FEBRUARY 3, 2009
KING'S WRESTLERS POST 24-17 COMEBACK WIN OVER CENTENARY
WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College wrestling team overcame a 17-6 deficit by winning the last four matches as the Monarchs posted a 24-17 come-from-behind victory over visiting Centenary College Tuesday evening in Scandlon Gymnasium.
With the win, King's improved to 9-13 while Centenary slipped to 10-4.
In the first bout at 133-pounds Centenary's Jay Guiricich built a 8-0 first period lead over Anthony Dietrich on the strength of a takedown and six near fall points. Guiricich added a second period reversal and three near fall points for a 13-0 lead before Dietrich countered with an escape and takedown to cut the score to 13-3. Guiricich then added an escape at the buzzer to take a 14-3 lead into the final period. From there, Guiricich scored a reversal and three more back points for a 19-3 technical fall victory.
At 141-pounds, David Alsieux of Centenary took a 2-0 lead over Tony Miele following a first period takedown. Miele took a 4-2 lead after two periods following a penalty point and three near fall points. In the final period Alsieux responded with a reversal with 0:48 left tie the match at 4-4, sending the bout into overtime. From there Miele would score the deciding takedown with 0:05 left in the first extra session to secure the 6-4 decision and cut the Cyclone lead to 5-3.
In the next match at 149-pound pounds, Centenary built an 11-3 lead when John Stillo scored a first period takedown before registering a pin of Frankie Davis in 2:49.
At 157, Centenary's Chris Boyle tallied a takedown to post a 2-1 first period lead over Val Poleto. In the second period Poleto escaped to tie the score at 2-2, then followed up with a takedown to build a 4-2 advantage. Boyle registered an early third period takedown to tie the score at 4-4. Poleto, however, took a 5-4 lead on an escape and fought off a late takedown attempt to hold on for the decision while cutting the Centenary lead to 11-6.
In the 165-pound bout, Matt Regan of Centenary took a 2-1 first period lead over Jerry Robbins following a takedown. Robbins responded with a second period takedown and added two near fall points before Regan countered a reversal to tie the score at 5-5. Starting in the neutral position in the final period, Regan scored the deciding takedown with 0:18 left and held on for a 7-6 decision, upping the Cyclone lead to 14-6.
At 174, Centenary's Charles Cannella took Justin Kay down to his back for a quick 5-0 lead before the Monarch freshman scored a reversal to cut the lead to 5-2. Cannella answered with a late reversal to build a 6-2 lead entering the second period. Kay would post a takedown to close to within 6-4, but was then tagged with a penalty point to fall behind 7-4 entering the final period. Cannella added two takedowns for a 12-5 decision while giving Centenary a 17-6 advantage.
The Monarchs began their comeback at 184-pounds when Monarch coach Ned McGinley moved Metropolitan Conference champion Mike Reilly up one weight class from 174. Reilly scored a takedown to post a 2-0 lead over J.J. Mitchell after one period, then scored a takedown to push the lead to 4-0. Mitchell would eventually escape to cut the lead to 4-1 entering the third period. Neither wrestler would score the rest of the way but Reilly added a riding time to post a 5-1 decision while cutting the Centenary lead to 17-9.
At 197, King's continued to rally when Zach Martinez took an 2-0 lead over Chris Sharma thanks to a takedown with 0:02 on the clock. A second period reversal gave give Martinez a 4-0 lead before the Monarch senior secured a critical pin at 4:12 to bring King's to within 17-15.
With King's receiving a forfeit in the final bout at 125-pounds, the match would be decided in the 285-pound contest. King's Chris Rash took a 2-1 first period lead over Tim Tomaino after a quick takedown. Tomaino scored an early second period reversal but Rash responded with an escape to tie the score at 3-3. In the third period Rash would score the deciding point with another escape, earning a 4-3 decision to give the Monarchs an 18-17 lead.
King's Mike Tabasco would pick up the forfeit at 125 as the Monarchs walked away with a 24-17 victory.
King's 24 – Centenary 17
141 – Tony Miele (K) dec. David Alsieux (C), 6-4 OT
174 – Charles Cannella (C) dec. Justin Kay (K), 12-5
Referee: Yogi Michaels
