prepared because they’re going to battle us hard,” Colonials coach Duane Dupont said. “Coach Brambley does a great job with his kids and had them ready. We were fortunate enough to pull out some wins and I was pleased at the way my guys wrestled tonight. I felt we got some gusty performances in a couple of matches, which I attribute to our conditioning.”
The Colonials ran off 24 straight points after the opening loss.
Lee Leckemby received a forfeit at 103. John Thomas picked up a second-period pin at 112, stopping Dylan Costello at the 2:25 mark.
Dylan Bella received another forfeit, and Matt Lowry picked up a pin over Josh Boyle at 125.
In that match Lowry scored an early takedown in the first period and gave up an escape. He held the 2-1 lead going into the third period. Boyle started down in the third and escaped to tie the match. Lowry got a takedown and was working a tilt move for back points, when he got the pin at 4:51.
Mike Mari broke up the run with a 7-2 decision over Jared Milligan at 130. Milligan took a 2-1 lead in the first getting the takedown and giving up an escape. Mari started down in the second and got an escape, and picked up a takedown just before time ran out in the period to take a 4-2 lead. Mari got another takedown and received a penalty point in the third for the win.
“Albert Gallatin is a good team and they have a solid lineup from top to bottom,” Mustangs coach Irwin Brambley said. “They outwrestled us tonight, and the loss knocked out of playoff contention. Right now our main focus is to finish with the best record we can, and get ready for the individual tournaments.”
The Colonials came back with two more wins as Brad Zitney got a forfeit at 135, and Cody Mitchell got a first period pin at 140 to make the score 36-9.
Laurel Highlands got their final points on the night when Allen Wontroba pinned Emmit Roper at 145. Roper took a 2-1 lead in the second getting a reversal. Wontroba started on the bottom in the third, scored a reversal and turned Roper for the pin at 4:45 making the score 36-15.
At 152, AG’s Jeff Dulaney got a reversal and an escape in the third period to edge Nick Browne 3-2. From that point the Colonials won the remaining matches with two pins a forfeit, and a 7-2 major decision by Kevin Bella over Dave Mari.
“I thought Kevin’s match was going to be a little closer, but he stepped up and was ready to go and did a great job. He’s starting to get back to the form that made him a section champ last year,” Dupont said.
“We made some mistakes in this match that we’ve got to get corrected. We’re heading into the meat grinder part of our schedule so we as coaches have got to make sure we’re mentally ready for each and every match.”