Raiders outfoxed

By MIKE KILROY Eagle Staff Writer

January 12, 2008 Last Updated: January 12, 2008 02:29 PM High School

Seneca Valley's Grant Evans, left, beat Carson Brooks of Fox Chapel 6-0 in the 119-pound bout Friday, but the Foxes overtook the Raiders 42-30.

Fox Chapel overcomes young Seneca Valley wrestlers

JACKSON TWP — Nate Cully wasn't going to be denied.

With veins popping in his neck and beads of sweat forming on his brow, the Seneca Valley sophomore wrestler turned Fox Chapel's Nick Paradise and pinned his back to the mat.

At the time, the pin by the 140-pounder was huge. It knotted the score at 18 and looked to give the young Raiders a lift against the Foxes.

But Fox Chapel dominated the middle weights on the way to a 42-30 victory at Seneca Valley Friday night.

Still, Raiders coach Lee Mullett was pleased withCully's effort.

"That was a huge match, a nice pin," Mullett said. "He never gave up in the third period and finally stuck him."

But getting stuck themselves is what ruined the Raiders' night, as they were the victims of five pins.

"It came down to pins," Mullett said. "Giving up the five pins really came into play. We're young. They're learning."

Seneca Valley also left valuable points on the mat when the Raiders were close to getting a pair of major decisions, only to fall short.

"We get some of those bonus points, that could have come into play," Mullett said.

Still, what Mullett saw was encouraging, particularly late in the match.

David Bonetti at 215 pounds took just more than a minute to turn his foe, Dan Stabile, on his back.

Senior heavyweight Zach Eckstrom wasted even less time in getting the best of MitchDePellingrine.

As soon as the match started, Eckstrom seized control, taking DePellingrine down to the mat, turning him and notching the pin in 25 seconds.

"They're big kids and they have been doing pretty well all year," Mullett said. "They're doing the smart things, and that's important. They stay out of the simple little moves and don't get caught. That's when we give up pins.

"Eck — hey, that's perfect. Go out there, don't waste any time and take care of business."

Only three wrestlers in the Seneca Valley lineup had any significant experience before the season started: Cully, Eckstrom and 119-pounder GrantEvans.

The fact that the Raiders are 5-4 with eight matches left is cause for optimism, Mullett said.

"They are getting better. They are learning," Mullett said. "They are becoming more aware of what they are doing wrong."

Fox Chapel 42, Seneca Valley 30103 pounds: Colton Schiever (SV) by forfeit;

112: George Marsico (FC) by forfeit;

119: GrantEvans (SV) dec. Carson Brooks 6-0;

125: Mike Dunn (FC) pinned Jason Hildum 3:20;

130: Joe Johnson (FC) pinned Dan Papst 3:50;

135: Bart Lalonde (SV) dec. Yanbo Chang 14-8;

140: Nate Cully (SV) pinned Nick Paradise 5:27;

145: Dan Mahon (FC) dec. Shon Schettler 4-3;

152: JustinMahon (FC) pinned Ryan Behning :49;

160: Nick Letters (FC) pinned Bill Galliotos 3:10;