Here’s how mental errors, miscues hurt State College wrestling in dual against Chambersburg
Before State College’s wrestling match against Chambersburg Monday night, coach Ryan Cummins stressed to his team the importance of not giving up pins.
The Little Lions, however, gave up five pins in a 38-30 Senior Night loss to the Trojans inside the North Gym.
“Everything came down to bonus points tonight,” Cummins said. “We can’t do that if we are going to stay in tight matches. We need to show a little more heart in certain areas. We got to be smarter where we wrestle as far as bonus point are concerned.”
The two biggest falls that State College gave up were at 285 and 126 pounds in a match that began at 145 pounds. Those losses at 285 and 126 came in different manners, too.
The Little Lions trailed 23-13 to start the second half of the dual, which started at 285. Harrison Schoen made the call for State College.
Schoen was leading his match 3-1 midway through the second period on Wyatt Hull and looked in prime position for a win. However, Hull picked up a takedown and Schoen escaped to trail 5-4 to start the third period with choice.
Schoen escaped with no problems after Hull took him down in the match. But in the third period he didn’t seem to have the same confidence. Hull threw him to his back and pinned him in 5:06. It was a win that Trojans’ coach Matt Mentzer knew his team needed heading to the lower weights.
“We knew they had a lot of really good kids down low,” Mentzer said. “The two Weaverling boys, I wrestled with their father, I’ve known their dad for a long time. I knew they were going to be good kids. To finish it up with (Owen) Woolcott and (Clayton) Leidy, we know they are good kids.
“We expected them to win some matches there in the end. We won a couple of heavyweights, at 220 and heavyweight we got pins in both of those, so that was key for us with the way the score ended up.”
The Little Lions trailed by 16, but got back to within 10 thanks to a fall from freshman Hayden Cunningham in 1:44.
Bailey Weaverling hit the mat at 113 for State College and did what Cummins says he does best, “frustrate people.” Weaverling gave up just four takedowns to Rylan Carter, but fought the whole way through. He earned four escapes, but didn’t allow any bonus points in the 8-4 loss.
“He works so hard. He never stops and is a great kid,” Cummins said. “He’s tough. He doesn’t stop moving and has a gas tank that doesn’t run out.”
Anthony Herzing kept it to 32-22 for the Little Lions after earning a 3-2 decision over Mentzer’s son Luke at 120 pounds.
At 126 pounds, Weaverling’s brother Carter faced off with Karl Shindledecker, who bumped up a weight. Shindledecker took Weaverling down and was able to pin the freshman in 42 seconds. It sealed the win for Chambersburg, but was a learning moment for Cummins and his young wrestler.
“It’s kind of an experience thing,” Cummins said. “He needs to know when you are beat, and give up the two instead of the fall. He’s a great kid and works really hard. It was just a mental error, so we’ll talk to him about that.”
Woolcott and Leidy closed the dual out with victories for State College. Woolcott earned a 16-0 technical fall in 4:38. Leidy came up two points shy of a major decision in a 7-1 win.
The dual didn’t begin in State College’s favor, as the Little Lions gave up back-to-back falls to Chambersburg’s Ryder Davenport (145 pounds) and Tate Nichter (152). The Trojans’ Luke Nichter in an odd bout seemed to look for a disqualification on Noah Prewitt, but came away with a 20-4 technical fall. Chambersburg led 17-0.
The Little Lions responded well from being down so many points to start.
Lance Urbas used two first-period takedowns to top Carson Mello 5-2 at 170 pounds. Ty Price earned a 15-2 major decision on Bryce McKenzie. Tate McLaughlin pinned Mekhi Williams in 41 seconds to bring State College within 17-13.
The Trojans picked up the other fall at 220 to up their lead to 23-13 at the break.
“That’s a good State College team. I’ve been watching their results,” Mentzer said. “They gave Mifflin County a darn good match. I expected that from Coach Cummins’ kids when we came up here.”
Chambersburg 38, State College 30
Monday at State College
145: Ryder Davenport, C, pinned Kyle Martin, 1:57
152: Tate Nichter, C, pinned Jason Dry, 1:32
160: Luke Nichter, C, tech. fall Noah Prewitt, 20-4 (4:25)
170: Lance Urbas, SC, dec. Carson Mello, 5-2
182: Ty Price, SC, major dec. Bryce McKenzie, 15-2
195: Tate McLaughlin, SC, pinned Mekhi Williams, :41
220: Zach Evans, C, pinned Josiah Lose, 1:49
285: Wyatt Hull, C, pinned Harrison Schoen, 5:06
106: Hayden Cunningham, SC, pinned April Rump, 1:44
113: Rylan Carter, C, dec. Bailey Weaverling, 8-4
120: Anthony Herzing, SC, dec. Luke Mentzer, 3-2
126: Karl Shindledecker, C, pinned Carter Weaverling, :42
132: Owen Woolcott, SC, tech. fall Anthony Colangelo, 16-0 (4:38)
138: Clayton Leidy, SC, dec. Kelby Mixell, 7-1
Takedowns: Chambersburg 15, State College 15
Records: Chambersburg 11-2, State College 6-3
Next match: State College at Central Mountain, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
