Final match decides Grove City-Slippery Rock wrestling winner

By MIKE KILROY Eagle Staff Writer

February 09, 2005 Last Updated: February 09, 2005 02:02 PM High School

SLIPPERY ROCK - It was all on Jerry Giebner's back.

All the Grove City High School junior wrestler did was put his opponent on his.

Trailing by a point, Giebner took control of his 152-pound match against Slippery Rock's Jarrod Vinroe early and earned a pin to help the Eagles to a 42-35 win at the Rock Box Tuesday night.

"Everyone needs that pressure," said Grove City coach Marty Ruley. "We're happy Jerry had a chance to win it for us. That's what you are supposed to do as a wrestler."

And that's what Giebner did, placing the exclamation point on a contest that went back and forth.

Grove City (11-4) benefited from three forfeits, but was without several key wrestlers because of illness, injury and not making weight.

"They are a strong team," said Slippery Rock coach Fred Powell. "They have great depth and it made a difference in this match."

Grove City also picked up some big points on pins along the way.

Heavyweight Kent Uber, 125-pounder Charlie Baer and 140-pounder Beau Fisher picked up falls to pad the Eagles' point total.

That was one thing the Rockets couldn't do: pick up crucial points.

"We had chances for bonus points and didn't get it," Powell said. "I'm just disappointed. I was expecting more. There were times when we needed to win bigger."

The usual suspects came up big for Slippery Rock (5-9). Trevor Gallo earned a 39-second pin in the 171-pound weight class to run his season record to 16-1. Jeff Becker won a major decision over pesky Derek DeGraff at 145 to remain undefeated.

But the Rockets simply didn't pick up enough falls to counteract their forfeit losses.

"With the confidence I have in our successful wrestlers, I expect the maximum," Powell said. "In retrospect, I also realize the resistance they were getting from Grove City's good wrestlers was great, also."

Perhaps the most exciting match of the night was at 130 pounds, where Slippery Rock's Jeff Kline and Grove City's Craig Johnson battled into overtime with Kline earning a 9-7 decision.

Kline led 7-4 late in the match, but Johnson - just a freshman - got an escape and a takedown with less than 10 seconds remaining in the third period to force overtime.

But Kline quickly got a reversal six seconds into the overtime period to claim the win.

"Craig wrestled a heck of a match," Ruley said. "He took it to overtime, but he doesn't have much experience in overtime."

It was Grove City's last dual meet of the season. Slippery Rock has one match left, against Sharpsville at home on Thursday.

Grove City 42, Slippery Rock 35

103 pounds -

Cory Sheibel (SR) pinned Alex Alessio :45

112 -

Chelsea Fuller (SR) by forfeit

119 -

Peter Didik (SR) by forfeit

125 -

Charlie Baer (GC) pinned Tim Jordan 3:42