Hosting the final dual meet of the season on Wednesday, the Cougar wrestlers assured themselves at least a share of the Trans-Valley League title with a 59-12 win over Livingston.
"We had to get that win," said coach Derek Scott, noting that a loss would have dropped them to fourth place in the bottlenecked TVL. "I thought we bounced back great and we clinched the dual meet half of league...everybody wrestled really well. We wrestled our most complete dual of the season."
Wins for the Cougars came at 112 pounds, Andrew Schuler win by pin; 119, Lucas Pitassi, win by pin; Ryan Ashlock, 125, 11-3 win; Kevin Machado, 130, 10-2 win; Joey Machado, 135, 11-9 win in overtime; Myles Bishop, 140, win by pin; Jon Manzo, 145, 15-1 win; Ryan Sughrue, 152, win by pin; Brett Mynear, 160, win by pin. Justin Chandley, at 171 pounds, won by forfeit; Ryan Lippincott, 189, 4-2 win; Anthony Oste, heavyweight, forfeit win.
Losses on the mats came at 103 pounds, Brian Toy and 215 pounds, Tyrell Swass.
"The most exciting match of the night was Joey Machado's, he took an 11-9 win in overtime," said Scott. "He's been working really hard the last month, got himself back in shape."
The match at Escalon High was a dramatic affair as well, with a single overhead light illuminating the mat and shining down on the wrestlers as they did battle. A large crowd was on hand for the important league meet and Scott said he was pleased to see both the JV and varsity squads do well.
"Our JV kids took a 48-29 win," he said.
Winners on the mats for the JV team were Cody Bandini, 119 pounds; Blake Mynear, 125; Nick Hanson, 130; and Chase Keener, 140 pounds.
Varsity wrestlers suited up for the CIT Tournament in Morro Bay over the weekend, traveling there for Friday and Saturday competition.
"It was much tougher this year, there were 70 teams and there were some top ranked state teams there," Scott said.
The Cougars brought home one medal and had five wrestlers in contention for medals against some stiff competition, said Scott.
Myles Bishop went 5-2 at 135 pounds and earned a medal for a fifth place finish.
Though he went, Brian Toy ended up having to drop out due to illness/injury at 103 pounds. Schuler went 3-2 at 112 pounds, Pitassi compiled a 1-2 mark at 119 and Ashlock went 1-2 at 125. Kevin Machado went 3-2 at 130 pounds, Joey Machado went 0-2 at 140, with Manzo winning two and losing two at 145 pounds.
Sughrue was 2-2 at 152, Brett Mynear was 2-2 at 160 pounds, with Lippincott and Oste, at 171 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, going 2-2.
"We only had one medallist but we got five kids to the match to medal," noted Scott. "Two of them were winnable, we've just got to get better in close matches. But we're pretty inexperienced at that level of competition."
Wrestlers will spend this week in practice, preparing for the Team Sections set for Saturday, Feb. 5 at Folsom High School. The varsity only will attend that event, then all wrestlers will head to the TVL Tournament in Ripon on Saturday, Feb. 12.
By MARG JACKSON
"We had to get that win," said coach Derek Scott, noting that a loss would have dropped them to fourth place in the bottlenecked TVL. "I thought we bounced back great and we clinched the dual meet half of league...everybody wrestled really well. We wrestled our most complete dual of the season."
Wins for the Cougars came at 112 pounds, Andrew Schuler win by pin; 119, Lucas Pitassi, win by pin; Ryan Ashlock, 125, 11-3 win; Kevin Machado, 130, 10-2 win; Joey Machado, 135, 11-9 win in overtime; Myles Bishop, 140, win by pin; Jon Manzo, 145, 15-1 win; Ryan Sughrue, 152, win by pin; Brett Mynear, 160, win by pin. Justin Chandley, at 171 pounds, won by forfeit; Ryan Lippincott, 189, 4-2 win; Anthony Oste, heavyweight, forfeit win.
Losses on the mats came at 103 pounds, Brian Toy and 215 pounds, Tyrell Swass.
"The most exciting match of the night was Joey Machado's, he took an 11-9 win in overtime," said Scott. "He's been working really hard the last month, got himself back in shape."
The match at Escalon High was a dramatic affair as well, with a single overhead light illuminating the mat and shining down on the wrestlers as they did battle. A large crowd was on hand for the important league meet and Scott said he was pleased to see both the JV and varsity squads do well.
"Our JV kids took a 48-29 win," he said.
Winners on the mats for the JV team were Cody Bandini, 119 pounds; Blake Mynear, 125; Nick Hanson, 130; and Chase Keener, 140 pounds.
Varsity wrestlers suited up for the CIT Tournament in Morro Bay over the weekend, traveling there for Friday and Saturday competition.
"It was much tougher this year, there were 70 teams and there were some top ranked state teams there," Scott said.
The Cougars brought home one medal and had five wrestlers in contention for medals against some stiff competition, said Scott.
Myles Bishop went 5-2 at 135 pounds and earned a medal for a fifth place finish.
Though he went, Brian Toy ended up having to drop out due to illness/injury at 103 pounds. Schuler went 3-2 at 112 pounds, Pitassi compiled a 1-2 mark at 119 and Ashlock went 1-2 at 125. Kevin Machado went 3-2 at 130 pounds, Joey Machado went 0-2 at 140, with Manzo winning two and losing two at 145 pounds.
Sughrue was 2-2 at 152, Brett Mynear was 2-2 at 160 pounds, with Lippincott and Oste, at 171 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, going 2-2.
"We only had one medallist but we got five kids to the match to medal," noted Scott. "Two of them were winnable, we've just got to get better in close matches. But we're pretty inexperienced at that level of competition."
Wrestlers will spend this week in practice, preparing for the Team Sections set for Saturday, Feb. 5 at Folsom High School. The varsity only will attend that event, then all wrestlers will head to the TVL Tournament in Ripon on Saturday, Feb. 12.
By MARG JACKSON
