BELMONT, N.C. - Despite giving up points to an opposing team in a dual match for the first time in the 2010-11 season, the No. 5 Newberry College wrestling team came away with a lopsided 35-3 victory over Belmont Abbey in the first of their two dual matches on the day.
Jon Cronin (Las Vegas, Nev.) got the starting nod in the 125 lbs. slot and began the dual in strong fashion. Cronin posted a takedown with 20 seconds remaining in the first period to take a 2-0 lead into the second. The junior added an escape and another takedown in the second for a 5-0 advantage heading into the third. Cronin scored his final points with a takedown in the third and limited Patrick Mestrez to just a single point via an escape.
After BJ Young (Jackson, N.J.) took the 133 lbs. bout via a Belmont Abbey forfeit, Deral Brown (Elgin, S.C.) took the mat for the Wolves at the 141 lbs. division. Brown amassed three takedowns during a 1:30 stretch in the first period and led Will James 6-3 heading into the second. Brown accrued another takedown and an escape in the second to push his lead to 9-4. With a final takedown in the third coupled with a point due to riding time, Brown took the battle 12-5 and did not allow James to score a single offensive point.
Dale DeBacco (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) held Dave Saley scoreless through two periods in the 149 lbs. tilt taking a 2-0 lead into the deciding frame. DeBacco tallied another takedown in the period, but Saley would trim DeBacco's lead to just two with a takedown of his own with 51 seconds remaining in the period. DeBacco held off the late charge and added a riding time point to take the bout 5-2.
In another tight match, Sean Byrnes (Jackson, N.J.) faced off against Appollon Jean-Paul in the 157 lbs. weight class. Byrnes opened up the scoring with a takedown in the first, but allowed Jean-Paul to draw even with a takedown with 30 seconds remaining in the second. Byrnes chose the down position to begin the third frame and scored a point on a takedown at the 1:31 mark. That was all Byrnes would need, as he added his riding time point to take a narrow 4-2 decision.
The Wolves sole setback of the match would come in the 165 lbs. weight class as Blake Ridenour (Maryville, Tenn.) dropped a 7-3 decision to Jake Varilek. Varilek was up by seven points going into the third before Ridenour scored three quick points by way of an escape and a takedown in the closing minute of the third period.
Looking to go back on the attack Josh Whitelock (Rhodesdale, Md.) opened up his 174 lbs. bout with Adam Phillips in commanding fashion. Whitelock rattled off eight points in the primary frame, scoring a pair of near falls and a takedown. The junior added two points with another takedown in the second and cruised to an 11-0 major decision.
The pack would get their only fall of the match in the 184 lbs. weight class courtesy of defending national champion Bryant Blanton (Summerville, S.C.). The senior sent Ryan Gregory to the mat after just 26 seconds of action - picking up one of the fastest pin times in school history in the process.
Karl Reed (Mount Laurel, N.J.) got his first dual nod of the season in the 197 lbs. slot and looked to be in control through two strong periods before Nick Rees began his comeback bid in the third. Up 5-1 entering the final period, Reed allowed Rees to escape to trim his lead to just three. Rees would then score a takedown with 11 seconds remaining, but Reed would hold on for a win in the most hotly contested match of the day, 5-4.
Looking to enhance his team-best win mark of 11, Jake Elkins (Trussville, Ala.) took the mat for the scarlet and gray in the final bout of the dual against Kyle Spar. The score remained stationary until, Elkins recorded the first point of the match with an escape in the third. Elkins would keep his scoring going, picking up a pair of falls and a near fall through the remainder of the frame. Coupled with his riding time point, Elkins would take a 9-0 and help the Wolves keep their duals record untarnished.
#5 Newberry 35, Belmont Abbey 3
125 Jon Cronin (NC) def. Patrick Mestrez, 8-1
133 B.J Young (NC) win by forfeit
141 Deral Brown (NC) def. Will James, 12-5
149 Dale DeBacco (NC) def. David Saley, 5-2
157 Sean Byrnes (NC) def. Appolon Jean-Paul, 4-2
165 Jake Varilek (BAC) def. Blake Ridenhour, 7-3
174 Josh Whitelock (NC) def. Adam Phillips, Major Decision 11-0
184 Bryant Blanton (NC) def. Ryan Gregory by Fall, 0:26
197 Karl Reed (NC) def. Nick Rees, 5-4
285 Jake Elkins (NC) def. Kyle Spar, Major Decision 9-0
In their second match of the day, the Wolves came out with much of their same success, shutting out the Seton Hill Griffins 41-0. The shutout was the third of the season for the squad and a few lineup changes helped the Wolves post their third 40-point outing of the season.
In one of the premier matches of the day, Connor McDonald (Rehoboth, Del.) took on the No. 2 125 lbs. warrior in the country, Kenny Trumbetta, and it was a close match all the way through. The pair grappled through a scoreless first period before McDonald got the choice at the beginning of the second. McDonald chose the down position and quickly escaped to give him his first point of the bout. The pair battled through the remainder of the match with McDonald holding off numerous escape attempts from Trumbetta in the third. McDonald added a point for riding time for a hard-fought 2-0 victory to begin things for the Wolves.
After piling up the points throughout the first two frames, BJ Young would attain the second fall of the day for the Wolves. After scoring with a takedown and a near fall in the first period, Young posted another pair of near falls in the second along with an additional takedown. Young successfully pinned Josh Teata at the 5:39 mark for add another six points to the team score.
Deral Brown moved to 2-0 on the day with a 12-8 decision over Dallas Evans. Brown held a considerable lead heading into the third period before Evans racked up five unanswered points with a pair of falls and an escape.
Dale DeBacco held Nick Nichols without an offensive point en route to an 8-1 decision to help DeBacco improve his record to 2-0 during the day. DeBacco held a 3-0 lead going into the third frame and then compiled another five points with a two-point near fall, a takedown and over one minute of riding time.
In his second match of the day, Byrnes used a strong first period en route to his second triumph of the day in the 157 lbs. weight class. Byrnes racked up nine points in the first three minutes of the match and was able to pin Cameron Fine just six second into the second period.
After a disappointing first match, Ridenour came out in his second bout determined to change his luck. The 165 lbs. grappler did just that, posting a 12-4 major decision over Cameron Fine. Ridenour didn't allow an offensive point from his nemesis and racked up 10 points by way of the takedown through the bout.
Whitelock utilized a pair of takedowns in the first period to cruise to a 7-4 victory over Dan Matthews. Whitelock would add a takedown in the second and add a point for riding time for his second victory of the day at the 174 lbs. slot.
After an intimidating performance in his first bout, Blanton won his second as well via a Seton Hill forfeit. Zach Anderson (Dunwoody, Ga.) then stepped in for the Wolves at the 197 lbs. slot and thrashed Patrick McClure 16-5 for a major decision. Anderson picked up six points in the first frame, four in the second and an additional five in the third. Anderson did not allow his opponent to post an offensive point in the bout.
Corey Anderson (Rockton, Ill.) took over for Jake Elkins in the heavyweight class and had to have his bout settled in overtime. After being knotted 1-1 through three periods, Anderson scored the deciding fall early in the overtime period for a 3-1 victory.
The Wolves will return to action on Friday (Dec. 3) as they look to keep their unbeaten record intact against St. Andrews Presbyterian. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
#5 Newberry 41, Seton Hill 0
125 Connor McDonald (NC) def. Ken Trumbetta (SH) 2-0
133 B.J Young (NC) def. Josh Testa (SH) by fall, 5:39
141 Deral Brown (NC) def. Dallas Evans (SH) 12-8
149 Dale DeBacco (NC) def. Nick Nichols (SH) 8-1
157 Sean Byrnes (NC) def. Cameron Fine (SH) by fall 3:06
165 Blake Ridenhour (NC) def. Randall Wagner (SH) 12-4
174 Josh Whitelock (NC) def. Dan Matthews (SH) 7-4
184 Bryant Blanton (NC) wins by forfeit
197 Zach Anderson (NC) def. Patrick McClure (SH) Major Decision 16-5
285 Corey Anderson (NC) def. Ron Oswald (SH) 3-1 (OT)
