Thursday, January 29, 1998

McGuffey earns dramatic win vicxtory

CANONSBURG -- McGuffey won the final three bouts and rallied to pull out a dramatic 28-26 win over Canon-McMillan. The Highlanders trailed 26-16 after Canon-McMillan's Brian Neuman won by technical fall at 160. But McGuffey's Nick Richmond pinned Brandon Neuman to cut the lead to 26-22.

Mike Albraitis (189) moved the Highlanders within a point when he won a 10-9 decision against Matt Woodhouse. McGuffey completed the comeback when Joe Ginther decisioned Lee Tornabene, 11-6, at heavyweight.

"The keys were that we got the falls when we needed them and our guys at 189 and heavyweight did a heck of a job," said McGuffey coach Mark Caffrey, whose team improved to 13-0 and clinched a share of the Section 5-AAA title.

"Mike and Joe both knew what the situation was and that the match was on the line. That's a pressure situation."

McGuffey's Luke Main (112) and Matt Helicke (130) each won by fall to help build a 16-6 lead. Canon-McMillan, however, strung together five straight wins to build its big lead.

Brad Mockler (125) and Glenn Haynes (145) each recorded pins for the Big Macs.

McGuffey wrestled without two regular starters, Rich Kelly (152) and Shawn Kelly (171).

"We need to get healthy and stay healthy," said Caffrey. "Once we get there, we'll be OK."

McGuffey can complete a perfect regular season by beating Peters Township in its final dual match next week.

Washington 66Charleroi 6

CHARLEROI -- Washington senior Scott Belcastro won his 100th career match and the Prexies lost only one bout in a 66-6 Section 3-AA victory over Charleroi that clinched the section title.

Belcastro pinned Dan Zelinski in 1:12 at 160 pounds, one of six falls for Washington (8-0, 10-2). Dan Mousetis (103), Dave Cox (125), Mike Mousetis (130), Sean Thomas (152) and Matt Brison (171) also had falls for the Prexies.

West Greene 45Bentworth 22

BENTLEYVILLE -- West Greene won seven of the first eight bouts and rolled to a 45-22 Section 3-AA win over Bentworth.

Luke Vitolo (112), L.J. Kennedy (140), and Chad Lough (145) had pins for the Pioneers.

Bentworth got late pins from Jeremy Ivcic (171), Matt Emery (189) and Adam Washlack (hvy).

Ringgold 66Montour 3

MONONGAHELA -- Ringgold won the first eight bouts by fall and rolled to a 66-3 Section 5-AAA win over Montour.

Ryan Scalise (103), Kevin DeJuliis (112), Fred Kerfonta (119), Brian Rabbitt (125), Rich Scalise (130), Chris Rabbitt (135), Rob Salisbury (140) and Matt Smith (145) all had pins to stake the Rams to a 48-0 lead.

Dave Barkey (160) and Brian Polcawich (189) also won by fall for the Rams (5-5, 9-5).

Jefferson-Morgan 59South Park 15

JEFFERSON -- Jefferson-Morgan won six matches by fall and rolled to a 59-15 win over South Park in Section 3-AA.

Ryan Teegarden (112), Tom Saunders (119), Adam Basinger (125), Todd Saunders (135), Jeremy Raferty (140), and Frank Lawrence (hvy) all had pinfalls for the Rockets (7-6).

Beth-Center 45Avella 14

AVELLA -- Beth-Center won two bouts by fall and another by technical fall in a 45-14 Section 3-AA win over Avella.

Adam Hunnell (140) and heavyweights Shane Ziats had pins, and Chad Smith (171) won by technical fall for the Bulldogs.

Peters Township 41Upper St. Clair 14

UPPER ST. CLAIR -- Tim Meyers (125) and Dan Lohr (140) had pins as Peters Township defeated Upper St. Clair, 41-14, in a Section 5-AAA match that gave Indians' eighth-year coach Phil Mary his 100th victory.

Fort Cherry 44Northgate 27

McDONALD -- Sam Calderone and Tim Bennett recorded falls as Fort Cherry clinched a spot in the WPIAL team tournament with a 44-27 Section 2-AA win over Northgate.

LaChon Wilson had a pin for Northgate (2-5, 2-10). Bennett's pin came in just eight seconds for Fort Cherry (5-2, 6-5).

Burgettstown 36Chartiers-Houston 30

BURGETTSTOWN -- Burgettstown took advantage of three forfeits and a default to beat Chartiers-Houston, 36-30, in a non-section match.

Eric Ryan recorded a fall in just 18 seconds for Burgettstown (11-2). Eric Glass, Jason Shaw and Cory Shaw had pins for Char-Houston (3-7).

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Copyright ©1998 Observer Publishing Co. Last updated 1-29-98