Finishing touch
JEFFERSON TWP — Gavin Funovits found a little extra motivation to put in more training time outside of practice.
The 132-pound Seneca Valley freshman wrestler doesn’t feel in shape. Finding himself in a tough match against Knoch freshman Max Freyermuth Saturday afternoon required him to find extra energy.
In the third period, Funovits, who was ahead by one point, felt tired.
His fatigue didn’t prevent him from holding on to a 2-1 win during the Raiders’ 67-6 Class AAA Section 3-A win Saturday afternoon at Knoch High School.
“You really need it,” Funovits said about cardio. “(He plans to) sprint more time at home. Two daily jogs. Two miles or a mile.”
Freyermuth didn’t let Funovits escape in the third period. Funovits just didn’t let him turn him, either.
Funovits, who is 8-6 this season, scored a quick takedown to start the match. Freyermuth escaped with 1.2 seconds left in the first period for his only point.
“I got good conditioning,” Funovits said. “Every time I’m on the mat it helps me out for future reference in 10th, 11th and 12th grade.”
Seneca Valley coach Kevin Wildrick is pleased with Funovits’ progression.
“Being a ninth grader and not being a 106 or 113 pounder is a challenge,” Wildrick said. “You get a different class and maturity of wrestlers in the middle weights.”
Seneca Valley (5-3, 2-1) benefitted from eight Knoch forfeits. The Raiders also won five of the six contested matches.
Austin Leon (160 pounds) won by major decision in his season debut, while Brad Hensler (182) and Brennen O’Shea (152) won by decision.
Tyler Miller (220) picked up the Raiders’ lone pin in the first match.
“Just seeing improvement every day from the kids,” Wildrick said about what he hoped Seneca Valley would get from the match. “We teach certain things in the (wrestling) room and we want to see it at the mat. ... We want to be at the top of our sub-section to be at the crossover.”
Knoch had several kids out with injuries and a few on vacation for the holiday.
Brandon Yobst (138) scored the Knights’ only win, pinning Daniel Sullivan in 2:29 after falling behind 2-0.
Knights coach Mark McLaughlin said he is still trying to solidify his lineup.
“We have to get guys in the weight class,” McLaughlin said. “You may have seen some guys not in the right weight class. Getting guys back will help us, I don’t know if it would make us as strong if some guys dropped into their certified weight classes.”
Seneca Valley 67, Knoch 6
(Match started at 195 pounds)
106-Alex Lynch (S) by forfeit; 113-Ben Lynch (S) by forfeit; 120-Alex Fisher (S) by forfeit; 126-Nick Zoria (S) by forfeit; 132-Gavin Funovits (S) dec. Max Freyermuth, 2-1; 138-Brandon Yobst (K) pin Daniel Sullivan, 2:29; 145-Seth Schiever (S) by forfeit; 152-Brennen O’Shea (S) dec. Austin Warman, 5-3; 160-Austin Leon (S) maj. dec. 12-1 Matthew Steinmiller, 12-1; 170-Steve Rudolph (S) by forfeit; 182-Brad Hensler (S) dec. Dalton Ashton, 4-1; 195-John Proper (S) by forfeit; 220-Tyler Miller (S) pin Bailey Savage, 1:48; Hwt.-Brady Moore (S) by forfeit
