HOLLIDAYSBURG - It was a matter of quality over quantity again for the Hollidaysburg Area High School wrestling team Tuesday night.
With three starters out of the lineup due to either illness or injury, and only 11 wrestlers at their disposal, the Tigers forfeited six weight classes in a 64-13 dual meet loss to unbeaten DuBois at the Hollidaysburg Area High School gymnasium.
Hollidaysburg dropped to 0-6 in dual meets, but the Golden Tigers' top three wrestlers - sophomore 106-pounder Damian Huff (14-1 this season), senior 285-pounder Matt Barton (13-1), and senior 182-pounder Laret Miller (14-2) - each won their matches impressively.
Miller opened the bout with a 14-1 major decision over senior Joe Morrison at 182, Barton pinned senior Kyle Dixon in 2:19 at 285, and Huff carved out a 7-4 decision over junior Bryce Swauger at 106.
The heroics of Hollidaysburg's talented trio could not offset the fact that the Golden Tigers gave up 36 points on forfeits at 220, 120, 132, 145, 152, and 160 as DuBois improved to 11-0.
Hollidaysburg coach Mike Moore saluted Miller, Barton and Huff for their performances.
"All three had really tough opponents,'' Moore said. "All three put in absolutely superb efforts - the types of efforts that they will have to put in at the regional tournament this season to get through to states.''
Miller started the night against the previously twice-beaten Morrison by racking up an 8-0 lead after two periods en route to the 14-1 major.
"Laret was on a mission tonight,'' Moore said. "He took that kid [Morrison] out on the mat and starched him.''
Barton pinned Dixon 19 seconds into the second period after a wide-open first period in which the Hollidaysburg heavyweight had led, 9-6.
"Matt stayed in position and got the fall against a kid who is a strong candidate to win the District 9 championship this season,'' Moore said.
Huff broke a 4-4 tie with a second-period escape and third-period takedown in his win over Swauger.
"Damian beat an opponent who he will very likely see again at the regional tournament,'' Moore said.
DuBois got forfeit wins from Nick Davido at 220, Kody Cox at 120, Andrew Williams at 132, Tom Sleigh at 145, Mike Kennelly at 152, and Geno Morelli at 160. Morelli and Sleigh were both Class AAA state tournament qualifiers a year ago, with Morelli taking a fifth-place medal in Hershey.
DuBois also got falls from Landon Hanna at 195, D.J. Carney at 138, and Shane Marshall at 170, along with technical falls from Anthony Vizza at 113 and Garrett Brown at 126.
"We've been having a real nice season,'' DuBois coach Luke Bundy said. "I think we were a little flat in some of the bouts tonight. There are definitely a lot of things we could work on and get better at.''
182-Miller, H, maj. dec. Morrison, 14-1. 195-Hanna, D, pinned Milardo, 1:27. 220-Davido, D, won by forfeit. 285-Barton, H, pinned Dixon, 2:19. 106-Huff, H, dec. Swauger, 7-4. 113-Vizza, D, tech. fall Kociola, 20-5, 5:05. 120-Cox, D, won by forfeit.
126-Brown, D, tech. fall Gromiller, 15-0, 2:20. 132-Williams, D, won by forfeit. 138-Carney, D, pinned Conrad, 1:25. 145-Sleigh, D, won by forfeit. 152-Kennelly, D, won by forfeit. 160-Morelli, D, won by forfeit. 170-Marshall, D, pinned Bilofsky, 2:53.
Records: DuBois (11-0); Hollidaysburg (0-6).
