Ashtabula Star Beacon

Article from local paper about the match:
December 8, 2011

Split city

Lakeside matmen clip Euclid, but bow to North

By BOB ETTINGER
For the Star Beacon
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — The Lakeside wrestling got something valuable from both a win and a loss at its tri-match with Euclid and North on Wednesday night at Lakeside Gymnasium.

We had eight freshmen in the lineup tonight,” Lakeside coach Pat Ryan said. “They got some varsity experience. The only way to learn is to be on the mat period. You’re not learning anything if you’re not out wrestling.”

The Dragons (1-1, 0-1 in Premier Athletic Conference) downed Euclid, 45-33, before falling to PAC rival North, 40-21. The Rangers (2-0) beat Euclid, 42-27, in the other match of the evening.

Lakeside opened the tri-match with its victory over the Panthers, but had to fight from behind to do so. Euclid led, 21-12 behind pins from Jeremy Adkins (120 pounds) and Mauryce Starks (132), a technical fall from Darsheed Mustafa (138) and a major decision from Ebrahim Elbagory (106). The Dragons’ Tyler Newsome (113) accepted a forfeit and Keith Griffin (126) had a pin.

The Dragons claimed victories in six of the final eight weight classes for the win.

“We have a lot more experience in the upper weights than in the lower weights,” Ryan said. “Once we’re down to the weights we need to be at, we’ll be a much stronger team.”

“We’re young and this was our first meet,” Euclid coach Mike Turk said. “A lot of teams opened the season last week. This was our first event. That’s going to happen. We had nine sophomores in the lineup with one senior and three juniors.

“I did ike that they competed and didn’t back down. I definitely saw more negatives than positives.”

Joe Kangas started the roll with a pin at 145 pounds and Riley Dell kept it going with a pin at 152 pounds. Otis Conel (170) accepted a forfeit, Justin Wheeler (182) had a pin, Kyle Conel (195) won a decision and heavyweight ChuckMorgan had a pin.

Following the victory, Lakeside had a lengthy wait as the Panthers and Rangers battled it out.Six Rangers — Shane McLaughlin (113), Eric Elchisin (126), Brian Patfield (132), Spencer Kordic (145), Ron Bolden (152) and Jake Ziegler (182) — won with pins.

“Yesterday, we spent all practice worwking on top stuff and turns,” North coach Mark Adkins said. “We practiced after school today and worked on top stuff and turns.

“I’ve been telling the guys that if we get them to their backs, we have got to pin them. They may not get another opportunity to score six points for the team.”

In the final contest of the evening, the Dragons fell behind, 31-0, before Otis Conel accepted a forfeit at 170 pounds. Wheeler had a pin, Kyle Conel earned a decision at 220 pounds and Morgan took a forfeit.

“It helped us learn that even when we have the momentum, they have to keep their focus and concentrate on winning each and every match,” Adkins said.

“They’re a lot stronger and more aggressive than we are,” Ryan said .”We’re still learning. I think (our guys) experienced a little humility tonight. They learned you jsu tcan’t quit. They learned you just can’t go out and muscle guys because you have to wrestle guys two and three years older.”       

Ettinger is a freelance writer from Ashtabula.