Waynesburg impressive in win over Trinity
Wayneburg’s Ryan Braun topples Trinity’s Dan Boardley on the way to an 8-5 victory in the match at Waynesburg.
Waynesburg head wrestling coach Joe Throckmorton watches as his team defeat Trinity in the match at Waynesburg Wednesday night.
WAYNESBURG – The wrestling team at Waynesburg High School sent a clear message Wednesday night to the other teams on it schedule.
This will not be an easy team to beat.
The Raiders showed off a lineup that had some pop throughout most of the weight classes, winning all but four bouts in breezing past Trinity, 46-21, in Section 4-AAA in front a near-capacity crowd inside Waynesburg’s gymnasium.
Waynesburg allowed Trinity a tantalizing start – Kyle Gonzales pinned Justin Victor in 1:24 at 120 to start the dual meet, but quickly took over, winning the next seven bouts to jump out to a commanding 31-6 lead.
“You never know about these matches,” said Waynesburg head coach Joe Throckmorton. “You try to win as many weight classes as you can. We try to figure out the best possible way. I want to win every match. I’m greedy. I don’t want to see any of my kids lose.”
It was important for the Raiders to get off to a good start. They just went through the ringer at the Beast of the East tournament in Delaware over the weekend and have arguably the toughest tournament in the country in the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School next Thursday.
“We’re starting to come together,” Throckmorton said. “That’s why we went to the Beast and have Powerade coming up. We’re working on the little things too get better and I think this is a team that will get better and better as the year goes along.”
Caleb and Colby Morris are a nice 1-2 punch in the lower weights and the turn began turning the emotion of the match when each came away with a decision. Caleb Morris won a 13-4 major decision over B.J. Long at 132 to give Waynesburg (1-0, 2-0) the lead for good. Colby Morris followed with a 9-2 decision over Michael Hertig at 138 and Trey Howard followed with a pin of Cole Whitmer at 145 to push the Raiders lead to 16-6.
“I expected a close match,” said Trinity head coach Mark Powell. “I believe in these guys. Waynesburg’s wrestlers were a little better than I thought. … We’ll be alright.”
Trinity (0-1, 1-1) forfeited two consecutive bouts, 160 and 170, because of injuries and that put the dual meet out of reach for all intents and purposes.
Waynesburg swept the final three weigt classes with Colin McCracken and Connor Main getting pins. Main wrestled for west Greene last season but transferred to Waynesburg.
“I didn’t know he was here until he was in school,” said Throckmorton. “He’s a nice addition. He’s got a lot of great workout partners in Colin McCracken, Kyle Homet and Trey Howard. He’s not used to the competition like Powerade and the Beast and all that, but he’s excited and we’re excited for him.
Jarrod Rice had a pin for Trinity at 182 over Luke Robinson and A.D. Nelson pinned Waynesburg’s Nitin Patel at 113.