ATHNES EDGES WYALUSING, 32-3

By: Tim Birney  /  January 21, 2022  /  Photo: David Alliger

ATHENS — There are two keys to winning dual meets: unheralded wrestlers stepping up with big wins, and those same wrestlers avoiding giving up bonus points if they don’t win.

Athens checked both those boxes Friday night in a 32-30 win over Wyalusing in NTL wrestling action.

“It was a great team effort. We wrestled well today,” said Athens coach Shawn Bradley. “We beat a really good team that has a really good record.

“We had to move around a lot today, so we had a lot of guys step up.

“Lucas Forbes and Cameron Whitmarsh came up big, and Keaton Sinsabaugh won the darn match,” added Bradley. “Those kids don’t get a lot of the accolades or the glory, but the bottom line is to win dual meets everyone has to perform.”

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 7-2.

“We’re trying to get to Milton (District 4 Duals semifinals) for the first time,” said Bradley. “In order to do that, we have to win some dual meets.”

Senior Kaden Setzer opened the match with a 36-second pin of Isaac Shaffer at 132 pounds, and junior Jacob Courtney locked up Cade McMicken in a cradle at 4:35 in their 138-pound match to put the Wildcats up 12-0.

“Two of our hammers (Kaden Setzer and Jake Courtney) got us started,” said Bradley.

Skyler Manahan won by fall at 145 pounds to put the Rams on the board, then Hunter Manahan topped Lucas Forbes, 7-2, at 152 pounds, to close the gap to 12-9.

Senior Karter Rude put Wildcats back up by nine, at 18-9, with a pin of Jordan Lamb at 160 pounds.

Alex Hunsinger triggered a mini run for the Rams with a 5-1 decision over Whitmarsh at 172, and Brian Arnold followed with a 56-second fall at 189 to tie the match at 18-18.

Nicholas Woodruff received a forfeit at 215 pounds to give Wyalusing a 24-18 lead, but sophomore Josh Nittinger tied it at 24-24 with a 61-second fall over Zach Fenton at 285 pounds, setting the stage for Sinsabaugh.

Evan Johnson scored the first takedown in the 106-pound bout, but Sinsabaugh battled back. In the closing seconds of the third period, Sinsabaugh went head-hunting and flipped Johnson, who was riding top, off his back for a reversal to win an 8-6 decision, giving the Wildcats a 27-24 lead.

Wyalusing had an opportunity to send Clayton Carr out to receive a forfeit at 113 pounds, but chose to bump him up to face senior Gavin Bradley at 120 pounds.

The unbeaten Bradley put on a takedown clinic, scoring 11 takedowns in a 23-8 technical fall in 5:18 to sew up the win for the Wildcats.

Wyalusing’s Ayden Hunsinger closed out the match with a third-period pin of sophomore Mason Vanderpool to provide the final margin.

Athens returns to action Tuesday at Waverly.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Gavin Bradley. … PHOTOS BY DAVID ALLIGER — TRAVELING PORTRAITS.

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ATHENS 32, WYALUSING 30
132: Kaden Setzer (A) by fall over Isaac Shaffer (W), 0:36;
138: Jacob  Courtney (A) by fall over Cade McMicken (W), 4:35;
145: Skyler Manahan (W) by fall over Gavin McGrath (A), 3:12;
152: Hunter Manahan (W) dec. Lucas Forbes (A), 7-2;
160: Karter Rude (A) by fall over Jordan Lamb (W), 3:13;
172: Alex Hunsinger (W) dec. Cameron Whitmarsh (A), 5-1;
189: Brian Arnold (W) by fall over Landen Kizer (A), 0:56;
215: Nicholas Woodruff (W) by forfeit;
285: Joshua Nittinger (A) by fall over Zachary Fenton (W), 1:01;
106: Keaton Sinsabaugh (A) dec. Evan Johnson (W). 8-6;
113: No Match;
120: Gavin Bradley (A) tech. fall Clayton Carr (W), 23-8 @ 5:18;
126: Ayden Hunsinger (W) by fall over Mason Vanderpool (A), 4:46.