Shamokin Pins Sugar Valley RCS, 42-30

By Tom Elling

LOGANTON-Going into the dual meet, both coaches thought it would be tight with bonus points deciding the outcome.. How right that turned out to be.

Shamokin came in winless (0-5); Sugar Valley was 5-6. Based on that comparison, one might surmise the Phoenix would have the edge. Just about everyone figured it would be a back-and-forth contest.

Sugar Valley got off to a fast start as 152-pounder Ethan Bartenope clamped Aiden Phinazee in 3:15. Shamokin answered with a Ryan Henz second period fall. Score tied 6-6. 

The teams traded forfeits at 172 and 189. Kaidin Parker (Shamokin) had his hand raised then Caden Weaver received his six points for the Valley. Score tied 12-12. 

The visitor’s Chase Anderson put the Indians on top with a first period fall over Brandon Galentine followed by a 285-er Levi Galentine forfeit win. Once again the score was locked at 18.

Xavier Carr once again gave Shamokin the lead with a first period fall over Leroy Culvey. 

Sugar Valley had no entries at 114 or 121. With forfeits awarded to Shawn Conrad and Coltin Ritter respectively, momentum and an 18-point lead put the Phoenix in a huge hole.

Wyatt Conoway down at 133 got six of those back with a forfeit of his own. Jarren McCloskey bumped up to 139 and got six more with a first period fall over Guillermo Rivera. 

Sugar Valley needed a fall and hopefully criteria to pull it out in the feature bout of the short evening. Cameron Quick mixed it up with Chase Pensyl  but fell into a 4-0 hole quickly and was muscled to his back for the 1:17 fall to set the final at 42-30 in favor of the visitors.

Coach Jarrod Scandle was all smiles after the dual stating that he “wasn’t really sure what to expect” but was clearly happy with the team’s initial win. He added that the junior high numbers are up and he had a lot of first-year wrestlers and was happy to see them coming along.

No match went the distance but Shamokin came out ahead 4-2 in falls. Each team gave up 3 forfeits.

The Sugar Valley JH defeated Shamokin by a 42-22 score. 

It was good to see official Albert Mabus bouncing back from some severe physical problems, which prevented him from taking to the mat the past two years. He did an excellent job in a fast moving dual. And it was a good thing for the fans it was short as the weather turned ugly and created some difficult travel home from the gym.

Sugar Valley will next host Loyalsock on Tuesday.