Long wait worthwhile for West York
Cassius Manor spent a lot of time listening to music before West York's dual meet in Gettysburg on Thursday.
The Bulldogs spent an hour on the bus for their first trip to Gettysburg since the Warriors joined the YAIAA last year. Then they waited until nearly 8 p.m. for the match to begin, after several exhibitions and a junior high match that ran late.
"It's tough," Manor, West York's 120-pounder, said of the wait. “You just want to get out there and get that W."
They eventually did get that W, by a 47-21 score.
As Manor's match at 120 pounds approached, he flipped on the song he always listens to to get motivated: "One Man Can Change the World" by Big Sean.
The Bulldogs led the dual by 11 points when he took the mat, and after battling Darren Gebbler for three minutes, Manor put Gebbler on his back to earn six more points for his team. La'Quan Rumsey followed that win with a pin in the final 30 seconds of the third period at 126 pounds, pushing West York's lead out of Gettysburg's reach.
“Those guys gave us bonus points and allowed us to get a little breathing room," West York coach Brian Gross said. "They keep getting better each day, and that’s what we want out of these guys at this point in the season.”
Those matches also left Gettysburg wondering what could have been.
"Some of our guys were in close matches and they got pinned, and that makes a huge difference," Gettysburg coach Chris Haines said. "They’re in tied matches or down by a point or two, and it’s unacceptable. Those guys have to learn they have to finish matches.”
Chet Brockett (182 pounds), John Halbrandt (113) and Danny Ziegler (132) finished their matches with pins for Gettysburg, and 145-pounder Chase Mueller continued a strong start to his season by beating Sam Sterner 7-4.
West York won nine of the 14 matches, with 195-pounder Danny Myers and 138-pounder Allen Stauffer also securing pins. Nathan Townsley earned a 24-8 technical fall in an action-packed match at 106 pounds, which excited the gym after a nearly action-less 1-0 win by heavyweight Frank Valore in the preceding match.
The Bulldogs remain undefeated in YAIAA Division II and host defending champion Kennard-Dale on Tuesday.
“We’ve got this division this year," Manor said. "This win should put fear in our other opponents.”
West York 47, Gettysburg 21
at Gettysburg High School
170 — Ryan Narber (WY) win by forfeit. 182 — Chet Brockett (Gb) pinned Jordan Thomas. 195 — Danny Myers (WY) pinned Luke Cross 1:24. 220 — Alex Ramos (WY) dec. Tyler Gallagher 5-1. 285 — Frank Valore (WY) dec. Alan Lopez 1-0. 106 — Nathan Townsley (WY) tech. fall Jacob Evans 24-8. 113 — John Halbrandt (Gb) pinned Jeremiah Franklin 3:42. 120 — Cassius Manor (WY) pinned Darren Gebler 3:02. 126 — La'Quan Rumsey (WY) pinned Garrett Young 5:43. 132 — Danny Ziegler (Gb) pinned Luke Stine 4:29. 138 — Allen Stauffer (WY) pinned Joe Pecaitis 1:07. 145 — Chase Mueller (Gb) dec. Sam Sterner 7-5. 152 —Mike Fortney (Gb) dec. Nick Spadatora 8-3 . 160 — Nathan Gardner (WY) pinned Josh Paul 1:00.