Connellsville wrestlers power past TJ
Thomas Jefferson's Zach Fisher tries to roll out of the grip of Connellsville's Kyle Lukaesko but Lukaesko held on to win the 113-pound bout by a 6-2 decision Friday at Connellsville Area High School.
Connellsville's Mason Franks takes a 16-1 lead over Thomas jefferson's Falco Meden in the 106-pound bout Friday at Connellsville Area High School. Franks won by technical fall.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Connellsville’s Tyler Kenney puts Thomas Jefferson’s James Barricman on his back en route to win a 12-4 major decision in the 126-pound weight class during Friday’s match at Connellsville Area High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Connellsville’s Gage Cramer earns back points on Thomas Jefferson’s Dom Devine in the 120-pound weight class during Friday’s match at Connellsville Area High School. Cramer earned a 12-9 decision.
CONNELLSVILLE — The Connellsville Falcons wrestling team used four pins, a pair of technical falls and a couple of major decisions to power their way past Thomas Jefferson Friday night, 57-10, in Section 2-AAA action.
The Falcons (2-1, 2-1) got pins from Bryce Butler (145), Andy Cecil (170), Gunnar Lynch (195) and Matt Butler (220). Mason Franks (106) and Tommy Provance (182) picked up the technical falls for Connellsville, while Tyler Kenney (126) and William Bell (152) recorded major decisions.
The Jaguars’ (1-2, 6-2) points came on a major decision from Braden Flinn (132) and a pin from Nick Burkett (138).
“We’re starting to head in the right direction,” Connellsville coach Tom Dolde said. “We had a good week of practice. They responded very well. Some of the things we worked on in the practice room is showing out on the mat.”
The lightweights got the Falcons the early lead.
Franks used four takedowns and three near falls on his way to a 16-1 win, giving the Falcons a 5-0 lead. Kyle Lukaesko and Gage Cramer picked up decisions, giving the Falcons an 11-0 lead. At 126, Kenney was taken down twice by James Barrickman and trailed 4-2 at the end of the first period. Kenney came back in the second period with an escape, a takedown and a three-point near fall to take an 8-4 lead. Kenney recorded two more near falls in the third for the 12-4 win, increasing the Falcons’ lead to 15-0.
“We didn’t wrestle as well tonight as we did against Belle Vernon,” TJ’s Rudy Nesbitt said. “We’re normally pretty strong in the lighter weights. We didn’t expect them to beat us like they did in those matches.”
Flinn stopped the Connellsville run, using an escape, a penalty point, and a takedown in the second period. He got a takedown and a three-point near fall in the third for the 9-0 major decision.
Nick Burkett got the Jaguars back in the match at 138, catching Brenden Cooper in a headlock for the first-period pin, cutting the Falcons’ lead to 15-10.
Bryce Butler got those points back for the Falcons when he cradled Tyler Davidson at 1:38 of the first period, giving the Falcons a 21-10 lead.
“This is the best TJ team we’ve faced since we started wrestling them,” Dolde said. “They’re very aggressive. Their kids want to win and are in the match all the time. It was competitive. It was a fun match to be in.”
Butler’s win started an eight-match run for the Falcons. Bell followed Butler’s win with a major decision at 152. Luke Kuhns earned a decision at 160. Cecil got his pin followed by Provance’s technical fall. Lynch and Matt Butler had first-period pins and Louie Mauro got a forfeit at 285 to close out the match.
Section 2-AAA
Connellsville 57, Thomas Jefferson 10
106: Mason Franks (C) tech. fall Falco Meden, 16-1, 5:28
113: Kyle Lukaesko (C) dec. Zach Fisher, 6-2
120: Gage Cramer (C) dec. Dom Devine, 12-9
126: Tyler Kenney (C) maj. dec. James Barrickman, 12-4
132: Braden Flinn (TJ) maj. dec. Tyone Brown, 9-0
138: Nick Burkett (TJ) p. Brenden Cooper, 1:06
145: Bryce Butler (C) p. Tyler Davidson, 1:38
152: William Bell (C) maj. dec. Mario Marinelli, 10-2
160: Luke Kuhns (C) dec. Tyler Newman, 6-3
170: Andy Cecil (C) p. Braden Stoffel, :58
182: Tom Provance (C) tech. fall Kolton Karwowski, 20-5, 1:57
195: Gunnar Lynch (C) p. Mike Moss, :48
220: Matt Butler (C) p. Dustin Lanning, 1:35
285: Louis Mauro (C) won by forfeit
Records: Thomas Jefferson (6-2, 1-2), Connellsville (2-1,2-1).