HS Wrestling: Young Bulldogs cruise past Mount Carmel
Tri-Valley's Kian Gill, top takes on Mount Carmel's Jayden Cruz in a 121-pound bout Tuesday night. Gill won by fall. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
HEGINS — Tri-Valley bid farewell to its seniors Tuesday night prior to a 66-3, non-league drubbing of Mount Carmel in a non-league boys’ wrestling dual meet.
The Bulldogs’ Kayden Lucas, Hogan Troutman and Owen Fortna competed for the final time in their home gym.
While they will move on, the good news for Tri-Valley is that 17 other wrestlers who competed in varsity matches this season can return next winter. That breaks down to six juniors, eight sophomores and three freshmen. More good news: There’s plenty of talent on the way from a junior high team that’s 18 wrestlers strong.
Tri-Valley has had some ups and downs so far in a season that turned out to be a growing season for the underclassmen. The Dawgs (13-6) won one more match than last season (12-7) but saw their Schuylkill League Division II championship streak end with a one-point loss to Pine Grove.
“They’ve definitely made a lot of strides,” Tri-Valley coach Dave Boltz said. “They’ve gotten a lot better. Tonight, some of the guys did some really good things that they weren’t doing at the beginning of the year. They’ve come along pretty good. The young guys are doing great.”
Tri-Valley dominated on its feet, winning the takedown battle 19-1. The Dawgs also piled up near-fall points, taking that category 26-4.
After junior Owen Wolfgang (27-8) took a forfeit at 114, freshman Kian Gill (121) had two takedowns and two sets of back points before pinning Jayden Cruz in 4:40. Sophomore Brock Bossler (127) followed with two takedowns and a four-point near fall before flattening Luca Corsa in 2:34.
At 133, junior Jaxson Bruso (27-11) made quick work of Jaxon Boblick, earning a takedown and a reversal before pinning Boblick in 1:14 to give Tri-Valley a 24-0 lead.
Lukas Carpenter (139) had the only win for Mount Carmel (6-15), a 9-4 decision over Lucas.
Sophomore Noah Hanlon (30-6) got the Dawgs going again at 145 with a quick takedown and fall in 1:20 over Bradley Clark.
After Parker Hatter took a forfeit at 152, Troutman (160) compiled two takedowns, a four-point near fall and a stalling point in an 11-0 major decision over Elijin Jackson.
Hunter Updegrave (24-14) took a forfeit at 172, and Fortna followed by pinning Evan Jones in 5:46. With three takedowns and a reversal, Fortna built an 11-1 lead at the time of the fall.
Sophomore Donovan Keeth (23-13) continued his ascent by pinning Andrew Scalia in 2:20. Keeth, who had two takedowns, a four-point near fall and a reversal, started the season 5-4 but has gone 18-9 since.
At 285, junior Kyle Bowman showed skill on his feet with three takedowns. He turned Yadiel Alicea twice for eight back points in a 17-0 technical fall that came at 5:14.
And at 107, junior Garrett Leitzel used a pair of takedowns to decision Brayden Mirarck 6-3 in the final bout of the night.
