The Phoenix Boys Fall in Dual, While Lady Phoenix Win

By Joe Walker

LOGANTON – Things were going the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School’s way, as the Phoenix jumped out to a 29-12 lead with five bouts to go against Sullivan County Wednesday night. But, the Griffins had their big guns coming up and they rallied with five straight wins to hand the Phoenix a 40-29 defeat. 

The Phoenix started the dual meet at 152, as Dakota Jodun won by technical fall over the Griffins Nate Christopher by an 18-2 score and a 5-0 Phoenix lead. The Griffins’ Layne Price the pinned Connor Ohl in 2:36 of their 160 pound bout and a 6-5 Griffin lead. The Phoenix Logan Leland then pinned Tucker Evans in 4:27 to give back the lead to the Phoenix by an 11-6 count. 

In the back and forth, the Griffins’ Landon Young then recorded a fall over Brandon Galentine at 189 pounds and it put the Griffins’ back up 12-11. The Phoenix then went on a run, as Lincoln Breon pinned Evan Brown in 25 seconds at 215 and Koda Mincer followed with a fall over Drayman Sperry in 40 seconds of their 285 pound match.The back to back falls put the Phoenix up 23-12, after no bout at 107 pounds the Phoenixs’ Hunter Berry then received a forfeit at 114 pounds and a 29-12 lead. 

The Phoenix now had to get through the tough part of the Griffins line-up and it did not go well. State qualifier Andrew Kapec got the rally started when he pinned the Phoenixs’ Tobias Conoway in 1:41 of the first period at 121 pounds. Cole Barto then recorded a fall over Taylor Cantolina in 5:05 of their 127 pound bout to cut the Phoenix lead to 29-24. 

The Phoenix were forced to forfeit the 133 pound bout to the Griffins, which allowed the visitors to take a 30-29 lead. The Griffins then sent out state placewinner Colton Wade at 139 pounds and he proceeded to defeat the Phoenixs’ Jarren McCloskey by a 20-4 technical fall and put the Griffins up 35-29 with a bout to go. 

Griffin veteran Keegan Bagley then recorded a 19-2 technical fall over Wyatt Conoway to seal the 40-29 win. The loss drops the Phoenix record to 3-5 on the season, while the Griffins improved to 5-3. The Phoenix will now be off until they compete in the South Williamsport Tournament on January 4, 2025. 

The Lady Phoenix improved to 3-1 on the season, as they recorded a 30-12 win over the Lady Griffins, as just one match was actually contested and Lady Phoenix standout Marrin Chester recorded a fall over Layla Fowler in 5:15 of their 190 pound bout. The Lady Phoenixs’ Kohana Yamashita (112), Aaliyah Hopkins (124), Evangeline Andrus (130) and Olivia Johnson (142) all won their bouts by way of forfeits. The Lady Griffins two wins came by forfeit as well. 

The Lady Phoenix will be off until Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025 when they will host Danville in a dual meet at the Phoenix gym. 

SULLIVAN COUNTY 40, SVRCS 29 

152 – Dakota Jodun (SVRCS) tech fall Nate Christopher, 18-2, 5:48 (5-0) …. 160 – Layne Price (SC) pinned Connor Ohl, 2:36 (5-6) …. 172 – Logan Leland (SVRCS) pinned Tucker Evans, 4:27 (11-6)

. 189 – Landon Young (SC) pinned Brandon Galentine, 1:55 (11-12) …. 215 – Lincoln Breon (SVRCS) pinned Evan Brown, :25 (17-12) …. 285 – Koda Mincer (SVRCS) pinned Dreyman Sperry, :40 (23-12) 107 – No Bout …. 114 – Hunter Berry (SVRCS) received a forfeit (29-12) …. 121 – Andrew Kapec (SC) pinned Tobias Conoway, 1:41 (29-18) …. 127 – Cole Barto (SC) pinned Taylor Cantolina, 5:05 (29-24) 133 – Wyatt Bagley (SC) received a forfeit (29-30) …. 139 – Colton Wade (SC) tech fall Jarren McCloskey, 20-4, 4:53 (29-35) ….145 – Keegan Bagley (SC) tech fall Wyatt Conoway, 19-2, 6:00 (29-40)