Feb 4, 2019 4 min read

LINESVILLE – Beth-Center looked like it had this wrestling match right were it wanted it, holding an 18-point lead with just four weights to go.

It proved to be just what District 10 runner-up Conneaut Area was looking for.

With no room to spare, the Eagles ran off four straight wins, including two by pin and another by technical fall, to rally for a 35-33 win on an overtime takedown during preliminary round action of the PIAA Class AA Team Tournament on Monday at Conneaut Area Senior High.

“That was the best wrestling match I have ever been a part off,” said Conneaut Area head coach Carmen Russo. “And I have been coaching for 12 years. I wrestled all the way up through juniors and through college. I am just so proud for these guys.”

And it ended on what may have bee the best match of the night.

The 170-pound showdown between the Bulldogs’ Dylan Dingle and CASH’s Dominic Ellis was an instant classic, even if there had not been a trip to Hershey on the line. The pair was so evenly matched that neither could manage a takedown in regulation. Dingle grabbed the lead with a second-period escape. Ellis tied it with a third period escape of his own.

That led to overtime.

“That is what high school wrestling is all about,” said Beth-Center head coach Gery Welsh. “It is a big step for (Conneaut’s) program. It is a big step for our program. But this is postseason wrestling. We knew bonus points and tossup matches were going to be big.”

Ellis learned enough to win the last tossup match.

It was actually Dingle who got in on the early shot, but Ellis was able to keep his balance and work in a whizzer. Dingle still managed to keep hold of Ellis’ leg and, like previous shots, was almost able to work in deeper. This time, however, Ellis was ready.

“I definitely felt the pressure,” said Ellis. “I learned the different motions he did through the first three periods before taking a shot. At the end, I just sprawled out and was able to get his hands unhooked.

“I think he was a little tired and I just had a little more stamina in me.”

The Eagle’s senior worked his way first to the side of Dingle. The two circled the mat on their knees trying to get any advantage they could. They stalled for a split second before Ellis got what he was looking for. With just seconds remaining on the clock, the Eagle senior made one last move. Dingle lost his grip and Ellis spun behind for the two-points. Game, set, Conneaut.

Ellis immediately jumped to his feet and raised his hand in victory. Dingle laid on the mat, where he had spent every bit of energy in the loss.

“I’m going to be honest with you,” said Russo. “And you can even look at my notes. I had the match 33-33 with us winning by criteria.”

Ellis’ heroics were made possible by the four wrestlers in front of him.

Wes Davenport started the comeback with a pin in 3:30 at 145 pounds. Brendan Laird followed with a 15-0 technical fall to make it a 33-26 match. And the Eagles’ ace Peyton Hearn made it a 33-32 deficit with a pin at 160.

Before that, it looked like Beth-Center was well on its way east to Hershey.

The Bulldogs split the first four matches and trailed 12-9. But once the lower weights came into play, it was all Beth-Center.

“We knew their strength was in the middle part of the lineup,” said Welsh. “So we knew we had to minimize the damage leading up to that.”

The visiting squad got a 14 second pin from Joey Holmes at 106 pounds. Kyle McCollum picked up a 3-0 decision at 113. And James Gwyer worked a fall in 1:37 at 120 pounds to give Beth-Center a 24-12 lead. Following a decision loss at 126, BC tacked on nine more points with a decision by Trevor Pettit (132) and a pin by 138-pounder Todd Fisher.

On many nights that may have been enough. Just not this night.

“I’m very proud pf my guys,” said Welsh. “We did not lose a single match because of lack of effort. So hats off to (Conneaut Area). They did a great job and they earned it.”