Rams stay alive in consis at PIAA Duals

HERSHEY - So far in this post season run, the Wyalusing Rams have had luck on their side in the ability to stay on the right side of the close one or two-point decisions but Friday, the Rams got to see things from both sides.

Unfortunately, for the Rams, that luck didn't follow them into Friday mornings match with Brookville as the Rams dropped four one-point decisions en route to a 35-18 loss to the Raiders. The Rams however kept their hopes of a medal alive with a nice rebound win over Burrell in the consolations

"We were in some battles today," said Wyalusing coach Gary Haley. "I'm sure the kids are tired. It's been a tough day. We had some things that didn't go our way this morning against Brookville, but we wrestled much better later on against Burrell."

Against Brookville, Wyalusing fell behind quickly as Tyler Thompson was pinned by Taylor Cudworth at 160 to open the Championship Quarterfinal match.

Dan Frankenfield gave up a second-period escape and was taken down with just :15 left in the period and then allowed another escape in the third as Brookville's Brett Smith picked up a 4-0 decision to give the Raiders a 9-0 lead.

Anthony Clark got the Rams on the board at 182 with a hard-fought 4-0 decision of his own over Tyler Dombrowski.

Logan Stout built an 11-3 lead on the Rams' Justin Griffith at 195 before securing a fall in 5:24, giving Brookville a 15-6 advantage.

The Rams' Dylan Otis and Clayton Force got things back on track for Wyalusing decision and a fall at 220 and 285, closing the gap to 15-12. But that's as close as the Rams would be the rest of the match.

Otis used a first-period takedown and an escape in the second to take a 3-0 lead into the third over Jacob Cieleski at 220. There Cieleski earned a reversal with just :19 left to cut the lead to 3-2. Cieleski let Otis up to try for a takedown to tie, but the Ram Freshman got the takedown instead and went away with a 6-2 decision.

Force built a 4-0 lead on Nathan Nosker at 285 with takedowns in each of the first two periods before getting the fall in 3:12.

Brookville then won the next four bouts to take control of the match with a 29-12 lead.

Devin Joiner needed a locking hands penalty point and an escape late in the third period at 106 to take a 4-3 decision from Wyalusing's Austin Shaeffer.

Trey Constable scored a takedown with just :04 left in the second period and then held on for a 5-3 decision over Wyalusing's Brandon Kelley at 113 before Daulton Zimmerman rolled to an 11-0 major decision over Wyalusing's Justin Haley at 120.

Cole Clever then earned a 10-0 major decision over Ryan Force at 126 giving Brookville a 29-12 advantage but Ryan Hart put the Rams back on track with a 6-1 decision over Jimmy Miller at 132.

Tim Kuntz benefitted from a penalty point for locking hands that tied the score at 6-6 with his bout with Brock Zacherl at 138 but Kuntz eventually dropped an 8-6 decision in overtime that locked up the win for Brookville.

Joe Champluvier followed with a 5-4 win over Brodie Zacherl at 145 and then Zach Vromen finished the match with a 3-1 win over Tyler Fenton at 152.

"Brookville is a good program," said Haley. "It's not that we wrestled bad. They were just better than us today. They've been here before. They've got some good tough kids. I thought we wrestled well. We just had some close decisions go their way."

Later against Burrell, the Rams fell behind early as the Bucs' Derrick Beattie edged Dan Frankenfield 1-0 to start the match at 170 and Dakota Deslauriers scored a 20-6 major decision win over Justin Griffith at 182.

The Rams though ripped off six straight wins from 195 through 120 to take a comfortable 31-7 lead.

Anthony Clark got the Rams started with a 3:17 fall over Cory Klems at 195 before Dylan Otis scored a 1:56 fall over Cory Arabia at 220 putting the Rams in front 12-7. Wyalusing never trailed again.

Clayton Force followed with a pin of Joe Naviglia in 4:26 at 285.

Austin Shaeffer got a reversal and three nearfall points in the second period on his way to a 9-2 decision over Jason Roberts at 106 and Brandon Kelley received a forfeit at 113, putting the Rams up 27-7.

Justin Haley worked a power half for two sets of three nearfall points and then coasted to a 15-1 major decision that put the Rams up 31-7.

The Bucs' Zack Wolford ended the Wyalusing run when he edged Ryan Force 4-2 at 126 but Ryan Hart followed for the Rams at 132 with a 6-4 decision over Steven Edwards, giving Wyalusing a 34-10 lead with four bouts remaining.

The Bucs closed the gap to 34-16 with Phillip Mara's 3:59 fall over Tim Kuntz at 138, but Wyalusing secured the win by winning two of the final three decisions.

Joe Champluvier was a 6-1 winner over Corey Falleroni at 145 before Kevin Best picked up the final win for the Bucs with a 4-2 decision over Tyler Fenton at 152.

Wyalusing's Tyler Thompson capped off the win for the Rams when he earned a 2-1 overtime decision over Zach Smith who was penalized for an illegal figure four of the head in the overtime period giving Thompson the win.

"We faced two good programs today," added Haley. "Everybody's tough down here, but I thought our kids have wrestled well. We've had to battle. Every match has been a dog fight.

The Rams will now face off with Fort LeBoeuf who was a 33-28 winner over Reynolds in the second round of consolations.

The Bison are no stranger to these State Duals having been state champs in 2010 and were runner-up on three other occasions including 2011 to Bethlehem Catholic 38-21, 2004 to Bloomsburg 38-26 and 2000 to Wyalusing where the Rams won 40-16.

"We don't know much about them," said Haley. "Coach (Walt) Fisk and I will have to get back to the hotel and do a little research tonight to see if we can get any favorable matchups and we'll be back tomorrow and go from there.

"We know they are a good solid program with some good solid individuals. They've been here before."

The Rams, now 23-2 on the season, are one of just eight teams remaining in the Class AA field but are still two wins away from a shot at a third-place medal.

The two other District Four teams competing down here this weekend didn't fare as well. District Four AA runner-up Central Columbia dropped a 44-21 decision to Boiling Springs in the quarterfinal round earlier before being eliminated by Bermudian Springs with a 39-27 loss. In the AAA tournament, District Four Champion Jersey Shore, who dropped its opening round match to La Salle College 48-27, fell early Friday morning to Norristown 41-28 and was eliminated.

The Rams will wrestle Fort LeBoeuf (15-3) at 9 a.m. in the third round of consolations. The winner will advance to the consolation semifinals to face either Bedford or Boiling Springs.