ATHENS WINS FINAL SIX BOUTS IN 51-18 WIN OVER WAVERLY

ATHENS WINS FINAL SIX BOUTS IN 51-18 WIN OVER WAVERLY

 
 

By: Tim Birney  /  January 25, 2022  /  Photo: David Alliger

ATHENS — Athens won the final six bouts of the night to top Waverly, 51-18, here Tuesday night in non-league wrestling action.

The Wildcats also picked up key wins early in the match from senior Collin Rosh, and freshmen Caleb Nason, and Keaton Sinsabaugh.

Senior Karter Rude received a forfeit to open the match at 152 pounds to give the Wildcats a quick 6-0 lead.

Junior Braeden Hills tied the bout quickly, scoring a quick five-point move with a headlock in the opening second of his 160-pound bout with freshman Landon Kizer. After Kizer worked his way off his back, Hills turned him again for the fall at 30 seconds.

At 172 pounds, junior Gage Tedesco put the Wolverines ahead 12-6 with a pin of senior Cameron Whitmarsh in the third period.

Tedesco scored a pair of takedowns, and two near-fall points for a 6-1 lead at the end of the first period. He recorded three more takedowns in the second period, and led 12-3 entering the final two minutes.

At 189, Waverly scored the initial takedown for a 2-0 lead over Rosh, but Rosh scored a reversal and three near-fall points for a 5-2 lead, then turned Kimble to his back for a fall at 1:35 to tie the match at 12-12.

At 215 pounds, Waverly junior Ty Beeman built a 6-2 lead with takedown and two near-fall points late in the second period.

Beeman started the third period on the bottom, and scored a reversal with 1:35 remaining to up his lead to 8-2.

Midway through the third period, Nason escaped, then caught Beeman in a headlock moments later, taking him directly to his back for a fall at 5:29 to give the Wildcats an 18-12 lead.

At 285 pounds, Waverly freshman Kam Hills slapped a headlock on Athens sophomore Josh Nittinger, taking him directly to his back near the edge of the circle for a 5-0 lead.

Moments later, Hills returned Nittinger to the mat and directly to his back for a fall at 1:31 to tie the match at 18-18.

Sinsabaugh, who won a pivotal match in the Wildcats’ 32-30 win over Wyalusing last week, gave up takedowns to Waverly 7th-grader Nico Rae in each of the first two period, and trailed 4-0 entering the final two minutes.

Sinsabaugh scored a takedown early in the third period to close the gap to 4-2, but was penalized for a “full nelson” and trailed 5-2.

After the re-start, Sinsabaugh locked in a half and turned Rae for the fall at 5:34 to give the Wildcats a 24-18 lead.

Sophomore Mason Vanderpool extended Athens’ lead to 30-18 with a 46-second pin of freshman Jake Besecker.

Athens senior Gavin Bradley, ranked No. 1 in the state at 113 pounds, pinned freshman Payton Fravel in 43 seconds at 126 pounds to make it 36-18.

In the marquee match-up of the night at 132 pounds, Athens senior Kaden Setzer used a pair of first-period takedowns, and two sets of swipes to take a 9-1 lead on junior Connor Stotler after the first two minutes.

Setzer stretched his lead to 13-2 with a pair of second-period takedowns, but Stotler scored a reversal late in the period to close the gap to 13-4 entering the final two minutes.

Stotler started the third period on bottom, scored an escape, and then used a headlock to take Setzer down to close the deficit to 13-7. Setzer was able to stay off his back, and preserve a 13-7 decision to give the Wildcats an insurmountable to 39-18 lead.

Junior Jake Courtney and senior Lucas Forbes closed out the match with first-period pins at 138 and 145 pounds.

Athens, now 8-2, returns to action when it hosts Towanda Wednesday night, while Waverly (8-11) hosts Owego Thursday.

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly junior Ty Beeman and Athens freshman Caleb Nason. … PHOTOS BY DAVID ALLIGER — TRAVELING PORTRAITS.

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ATHENS 51, WAVERLY 18
152: Karter Rude (A) by forfeit;
160: Braeden Hills (W) by fall over Landen Kizer (A), 0:55;
172: Gage Tedesco  (W) by fall over Cameron Whitmarsh (A), 5:20;
189: Colin Rosh (A) by fall over Andrew Kimble  (W), 1:35;
215: Caleb Nason (A) by fall over Troy Beeman  (W), 5:29;
285: Kam Hills (W) by fall over Joshua Nittinger (A), 1:31;
106: Keaton Sinsabaugh (A) by fall over Nico Rae (W), 5:34;
113: No Match;
120: Mason Vanderpool (A) by fall over Jake Besecker (W), 0:46;
126: Gavin Bradley (A) by fall over Payton  Fravel  (W), 0:43;
132: Kaden Setzer (A) dec. Connor Stotler (W), 13-7;
138: Jacob  Courtney (A) by fall over Seth Noto (W), 0:52;
145: Lucas Forbes (A) by fall over Braeden Nichols  (W), 1:11.

 

About the Author

 
Tim Birney Author Bio

Tim Birney

Tim Birney is the founder / owner of River Road Media Group. He was born and raised in the Valley, graduating from Waverly High School in 1984.

Birney earned an Associate's Degree in Journalism from SUNY Morrisville in 1986 and a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism / Public Relations from Utica College of Syracuse University in 1988. He began his newspaper career at The Daily Review in Towanda in 1989, before moving on to The Evening Times in 1995. He spent more than 10 years at the Times, the last four as Managing Editor.

River Road Media Group includes five sites in "The Sports Reports" family that cover 24 school districts in five counties: Valley Sports Report (launched Aug. 10, 2009), Tioga County (NY) Sports Report (Aug. 13, 2018), and Northern Tier Sports Report (Aug. 31, 2020); Northern Tier West Sports Report (March 15, 2021) Southern Tier Sports Report (Aug. 16, 2021).

 
 
 
 
 
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