Panther wrestlers outlast Vikings

By Mike Zummo
Posted 1/22/20

The Wallkill wrestling team had won six of the first eight matches when the weight classes reset to 99 pounds.With the dual meet still in question, Wallkill’s Rocco Futia …

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Panther wrestlers outlast Vikings

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The Wallkill wrestling team had won six of the first eight matches when the weight classes reset to 99 pounds.

With the dual meet still in question, Wallkill’s Rocco Futia scored a reversal with 19 seconds left in the bout and despite allowing a reversal, hung on for a 2-1 win over Valley Central’s Nicholas Weeden.

The win sent a jolt through the Wallkill bench and put the Panthers on the cusp of victory.

“It’s exciting when you have those close matches and can win at the end,” Wallkill coach Anthony Ng said. “It shows that your conditioning is good enough to handle it toward the end and you can get the job done.”

Three matches later, Matt Davis pinned Jahkell Garner Smith in a 120-pound bout to clinch the meet as the Panthers pulled out a 51-27 victory.

“I thought they wrestled great,” Ng said. “We’re starting to see a lot of things we’ve been working on the whole season starting to come together. It’s happening at a good time.”
After losing the first match of the night, the Panthers received a forfeit and then won the next six matches. Two (152 and 220) by forfeit and pinfall wins by Cael Atkins (160), Alden Hathaway (170), Justin Lyle (182), Chris Betcher (195).

“Middle weight to heavyweight guys after 145 did a great job and got the job done,” Ng said. “We didn’t have our starter at 285, but (Dustin Columbo) battled and we’re proud of him. Even the guys that lost at the lighter weights battled hard against tough Valley Central wrestlers. We’re proud of them.”

After Futia’s victory, things turned around for Valley Central when Sebastian Vidacovich (106) and Richie Degon (113) scored pinfall victories. Matthew Romano scored a pin at 132 pounds.

“The guys that were on the mat, they went at it,” Valley Central coach Devin Senning said. “At this point, we’re looking toward the end goal, which is sections. Each day, we’re working with a goal and focusing on that.”
The season is winding down as both teams have only a few dual meets left before the Section 9 tournament on Feb. 14 and 15 at Monroe-Woodbury High School.

Wallkill finished the week by hosting a tournament at home and has dual meets remaining against Rondout Valley, Monticello and New Paltz.

“I feel like we will be wrestling at our best at our Section 9 championshisp and that’s the goal,” Ng said.

The Vikings finish the season with dual meets against Minisink Valley, FDR and Warwick. They also have a tournament in Newburgh.
“They’re finding their go-to moves and their strength and weaknesses. We’re building on those,” Senning said. “They’re locking in on their strengths right now they have, and you see them put it on the mat each time.”