Mat men get twin wins

Madison County’s mat men were scheduled to conclude the regular season at the Monticello Invitational Jan. 29.

That’s what was on their schedule.

But that’s not what was in the forecast.

For the second time this season, Old Man Winter dumped enough snow to cancel the event, just like he did back in December when inclement weather forced the cancellation of the Broadway Invitational scheduled for Dec. 18-19.

Before the snow fell Jan. 30 canceling that day's action, Madison County's wrestling squad was able to compete in three Jan. 28 matches. The Mountaineers traveled to Orange County High School where they went 2-1 with wins over Orange and Harrisonburg and a loss to Albemarle County.

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Round-by-round results include:

• Round 1, Madison 39, Orange County 36 — Tied 36-36 with only the match at 112 pounds remaining, the Mountaineers looked to Ryan Lincoln for a win.

The freshman answered the call, but not without some tense moments. In his match against Kain Sigler, Lincoln managed to stave off a determined effort by the Hornet and win by decision, 4-2, to lift the Mountaineers to a three-point win.

It was a rubber match of sorts between the two teams. Orange won the first meeting on December 5 but Madison the second on Jan. 2.

Action began in this one at 119 pounds and Orange’s Hugh Morris claimed a forfeit. Lynn Welch (125) won back the points when he stuck Justin Fowler (1:59) then Ethan O’Connell (130) extended the lead to six when he pinned Jack Coleman (2:26).

The Hornets won three straight beginning with Zach Ryder (135) who pinned Cody Banks, followed by Ryan Almond (140) who claimed a
3-1 decision against Danny Camunas, and Colin Pierce (145) who pinned Jeff Foster (1:58) to make it 21-12 Orange.

Madison’s Andrew Riner (152) closed the gap to three when he pinned Sean Raftery (2:29) but Orange’s Connor Nave (160) edged Anthony Jewett, 5-1, to keep Orange out in front, 24-18.

The Mountaineers claimed the lead after Justin Farry (171) and Chris McHaney (189) claimed forfeits but Orange’s Deon White (215) claimed one as well to knot the match at 30-30.

Madison’s Derek Nicholson (285) won a pivotal match when he stuck Paul Bernd (2:20) to give the Mountaineers a six-point lead which was short-lived because Phillip Coleman (103) pinned Peter Thawngzauk (5:00) to tie the match with Lincoln versus Sager coming up as the finale.

Round 2, Madison 48, Harrisonburg 36 — The Mountaineers claimed an 8-5 advantage in the contested bouts over the Blue Streaks who claimed Madisonn’s forfeit at 119 pounds.

Action began with the strength of the Madison lineup with Welch (125) the leadoff hitter. He needed only 0:43 to dispatch Anies Denar, then co-captain O’Connell (130), Group A No. 1, manhandled Manny Begay (0:52), and fast-learning Banks (135) stuck Michael Eckstein (1:07) to give the Mountaineers an 18-0 lead.

The Blue Streaks then sent one of their best to the mat in Seve Sosa-Hernandez (140) who pinned Camunas at 2:46 to put Harrisonburg on the scoreboard.

Madison’s veterans responded with Riner, a senior and co-captain, who made short work of Mark Chepelyak (0:57), and steady sophomore Jewett (160) pinned Jeremy Phillips (3:36).

Farry, who has wrestled up several times this season at 189, competed at 171 and stuck Trent Sosa (1:25) to extend the Mountaineer lead to 42-6.
The Blue Streaks shot back with Robert McCarthy (189) who pinned McHaney (0:38) and RJ Good (215) tamed Trey Good (0:07), but Nicholson (285) pinned Omar Solis (1:50) to put the match out of reach for Harrisonburg which won the final three bouts.

Daniel Makayed (103) pinned Thawngzauk (2:54), Henry Valladeres-Cruz (112) stuck Lincoln (1:16), and Keller Penrod (119) claimed the forfeit to end the match.

Round 3, Albemarle 40, Madison 27 — The bump-up strategy in this one resulted in a true domino effect.

It began at 130 pounds where Welch represented the Mountaineers but lost to Andrew Knight by fall, 1:42. It continued with O’Connell (135) who won back the points when he pinned Matt Lindenbaum. Banks perpetuated the movement when he claimed an Albemarle forfeit at 140 but Camunas’ bump to 145 meant he faced one of the Patriots’ best in Zac Morris who won by major decision, 14-3.

Foster kept the domino effect going by competing at 152 but his opponent, Tyler Morris, won a closely contested decision, 10-8.

Riner competed up at 160 and edged Eric Breeden, 3-2, to give Madison the lead, 15-13.

Jewett jumped up as well and competed at 171 where Ramel Jenkins used his quick takedown ability as the decisive advantage in his win by decision, 11-6.

Albemarle then won three straight beginning with Jacob Anderson (189) who pinned Farry (0:47), followed by Hunter McGhee (215) who claimed a forfeit, and heavyweight Ken Marshall who flattened Nicholson (0:46) and clinched the win for the Patriots who led 34-15 with four matches remaining including the double forfeit coming up at 119 and the Madison forfeit at 125.

Before that, Thawngzauk (103) pinned Dan Foley (3:01) and Lincoln (112) stuck Jake Huber (3:06) to make the score 34-27 Albemarle.
With no entries in the final two weight classes, the Mountaineers watched helplessly as Albemarle’s Brandon Waller claimed the uncontested points at 125 pounds following the double forfeit at 119.
With their efforts at Orange, Madison improved its dual match season record to 22-15

Going into this week Madison Coach Mike Sacra said the team may have the opportunity to make up the Monticello Invitational in the form of a quad on Monday.

Up next is the Northern Sectional Tournament at Stonewall Jackson High School this Saturday. The Northern Sectional consists of the six Bull Run District teams plus Stonewall Jackson and Central of Woodstock.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to the Region B tournament the following weekend at Strasburg High School.