Top-ranked Raiders edge Canon-McMillan, 30-27
Waynesburg Central蘑菇视频 Jake Stephenson (right) lunges at Canon-McMillan蘑菇视频 Racer Lister in the 160-pound bout during Wednesday蘑菇视频 non-section match at Canon-McMillan. (Photo by Mark Marieta)
Mark Marietta
Waynesburg Central蘑菇视频 Nate Jones (top) overpowers Canon-McMillan蘑菇视频 Josiah Gardner on his way to a 12-7 decision at 152 pounds in Wednesday蘑菇视频 non-section match at Canon-McMillan.
CANONSBURG 鈥� Prior to the start of the season, Waynesburg Central head wrestling coach Kyle Szewczyk felt his team蘑菇视频 dual meets were going to be won or lost from the 145-pound weight class and up.
Szewczyk didn鈥檛 know what a Nostradamas he was.
Top-ranked Waynesburg won seven of the first nine bouts from the 133-pound start and hung on for a 30-27 victory over No. 2 Canon-McMillan in the season-opening non-section match.
鈥淒epending on the coin toss, and everything else, that蘑菇视频 where our depth is,鈥� said Szewczyk. 鈥淭hat蘑菇视频 the way things went. We got the ball rolling there and got a lot of momentum right away, and kept it going.鈥�
Canon-McMillan had momentum before the dual meet, watching a tribute to Manuel 鈥淏uns鈥� Pihakis on the indoor screen on the wall before the match began. Pihakis, known fondly in the wrestling world as Mr. Canon-Mac, died last month.
鈥淚t was fantastic,鈥� said Canon-McMillan head coach Brian Krenzelak. 鈥淭hat蘑菇视频 what Buns used to say. This night was all about him. He would have loved a match like that.
鈥淲e picked this match on purpose. We knew they were picked No.1. Our guys pushed the pace. We gave them all they could handle tonight. Our guys were in good shape.鈥�
After splitting the first two bouts, Waynesburg went on a winning streak. Two-time state champion Mac Church received a forfeit at 145 pounds to start.
And, in the best bout of the run, the Raiders鈥� Nate Jones turned Josiah Gardner in the final seconds for a 12-7 decision at 152 pounds to tie the match at 7-7.
鈥淚 got a little nervous, but I know I can out-hip a lot of other guys,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淚鈥檓 comfortable with that. I wrestled a couple guys in the room just so I can get a feel for the position like that. That makes me feel more comfortable on the match.鈥�
Jones said he felt the momentum swing after his victory.
鈥淲hen I got put on my back, I felt the momentum change,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淚 knew he would come at me hard and I used it to my advantage. As soon as my crowd got into it, it just felt great.鈥�
鈥淲e had to have his match,鈥� Szewczyk said. 鈥淚t went back and forth. The last scramble with about 10 seconds left won the match. It was pretty entertaining.鈥�
Waynesburg蘑菇视频 Jake Stephenson pinned Rob Litster in 2:47 at 160 pounds and Roan Tustin shut out Blake Ward, 10-0, for a major decision at 172 pounds to make it 23-6.
Rocco Welsh, coming off his first state title, won a 17-7 major decision at 189 pounds to give Waynesburg a 27-6 lead.
Matthew Furman finally stopped the Raiders run with a hard-fought 2-1 decision over Brodie Evans at the 215 pounds.
Canon-McMillan began its comeback after the turn. Collier Hartman pinned the Raiders鈥� Floyd Huff at 107 pounds.
Tanner Mizenko kept things alive for Canon-McMillan with 6-4 overtime win against Ky Szewczyk and Brandon Dami followed with a 15-2 major decision over Luke Rush to cut the Raiders鈥� lead to 30-22.
Andrew Binni finished the meet with a 22-7 technical fall over Albert Medlen at 127 pounds.
Waynesburg won seven bouts and Canon-McMillan six.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a big rivalry, so beating (the Big Macs) is always fun,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚 know we鈥檒l see them again in the postseason.鈥�