Knights topple Canton

TOWANDA - When Towanda coach Bill Sexton realized that Wednesday's District 4 Duals match against the Canton Warriors was going to start at 160 pounds he started to get a little nervous.

"I was concerned with where the match was starting," Sexton said. "Starting where we were, seeing how Curt (Route) had his lineup set and then when we lost the flip. I was a little concerned. The last time we wrestled them between 160 and heavyweight we gave up I think 20 points and scored nine. Today we actually came out of there ahead."

The Black Knights got some big efforts from their heavyweights on Wednesday and it helped produce a 45-15 victory over the Warriors and a trip to Saturday's District 4 Duals quarterfinals.

"It's always nice to wrestle at home for the first match of districts," senior Zack Ripic said. "I think we wrestled well today. I was definitely nervous because Canton really wrestled us well last time. I thought we wrestled up to our potential today. I thought we got great matches from a lot of people tonight."

For Ripic and the seniors it was a good way to wrestle in their last home meet.

"I was proud of all the seniors," Sexton said. "I thought all the seniors wrestled well. They all won their matches. It's always good when you can win your last match in your home building."

For Ripic the win is nice, but now he hopes this can just continue right into Saturday.

"I think we can actually wrestle better still," Ripic said. "This was a good way to start the week, now hopefully we can wrestle like this all the way into Hershey."'

The last time the Warriors and Black Knights wrestled Towanda came out on top by nine points. This time Sexton thought his kids knew it was time to step it up.

"They were focused," he said. "They are the defending district champions and I think the kids knew it was time to pick it up. There were a lot of competitive matches and we won a majority of them tonight."

While the win was special for all of Towanda's wrestlers, it had even more meaning for senior Dale Maynard.

The last time Maynard wrestled Brooks Gleckner he suffered a loss. This time he took control of the 126 pound match early, leading 4-1 after one period, on his way to a 9-2 victory. The win was a special one as it was the 100th of his varsity career.

"It was great," Maynard said. "The last time I wrestled him I was leading and he caught me in the last five seconds. It's great to come back and show I can beat the kid.

"I wanted to prove a point and show I could wrestle against the kid."

For Maynard getting the victory at home made it even more special.

"I wanted to do it in front of the home crowd," Maynard said. "Getting in districts was just a bonus."

Maynard was happy to get this victory so he can not worry about it as he focuses on the rest of the postseason.

"I can get everything out of my head now and just focus on wrestling," Maynard said.

Starting at 160 pounds Canton's Ben Pepper got the Warriors off to a lead, defeating Cody Claupein by major decision, 16-2.

At 170 the Black Knights won a close match as Justin Hunsinger won a 3-1 decision over Chase Pepper to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Canton's Tyler Cole gave the Warriors back the lead at 182 as he defeated Bristin Robinson 8-3 to put the Warriors up 7-3 and at 195 Garrett Wesneski gave the Warriors an 11-3 edge as he won a 14-2 major decision over Dalton Claupein.

Down eight, the Black Knights needed a big performance from Joe Cantale at 220 and he delivered. The last time he wrestled against the Warriors was his first varsity match and he fell to Connor Route 1-0.

This time Cantale took a 1-0 lead in the second period and held that lead until late in the third period when Route tied things up.

With the match tied at one in overtime Cantale got the takedown for a 3-1 sudden victory.

"It was a huge win for me," Cantale said. "The last time I wrestled it was my first varsity match and he only beat me 1-0. It was really nice to beat him this time."

While Cantale knew it was a big spot in the lineup with the Black Knights down 11-3 at that point, but he knows that anyone in the varsity lineup has pressure on them.

"Anywhere in the varsity lineup is a tough spot," Cantale said.

With Cantale's win the deficit was down to 11-6 and at 285 Dan Worthington won by forfeit to give the Black Knights a 12-11 lead.

Towanda added to their lead at 106 as Kyle Blascak pinned Dylan Marbaker in 3:27 to put the Black Knights on top 18-11.

The Warriors cut into that deficit at 113 as Daniel Killian won a 12-0 major decision over Ben Lamphere to make it 18-15.

That was the last points the Warriors would get as the Black Knights closed out the match with six straight victories.

Terrick Vargason started the streak out with a 6-0 win over Zach Pettigrew at 120 and Maynard followed with his 9-2 win at 126.

At 132 Bruce Hildebrandt got a first period fall, pinning Darren Killian in 1:29 to put Towanda up 30-15.

"He gave me quite a match the last time we wrestled," Hildebrandt said. "The last time I beat him in the last six seconds of the match. I thought I wrestled well today. I showed what I can do. The last time I might not have left an impression that I'm the best wrestler."

At 138 Dylan Mayers won a 4-2 match for Towanda to put the Black Knights up 33-15 and the lead was 39-15 after Tristen Decker pinned Seth Martin in 4:34 at 145. Ripic closed out the match at 152 as he pinned Jordan Campbell in 1:52.

"It was a big win for Joe Cantale," Sexton said. "He really stayed with it and stayed focused. It was a huge win for Dale Maynard. To get his 100th win and get the monkey off his back. I just thought everyone wrestled well today."

For Towanda it is now onto Milton on Saturday for a 11 a.m. match against No. 3 seed Mifflinburg in the semifinals.

"We have never not been in the district tournament in Milton," Hildebrandt said. "It's nice to keep that going."