IAC WRESTLING: OWEGO NIPS EDISON ON TIE-BREAKER (2021-02-17)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — As they continue to get their roster established, the Owego Indians survived a scare from Edison Wednesday evening, nipping the Spartans, 31-30, on tie-breaker criteria.

Matt Laubach came up with what would ultimately determine the final outcome, a takedown en route to a fall over Edison's Jordan Taylor in 1:44 in the evening's first bout at 132 pounds.

The tie-breaker came down to the 11th criteria, according to the National Federation of High Schools Wrestling Rules, "the team having the greater number (total match points) of first-point(s) scored shall be declared the winner."

Owego coach Nick Rodgers is happy to have his charges back in competition and was pleased with the team's performance.

"It just feels good to be on the mat," he said. "We wrestled well. We had eight kids in the line-up. We got the match-ups, as many as we could. I'm happy with the way we performed."

Following a forfeit to the Spartans, the Indians' Jacob Morris (152) chalked up four takedowns before decking Wyatt Taylor with three second remaining in the second period. Morris led, 11-3, at the time.

Zach Miner and Matt Gatto received forfeits at 160 and 172, respectively, to give Owego a 24-6 advantage.

Cam Bundy made it 30-6 with a pin of Michael Teets in 2:46 at 215. The senior standout rode a trio of near falls to a 10-0 lead in the first period and was ahead, 13-0, at the time of the pin.

Spencer Meriwether (285) and Lucas Mosher (110) picked up forfeits before a fall by Joey Mastrontonio (118) and another forfeit to Angelo Steinhauer (126) forced the dual meet into tie-breaker criteria.

Mastrontonio dispatched the Indians' Lucas Reilly in 3:33 while trailing the match. Reilly was impressive early with a takedown and near fall for a 4-0 lead in the first period. He followed up with an escape, takedown and another near fall to go up 9-0. While being turned with a cradle, the Edison grappler worked himself free and picked up the reversal, slipping in a half-nelson. Reilly battled for several second before Mastrontonio collected the fall.

There were no matches at 145, 189 and 102.

Exhibition
The Indians won three of the four exhibition bouts.

Laubach disposed of Steinhauer in 3:52 in a battle of returning Section IV Division II place-winners. He led 4-0 after a period and when Steinbauer got high while riding legs, Laubach reversed him to make it 6-0.

The Indians' Steven Bidwell rolled to an 18-2 technical fall over Wyatt Taylor in 3:43. Bidwell built a 9-1 cushion in the opening period with two takedowns and two near falls. He added another near fall and a trio of takedowns in the second period, the last ending the bout in 3:43.

Bundy made quick work of Meriwether, chalking up a pin in 44 seconds.

Reilly had another tough bout, dropping an 8-5 decision to Mosher. Mosher went ahead, 4-1, after one period on a pair of takedowns. Reilly rallied to tie the match with an escape and takedown in the second period. Mosher used a takedown and near fall to make it 8-4 with 1:07 remaining in the match. Reilly picked up a penalty point, but Mosher held on for the win.

"Lucas Reilly got two of the toughest matches of the night and he came out on the short end, but they were great matches. It's his second year. He's still learning to score, but he looked great and we're really excited that he will be with us for two more years."

On Friday, Owego (1-0) hosts Tioga (1-0), a 63-9 winner over Waverly.


"There will definitely be a challenge there, but like I said, we're happy to be competing," Rodgers said.

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IN PHOTO 1: Owego's Matt Laubach (L). ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.

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