Youthful Central helps deliver win at Penn Cambria
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By Todd Irwin
sports@altoonamirror.com
CRESSON -- The first time Central and Penn Cambria wrestled at the Red Devil Duals, the Scarlet Dragons won by nine points in a match that came down to the last bout.
Despite Central holding a 23-point lead after the first six bouts, thanks in part to freshman Joel Morris' stunning third-period pin in the pivotal 127-pound bout, on Penn Cambria's senior night, the Panthers upperweights turned the dual meet into another barnburner.
The Panthers won five of the next six bouts to send the dual meet to the final bout again. And just like the first time, freshman Brooks Matthews came through with a first-period pin to clinch a 38-30 win for Central on Tuesday night.
"We felt pretty good in that matchup," Central coach Dave Marko said of the 107-pound bout. "But Joel Morris was coming up huge and pinning a really good wrestler."
"Our guys got in a hole and our guys started coming back," Penn Cambria coach Todd Niebauer said. "I knew it was too big of a hole at that point."
The Scarlet Dragons, who were 2-17 last season, improved to 12-6 and have likely qualified for the District 6 Dual Meet Championships. They were 11th in the District 6 rankings going into the night.
"We've got like nine starters that can't drive yet," Marko said. "We're young, but we're taking steps."
Marko and Niebauer have a combined 50 years and 533 wins as head coaches at the high school level. They have actually known each other for longer than that.
"Todd and I have known each other since our freshman year up at UPJ," said Marko, who has 333 wins in 28 years. "We were going to room together after meeting each other at orientation, but I had already made a promise to room with somebody that I had gone to high school with. That's how long we've been friends.
"I know that Todd feels the same way as I do that these are bittersweet because, of course, you want to beat each other, but if I'm going to have to lose to somebody, at least I'm going to lose to somebody I respect. And I respect Todd."
"Dave and I go way back," said Niebauer, who has 200 wins in 22 years. "I've known Dave since college. He did a great job at Claysburg. You don't mind losing to guys that build the program, stay the course and work hard. I don't enjoy losing to anybody, but I can swallow losing to guys who work their tail off."
They were both up yelling instructions to their wrestlers early in the match, which began with pins from Central's Carsen Mowery in 1:46 at 114 and Layton Munyon in 2:57 at 121.
At 127, Penn Cambria's Isaiah Chyr held a 4-3 lead over Morris after one period and rode him the entire second period. In the third period, Morris put Chyr on his back and referee Jim Weston slapped the mat in 4:39.
After Central's Kaden Horn won by fall in 40 seconds at 133, Niebauer employed a clever coaching maneuver in the next bout.
Central's Thaide Mickel built a 15-1 lead on Tyler Barnish after one period at 139. Niebauer instructed Barnish to release Mickel for the second period, giving Mickel a 16-1 technical fall and possibly saving a team point. That made the score 29-6.
"He was so mad," Niebauer said of Marko with a laugh. "Hey, it saved a point. That kid could have taken us right to our back."
"Todd said 'you were so mad,' and I said I was," Marko said, "but I would have done the same thing."
Marko then chose to forfeit to star Panther senior Trent Hoover at 152 and move freshman Cody Clapper up to 160. The move worked out as Clapper overcame a first-period takedown by Michael Watt with two reversals and a takedown to win, 6-3.
"Cody picked up a nice win bumping up a weight class," Marko said. "That's an extra level of difficulty whenever you have a freshman. I have high hopes for Cody. Cody has a lot of ability."
Penn Cambria's Drew Mardula followed at 172 by building an 11-2 lead on freshman Blair Miller and pinning him in 5:14, making the score 32-18.
At 189, Penn Cambria's Jesse Horning slipped through two John Pulcine headlock attempts for takedowns and won, 5-1, avenging an 8-6 loss in the first dual meet.
Penn Cambria senior Nick Summerville made his senior night memorable at 215 with a fall in 4:55, drawing the Panthers to within five, 32-27.
With both sides in a frenzy, Penn Cambria's Dayne Summerville rode Walldims Benitez the entire second period of scoreless bout at 285, escaped early in the third and avoided any danger in a 1-0 win. Summerville avenged a 4-2 overtime loss to Benitez in the dual meet.
Matthews then ended the drama quickly with a 32-second pin of first-year senior Mason Snyder.
"They've got a good 107-pounder, and I've got a first-year senior there," Niebauer said.
114--Mowery, C, pinned Brooks, 1:46; 121--Munyon, PC, pinned Wilt, 2:57; 127--Morris, C, pinned Chyr, 4:39; 133--Horn, C, pinned Szpala, :40; 139--Mickel, C, tech. fall Barnish, 16-1, 2:00; 145--Smith, C, pinned Lynch, :45; 152--Hoover, PC, won by forfeit
160--Clapper, C, dec. Watt, 6-3; 172--Mardula, PC, pinned Miller, 5:14; 189--Horning, PC, dec. Pulcine, 5-1; 215--N. Summerville, PC, pinned Campbell, 4:55; 285--D. Summerville, PC, dec. Benitez, 1-0; 107--Matthews, C, pinned Snyder, :32.
Records: Central (12-6), Penn Cambria (5-8)
Referee: Jim Weston