Streaks like records are made to be broken. The Tyrone Golden Eagle wrestling team dropped their season opener to Indian Valley, then won their next 12 dual meet. When the eagles finally lost a match, it took the number one Class AAA team in the district to accomplish the feat. In a battle between the top Class AA team-Tyrone and the top AAA team-Bald Eagle Area, Tyrone and the Bald eagles rolled each other around through the first nine weight classes with Bald Eagle Area holding onto a slim 17-16 advantage. BEA went on a rampage however, winning the final five weights, getting maximum bonus points in each for a 47-16 triumph.
The Eagles looked like a walking wounded squad of World War I soldiers before the dual was completed. John Miller and Heath Walk were sidelined coming into the match, Brice Mertiff was injured early in his match at 160 and eventually was forced to default eight seconds into the second period. T. J. Albright finished his match at 112, coming from behind to win an overtime decision, but his status is unsure for Saturday’s District Team Tournament.
Tyrone coach Blair Packer refused to use the injuries as an excuse however, commenting that, “Those things (injuries before and during the dual) are a distraction, but that wasn’t the reason (we lost). Bald Eagle Area handled us tonight. They did a good job on us, really wrestled a tough match tonight.”
The dual began with the 275-pound weight class and Packer thought that would be a chance for his Eagles to jump out to a substantial advantage. “We had to do a job in certain weight classes and it turned out they did a nice job of stopping us. When we got the 275-pound draw to start the match, we thought we could get a big jump there in the first four weights.”
Terry Tate (27-0) remained undefeated, but failed to get six team points for just the third time in his last 23 matches. Tate and Mike Cook wrestled through a scoreless opening period, before the Tyrone senior, who is ranked number one in the state by most publications, recorded a reversal and picked up a second-period penalty point. Leading 3-0, Tate added an escape, takedown and nearfall in the third period, but wasn’t able to turn Cook for a pin, settling for a 9-0 major decision and a 4-0 team lead.
At 103, Anthony Romano led throughout the match against Zane Gardner until the final seven seconds. Romano (9-6) registered a takedown in the first period and Gardner countered with an escape, late in the second period. Romano took neutral to begin the final period and neither wrestler could gain an advantage. Finally with just seven seconds to wrestle, Gardner took Romano down for a sudden 3-2 victory.
With their team lead narrowed to 4-3, Tyrone got a pair of wins at 112 and 119.
T. J. Albright, who injured his hand, but finished the match, trailed 2-0 through the first two periods to Bald Eagle 112-pounder Jake Shirk. Albright (23-5) picked up a takedown with about a minute to go in the third stanza to send the match into overtime, where he took Shirk to his back and added two near fall points for a 6-2 win. At 119, Robert Waite (17-4) hit a cement mixer for the original takedown over Caleb Hoffman, traded two back points for a reversal in the second period and added an escape and another takedown in the third period for a 7-2 triumph that gave Tyrone a 10-3 lead.
That advantage quickly disintegrated. Bryant Clontz and Josh Hunter were locked in a 0-0 match at 125, when Clontz threw Hunter to his back for a takedown and nearfall, then turned Hunter for the fall early in the third period. At 130, Quentin Wright played take ‘em down and let ‘em up with Tyrone freshman Shayne Tate. Wright scored 12 takedowns in a 26-10 technical fall to give the Bald Eagles the 14-10 lead.
David Miller and Shawn Switzer were involved in a wild and woolly battle at 135, that Miller eventually pulled out for a 10-9 squeaker, but not without a tussle. Each grappler had a takedown and escape in the first period to earn a 3-3 draw after one. Switzer pulled into the lead with an escape and takedown, but Miller came right back with an escape, takedown and bettered Switzer by one with a penalty point. Switzer escaped again to knot the score at 7-7 with two minutes to wrestle. A Miller escape gave the Tyrone senior a one-point advantage, but Switzer notched a takedown to go up 9-8. Miller (28-3) got the final score and the match, reversing Switzer with five seconds left to hang onto a 10-9 thriller to cut the BEA lead to 14-13.
Mike Granite pushed the BEA lead back out to four with an 8-5 win over Sam McCloskey (11-14). McCloskey fell behind 8-1 midway through the second period, when he began a comeback bid. Sam notched a takedown and added two back points to close the deficit to 8-5, but neither wrestler could manage to score in the final stanza.
At 145, Jacob Smerekar (14-10) won for the fourth straight time with a 4-1 decision over Randy Breon. Jake hit a first-period takedown and third-period reversal, while Breon’s only point was by virtue of a second-period penalty point when Smerekar inter locked. Tyrone trailed at that point 17-16, but after that the roof fell in.
Dave Fisher pinned Justin Schopp (11-14) in 1:06, at 152, Brian Koshik pinned Matt Lauder (2-4) in 1:45 at 171, Seth Nyman pinned James Updike (6-10) in 2:48, at 189, and Travis Stem pinned Steve Wilhelm (0-1) in 3:06, at 215.
Brice Mertiff and Landis Wright were mixing it up early when Mertiff was injured. Wright took Mertiff down and Mertiff was hurt in the subsequent flourish. Mertiff (27-6) lasted out the first period, but was forced to injury default eight seconds into the second period.
“We lost that close one at 103 and that didn’t help,” said Packer, “but Bald Eagle’s lineup is just one stud of a lineup from top to bottom. They did a nice job and they have a good team.
Tyrone, now has one day to rest up before entering the District VI Team Duals at Tyrone on Saturday. The Eagles will begin the tournament at 12 noon with eighth seed United.
The Bald Eagle Area junior high sent the Tyrone Little Eagles home with a 56-33 loss in the prelim. BEA jumped out to a 24-0 lead with five straight wins before Tyrone got on the scoreboard.
Shane Emigh (130), J. P. VanAllman (155), Nick Wilburn (185) and A. J. Schopp (80) won by fall, Cody Weaver won by forfeit and Chase Weaver won a regular decision for Tyrone.
Bald Eagle Area 47 Tyrone 16
275 – Terry Tate (T) maj. dec. Mike Cook 9-0
103 – Zane Gardner (BEA) dec. Anthony Romano 3-2
112 – T. J. Albright (T) dec. Jake Shirk 6-2
119 – Robert Waite (T) dec. Caleb Hoffman 7-2
125 – Bryant Clontz (BEA) pinned Josh Hunter 4:54
130 – Quentin Wright (BEA) tech fall Shayne Tate 26-10, 6:00
135 – David Miller (T) dec. Shawn Switzer 10-9
140 – Mike Granite (BEA) dec. Sam McCloskey 8-5
145 – Jacob Smerekar (T) dec. Randy Breon 4-1
152 – Dave Fisher (BEA) pinned Justin Schopp 1:06
160 – Landis Wright (BEA) won by injury default Brice Mertiff 2:08
171 – Brian Koshik (BEA) pinned Matt Lauder 1:45
189 – Seth Nyman (BEA) pinned James Updike 2:48
215 – Travis (BEA) pinned Steve Wilhelm 3:06.
EXH
275 – Timmy Watson (BEA) pinned Brandon Oswalt 4:22.
Junior High
Bald Eagle Area 56 Tyrone 33
100 – Wes peters (BEA) pinned Matt Moore 2:51
105 – Rusty Fetzer (BEA) pinned Donnie Hunter 2:56
110 – Sam Peters (BEA) dec. Josh Miller 5-2
115 – Jeff Shawley (BEA) dec. Jeremy Barlett 6-4
122 – Ian Neely (BEA) pinned Cody Smith 1:21
130 – Shane Emigh (T) pinned Mark Solt 4:18
138 – Pat Wedlake (BEA) tech fall Andrew Clark 18-0, 4:05
145 – A . J. Robinson (BEA) pinned Jordan Berry 1:21
155 – J. P. VanAllman (T) pinned Josh Mihalik 0:26
165 – Luke Showers (BEA) pinned Byron Sullins 2:05
185 – Nick Wilburn (T) pinned Shane Robinson 1:27
210 – Dan Edwards (BEA) pinned J. D. Gardner 0:55
250 – No match
75 – Chase Weaver (T) dec, Daniel Dunkleberger 9-5
80 – A. J. Schopp (T) pinned Eric Bisel 1:15
85 – Cody Weaver (T) won by forfeit
90 – Alex Klinger (BEA) maj. dec. Ben Smerekar 12-0
95 – Cory Gates (BEA) tech fall Doug Rudy 16-0, 2:53.
EXH
100 – Tyler Poorman (T) pinned James Gardner 3:32.
