Duals end on a high note

By DEREK PYDA Eagle Staff Writer

February 19, 2009 Last Updated: February 19, 2009 02:11 PM High School

Seneca Valley's Eric Stanley, left, and Ambridge's Francesco Aloe face off in the 171-pound bout Wednesday. Stanley took a 2-1 decision as the Raiders took a 58-12 victory.

SV wrestlers pin down winning year

JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley wrestling team made sure that head coach Tom Tomeo's first season was a winning one.

Entering its last dual match of the season with a record of 6-6, SV used five pins in thumping Ambridge 58-12 Wednesday to finish above .500.

The win came on Senior Recognition Night.

"We're happy, but not satisfied," said Tomeo. "We lost a few matches this year to better teams, but a couple of those defeats were due to other things. But the guys are progressing within my training program, and that's all I can ask. In the end, we finished where we should have."

The Raiders began the match with three consecutive forfeit wins starting at 103 pounds before Grant Evans earned a first-period pin at 125.

Evans normally wrestles at 119, but the Bridgers (5-12) had no opponent to offer him there, so he moved up a weight class and defeated Derek Persuit to push his season record to 15-8.

Nate Cully (140), Bart Lalonde (145), Jordan Williams (215) and David Bonetti (285) also won by falls for the Raiders, with Bonetti's win coming in 30 seconds and Cully's in 34 seconds.

The two closest bouts came at 130 and 171 pounds.

In the former match, SV's Nick Phillips grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second period before holding off Ambridge's Anthony Tripp for a 2-1 win.

At 171, the Raiders' Eric Stanley grabbed two points in the second on a pair of escapes and defeated Francesco Aloe, 2-1.

Ambridge's three wins came in the 135, 152 and 189 weight classes.

The match was the last tuneup for SV before Saturday's Section 3 Tournament at Fox Chapel High.

Jake Perri (103), Evans, Dan Papst (135), Cully and Bonetti are seeded second in their weight classes in the event.

"Nate, Jake and Dave could very well make a run at sectionals," said Tomeo.

Papst was decisioned Wednesday by Ambridge's Nathan Gohn.

"Dan has had a couple of down matches lately," Tomeo said. "But he's a tough competitor and we'll make sure he's ready."

Notes: Wednesday's victory keeps Seneca Valley's streak of non-losing seasons alive at five. ... The Raiders have now managed three straight winning campaigns.

Seneca Valley 58, Ambridge 12103 pounds: Jake Perri (SV) won by forfeit;

112: Colton Schiever (SV) won by forfeit;

119: Aaron Schettler (SV) won by forfeit;

125: Grant Evans (SV) pinned Derek Persuit, 1:21;

130: Nick Phillips (SV) dec. Anthony Tripp, 2-1;

135: Nathan Gohn (A) dec. Dan Papst, 8-2;

140: Nate Cully (SV) pinned Joe Baran, :34;

145: Bart Lalonde (SV) pinned Ross Spinelli, 1:31;

152: Dave Fitzpatrick (A) dec. Shon Schettler, 9-3;

160: Ryan Behning (SV) major dec. Travis Dubak, 10-1;

171: Eric Stanley (SV) dec. Francesco Aloe, 2-1;

189: Nate Schneider (A) pinned Brad Zatorski, :42;