DISTRICT DUALS
SATURDAY 2/1/14
Consolation Semi-Final: Pennridge vs. Council Rock South
The battle between the two remaining SOL Teams in the D1 Duals started at 152 pounds, and with a spot in Hershey on the line to compete in the 2014 PIAA State Team Championships, the pressure was intense. But not for sophomore Lucas Martoccio from CR South. He came out a blazing with a series of pinning combinations, including a tight butcher, and secured a first period fall with his patent cradle. CRS started off with back-to-back-to-back pins and a rather large 18-0 lead. Joe Doyle followed Martoccio with a cradle of his own at 160 and the quick fall in :44 seconds, and Rob Zimmerman came off his back at 170 to deck Pennridge’s Tommy Roeder after the two rolled and threw each other to their backs during several scrambles.
The pinning continued at 182, but this time it was Kyle Gentile for the Rams with his businesslike approach decking CR South’s Scott Mackin after moving up a weight class from last night, which enabled Coach Dan Goetter to stretch his line-up and fill the 195 slot. And the moved paid off with the Rams closing the gap 18-9 after Andrew Reinhold picked up a decision there.
An interesting footnote with the officials at the duals, they were paired together as they alternated officiating the individual bouts. Pennridge’s anchors, Ezra Outlaw (220) & Joe Kracz (285) tied things up with the Golden Hawks at 18 points apiece as Outlaw pocketed a decision, and Kracz grabbed a fall with a tight cradle. CR South’s Riley Palmer came out at 106 aggressively against Rams freshmen Matt Parker and was able to score an early takedown, and added back points with a lift and return to the mat for a 5-1 decision, CRS 21-Penn 18. Kordell Rush for Pennridge moved up to 113 from his normal tournament weight of 106 to challenge Nick Palmer (CRS). The first period was a complete scramble, and after some indecision on the officials' part, it was Palmer on top after one, 3-2. The fact that the officials were alternating refereeing the matches, consistency for them to get into the flow of the dual meet was evident. Nonetheless, Palmer added three near fall points on a solid tilt to up his lead to 6-2 heading into the third period. Palmer chose the down position, and with Rush unable to turn him, cut him and quickly scored a takedown. Rush cut him again and got another quick takedown with two backs to tie it up at the buzzer. In the sudden victory one-minute period, it was Rush with a flurry of single leg attempts that Palmer fended off as they headed to the first 30-second session. Rush rode it out, and Palmer did the same as Rush chose top for the ultimate ride-out. Rush held on for the ride-out with a tight arm chop to run out the clock and earn the point for the victory 9-8.
With the team score knotted at 21, Scott Parker (Penn) took to the mat at 120 to grapple South’s fab freshmen Zack Trampe. Parker put up 7 points with a takedown and back points at the halfway point of the 6 minutes. He added two more backs for a 9-0 lead going into the third. With bonus points a commodity, he went down to look for more. A reversal 30 seconds in and the major was secured, but Parker wanted more as he worked the top position looking for his tilt. But Trampe scrambled for a reversal and the final was 11-2 as the Rams pulled ahead in the team score 25-21.
Two top prize fighters in Ben Ross (Penn) and Dan Martoccio (CRS) set to do battle once again this season with team destinies on the line in this one. No scoring occurred in the first period, and Martoccio went down to start the second. Martoccio managed to get a point late in the period as he improved position from the bottom and was awarded the point for neutral at the buzzer. Ross escaped to knot it 1-1 and into OT they went. No takedowns were recorded after a minute, and Martoccio could not break free from Ross’ grasp and Ross went down in the second. But a third caution by Ross gave Martoccio a point, which was essentially the match. But a penalty point for grabbing fingers sealed the fate of Ross as Martoccio let him free at the buzzer for the victory 3-2.
With the Rams clinging to a 1-point lead (25-24) it was off to 132 pounds, and Harry Murray for CR South versus the Rams Ethan Clemmer. Murray scored big bonus points as he executed a tight cradle for a fall. Thus, pushing South ahead in the team score 30-25 with 2 bouts remaining, a lead they hadn’t had since early in the match. The Rams would need two victories to take the lead, and they hooked their wagon to Dylan Gerhart at 138 as he stepped out to face Golden Hawk Dylan Schwartz. Schwartz scored the first two with a takedown and added another in the second to stay ahead 5-0. With hopes slipping away for the Rams, Schwartz kept the pressure on as Gerhart pushed the pace from the bottom position, but could not score. He went neutral in the third to look for points but another takedown by Schwartz and another and it was all over for the Rams. A 14-3 final score for Schwartz and an insurmountable lead for South 34-25 as they advance to face Garnet Valley, who defeated Downingtown East 33-25.
CR South advances to the State Duals with the 40-25 victory over Pennridge, and will battle the Jags for 3rd place and positioning as they could earn a home match Monday night.
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