The Newburgh Free Academy wrestling team continued to have success last week, winning two Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association dual meets as they head into this week’s Section 9 duals tournament.

The Goldbacks, who are 9-0, and ranked 21st in the state by NY Wrestling News, will be the fourth seed in the tournament and were scheduled to host half the bracket at Newburgh Free Academy on Tuesday. The Goldbacks, who were to enter the tournament as the fourth seed, were scheduled to host the No. 13 Goshen Gladiators. A victory there would put them up against the winner of the match between No. 5 Washingtonville and No. 12 Kingston.

Two wins on Tuesday would put them in the semifinals, scheduled for Wednesday at Minisink Valley High School.

The Goldbacks ended last week’s dual-meet competition with a 42-27 win over Pine Bush during a strong finish from the heavyweights.

Despite taking a 6-3 lead after Cooper Merli recorded a pin fall victory at 102 pounds, the Goldbacks gave up a forfeit and but a quick pin by Pine Bush’s Logan Pennell at 118 pounds gave the Bushmen a 9-point lead.

However, the Goldbacks tied the meet at 18-18 when he scored a 41-second pin over Pine Bush’s Logan Moran at 138 pounds. The Bushmen retook the lead on Ethan Conrow’s 6-2 win over Tyler Busby at 152 pounds, but Anthony Manzi gave the Goldbacks the lead for good when he made quick work of Pine Bush’s Joseph Longobardo, pinning him in 1:29.

It was the second straight night the Goldbacks struggled at some of the lower weights as the Vikings opened their Jan. 4 dual meet with four straight victories, two by forfeit to take a 21-0 lead before the Goldbacks came back with pinfall victories by Kevin Segali (138) and Jackson Merli (145). Alec Grogan beat Valley Central’s Matthew Bond by 10 points to pull Newburgh to within five points.

The Goldbacks took advantage of the Vikings’ lack of wrestlers in the upper weight classes to draw five straight forfeits to pick up the dual meet victory.

The meet ended at 102 pounds where eighth-grader Cooper Merli lost to Valley Central’s Luke Satriano for the second straight week. Merli and Satriano had previously met in the championship round of the Mid Hudson Tournament over the holiday break. Satriano won the tournament title, while Merli finished second.

Newburgh 46, Valley Central 24
110: Vincent Vidacovich (VC) won by forfeit.
118: Nicholas Weeden (VC) pinned Jordan Busby, 3:42
126: Sebastian Vidacovich (VC) def. Matthew Mercado, 7-1
132: Richie Degon (VC) won by forfeit.

138: Kevin Segali (NFA) pinned Eric Conero (VC), 1:56.
145: Jackson Merli (NFA) pinned Shawn Patterson, 5:37
152: Alec Grogan (NFA) def. Matthew Bond 11-1
160: Hunter Hecht (NFA) won by forfeit
172: Anthony Manzi (NFA) won by forfeit
189: Christopher Leggett (NFA) won by forfeit
215: Joseph Ponesse (NFA) won by forfeit
285: Aiden Harrison won by forfeit.
102: Luke Satriano (VCSH) def. Cooper Merli

Newburgh 42, Pine Bush 27

285: Saul Abrego (PB) def. Aiden Harrison, 6-3.
102: Cooper Merli (NFA) pinned Gabriel McNally, 0:37
110: Bryan Alzamora (PB) won by forfeit.
118: Logan Pennell (PB) pinned Jordan Busby, 0:41
126: Matthew Mercado (NFA) pinned James Duffy, 4:06
132: Richard Urena (PB) def. Kevin Segali, 3-0
138: Jackson Merli (NFA) pinned Logan Moran, 0:41
145: Ethan Conrow (PB) def. Tyler Busby, 6-2
152: Alec Grogan (NFA) pinned Edward Morley, 0:24
160: Devin Greer (PB) pinned Aiden Harrison, 0:14
172: Anthony Manzi (NFA) pinned Joseph Longobardo 1:29
189: Christopher Leggett (NFA) won by forfeit
215: Joseph Ponesse (NFA) pinned Sullivan Toback, 1:13