Freshmen key to Waynesburg rally
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Terry Victor controls Dante Cecchine in the 152 pound bout. Victor won the match by pinning his opponent.
Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg’s head coach Joe Throckmorton said there is one more thing the team needs to do: win the team tournament.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Caleb Morris goes in for a takedown of Trinity's AJ Marino the 120 pound bout during the match on Wednesday, January 6. Morris won by pinning his opponent.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Colin McCracken controls Trinity's Jared Rice in the 182 pound bout during Wednesday's match. McCracken won by pin.
WAYNESBURG – The usual anticipation and noise from a large crowd was there, just like at any other Trinity-Waynesburg wrestling dual meet.
That atmosphere changed for Waynesburg after the first three bouts ended in not only losses, but pins.
But Waynesburg head coach Joe Throckmorton knew his team was toughened by a brutal schedule in the first month and was ready to make an impressive charge.
That’s exactly what happened.
Waynesburg won seven out of the next eight bouts, including four by falls, to wipe away that 18-point deficit and grab a 48-30 victory from Trinity in a Section 4-A meet in Class AAA.
The win pushed Waynesburg’s record to 2-0 in the section and 11-2 overall. Trinity fell to 1-2 in the section and 2-2 overall.
Trinity opened the match with pins by Jacob Dobich at 220, Austin Fife at heavyweight and A.D. Nelson at 106. Most teams would have been concerned down 18-0, but not Waynesburg.
“We wanted to start there,” said Throckmorton. “We knew what we had to do after that. We’ve been doing this a lot. Against Greenville, we were down 30-0 and came back to win (42-36 in the Sheetz Classic). So we’re kind of used to it by now.”
Colby Morris began the comeback with a pin in 3:43 over Evan Parkinson at 113 and Caleb Morris followed with a pin in 3:12 of A.J. Marino at 120. Terry Victor and Kyle Homet strung back-to-back falls at 152 and 160 before Colin McCracken put the match away with another at 182. Spencer Lesinski added one in the final bout, 195.
“The big difference in the match was our two freshmen – Colby Morris and Trey Howard,” Throckmorton said. “They are working hard. We knew they would have some success. It’s hard to tell that when you are at the Beast and Powerade.”
There were only two decisions in the match and Waynesburg won both. Howard’s 6-1 win over Gino Cecchine at 145 tied the bout, 24-24.
“We school them on that right off the bat and let them know what the situation is,” Throckmorton said. “We work up to it and they see the standards and have to live up to it. Sometimes, it’s a little more eye-opening when you walk out for the Beast and Powerade as a freshman.”
Howard, whose father Jimmy is on Waynesburg’s coaching staff, said the difficult early schedule was important.
“I just try to get my mindset right before a match,” said Howard. “I try to think I’m going to win and never in mind think that I’m going to lose. I had some tough matches earlier in the season and my record is not the best right now. It showed me I have to step it up.”
Ryan Yocum and Justin Ritter each had pins for the Hillers.
“We knew both teams matched up well against each other,” said Trinity head coach Mark Powell. “We knew there would be fireworks and a lot of points. … We started at a spot that favored us so we got the momentum. Waynesburg is typically a team we don’t match up well against. Where our bulldogs are, that’s where their bulldogs are. Whoever got the most falls was going to sneak out a win.”
The Hillers were without Mike Kalosky because of a meniscus injury. He should return within a week.
“He could have been back tonight but we’re looking at the long run,” said Powell. “We thought it was in his best interest to get one more week’s rest.”