Tioga County Sports ReportTIOGA COUNTY — Newark Valley got off to a fast start and led 25-3, but Tioga reeled off eight straight wins to rally for a 45-25 win here Wednesday night in IAC wrestling action.
"Tioga wrestled well," said Newark Valley coach Larry Kasmarcik.
"There were a couple spots where we had to get pins and we didn't," he noted. "And there were a couple spots where we couldn't get pinned and we did.
"Again, hats off to Tioga, they wrestled extremely well tonight," added Kasmarcik.
Senior Marcos Escalante scored a takedown in the closing seconds of the 150-pound bout to seal a 7-2 decision over Tioga's Caden Bradley to give the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead.
After a forfeit to Anthony Kunze put NV up 9-0, senior Logan Woodlin scored a 10-1 major decision over Aiden Black to up the lead to 13-0.
Senior Cadin Creeley kept the Cardinal roll going with a 23-second fall of Carson Labour at 175 pounds to make it 19-0.
James Howey put Tioga on the board with a 10-5 win over Elijah Williams at 190 pounds.
Senior Titus Callahan decked Jamie Woodcock in 1:23 to give Newark Valley a 25-3 lead, but that would be the last win the Cardinals would muster.
Mark McCane would start the Tioga comeback with a 9-0 major decision over Jack Blomberg at 285 pounds.
The only other bout to go a full six minutes saw Tioga's Liamm Comstock beat Kenny Slater in a 10-0 major decision at 126 pounds. The win put Tioga ahead for good, at 28-25.
The Cardinals fall to 8-3 on the season. Their only other loss to a Section IV team was at Waverly. Waverly and Tioga are expected to be the top two seeds in the upcoming Section IV Duals, which are set for Jan. 21.
"We'd love to qualify for the (Section IV Duals," said Kasmarcik. "We'd love to get as many duals in as possible.
"Obviously we want to win dual meets, and we want always want to beat Tioga, but in the second half of the season we're focused on Sectionals and Albany, and getting as many wrestlers there as we can," added Kasmarcik.
Newark Valley returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Groton.
—————————
PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
—————————
TIOGA 45, NEWARK VALLEY 25
150: Marcos Escalante (NV) dec. Caden Bradley (T), 7-2;
157: Anthony Kunze (NV) by forfeit;
165: Logan Woodin (NV) major dec. Aiden Black (T), 10-1;
175: Cadin Creeley (NV) by fall over Cason Labour (T), 0:23;
190: James Howey (T) dec. Elijah Williams (NV), 10-5;
215: Titus Callahan (NV) by fall over Jamie Woodcock (T), 1:23;
285: Mark McCane (T) major dec. Jack Blomberg (NV), 9-0;
103: Drayke Ulrich (T) tech. fall Sheldon Houston (NV), 17-0 @ 2:17;
110: Parker Jackson (T) by fall over Andrew Lelik (NV), 5:03;
118: Declan McKee (T) by fall over Avery Davis (NV), 0:20;
126: Liamm Comstock (T) major dec. Kenny Slater (NV), 10-0;
132: Logan Bellis (T) by fall over Jacob Shipman (NV), 0:46;
138: Kadin Cole (T) tech. Fall Logan Rhodes (NV), 20-2 2 2:37;
144: Jayden Duncanson (T) by fall over Leland Houston (NV), 1:10.
