Good 1st Step
SLIPPERY ROCK — Though not pleased with the result, Slippery Rock wrestling coach Shamus Carr can at least take solace in the fact that his team pushed the pace for the majority of the night.
The Rockets, making their first-ever appearance in the District 10 team playoffs Thursday night, fell to visiting Greenville 47-25 in the first round of Class AA action.
“We made a point all week to emphasize being aggressive tonight,” said Carr. “We know who Greenville is. They are a good team and are coached very well, but we were not intimidated by them.”
That mentality was on display in the first two bouts. Slippery Rock's Tony Pilosi and Kaleb Kamerer won 8-6 and 8-2 decisions at 182 and 195 pounds, respectively. Kamerer led throughout his bout after an early takedown while Pilosi erased an early deficit.
“We've been fortunate with those two guys,” said Carr. “They've been anchors for us.”
The match featured four forfeits, three counting against the Rockets. The first one came at 220 pounds, tying the score at six.
“There was nothing we could do about the forfeits, but we have a lot of freshmen and first-year wrestlers,” Carr said. “The kids who were in there tonight fought until the very end and I coached to the very end.”
The Rockets (9-9) also received wins from Nick Ayres (major decision at 113), Kid Scarborough (injury default at 145) in a bout he led 2-0 and Mike Antal (decision at 160).
Antal and his opponent, Cole Karpinski, are no strangers to each other. Earlier this season, Antal scored a 3-1 decision at the Mercer Tournament. Then on Jan. 22, Karpinski pinned Antal in a dual match won by the Trojans.
The two are ranked No. 8 and No. 7, respectively at 160 in District 10.
Antal scored the only points of Thursday's 2-0 decision with a reversal in the third period.“I expected it to be low-scoring,” admitted Antal. “He and I are pretty even. He likes to slow things down and I just had take control there at the end.”Carr does not want his team's appearance in the team playoffs to be a flash in the pan. He believes getting here should be expected.“We appreciate being here, but we're not satisfied with the result tonight,” he said. “We want to get here and move on.”The Trojans (18-3) advance to the district quarterfinals, where they will face Union City Saturday at Sharon High School. Trojans' coach John Reynolds is hoping for more urgency from his lineup in the next round.“We looked a little flat tonight,” said Reynolds, a resident of Evans City. “But Slippery Rock was part of the reason for that. Give them credit, they are an up and coming program.”Greenville 47, Slippery Rock 25(Match started at 182 pounds)106-Blayke Knauf (G) pinned Justine Zuchowski, 1:13; 113-Nick Ayres (SR) major dec. Riley Kneeland, 11-3; 120-Kason Smeltzer (G) won by forfeit; 126-Mason Battles (G) pinned Zane Lynch, 5:44; 132-Bryce Knauf (G) pinned Jaidon Stone, 2:05; 138-Deavon Rainey (G) won by forfeit; 145-Kid Scarborough (SR) won by injury default; 152-Mason Karpinski (G) pinned Justin Pearce, 3:41; 160-Mike Antal (SR) dec. Cole Karpinski, 2-0; 170-Elijah Hilliard (SR) won by forfeit; 182-Tony Pilosi (SR) dec. Wasim McClinton, 8-6; 195-Kaleb Kamerer (SR) dec. Barrett Gentile, 8-2; 220-Jacob McMaster (G) won by forfeit; Hwt.-Max Wills (G) pinned Sean Northcott, 3:30
