Meyers Wallops Lehman
By DOUG PAPE Times Leader Sports Writer
Friday, December 17, 1999 Page: 1B
WILKES-BARRE – The Meyers wrestling team faced its toughest early-season
test on Thursday when it took on Lake-Lehman.
And in what was mainly a pin-or-be-pinned match, the Mohawks rose to the
challenge.
In the latest edition of one of the great Wyoming Valley Conference
rivalries, Meyers registered six falls en route to a 48-24 victory.
“I thought this was going to be a lot closer,” said Meyers head coach
Dave Kuhl. “There were matches that I thought were going to be real toss-ups.
Our kids wrestled very well. Lehman has tough kids, and in certain situations
we came out on top, we got some breaks and wrestled with some intensity.”
Meyers (2-0) is off to a fast start in the WVC, while Lehman (0-1), a team
dominated by underclassmen, used the match to gain experience.
“It was certainly not what we’re used to at Lehman, but Meyers was very
tough,” said Black Knights coach Phil Lipski. “It’s early, and we have a lot
of things to work on, and hopefully we’ll be back around the corner come
March-time.”
The best match of the night turned out to be at 103 pounds. Mark Behm of
Meyers took down Kelby Morgan in the first overtime period to register a 2-0
decision.
Lehman took its only lead of the night at 112, when Aaron Kubasik, a
sophomore district champion, pinned Ryan Martin.
The Mohawks followed with pins by Jon Lark (119), Eugene Clemons (125) and
Carlo Mercadante (130). Kevin Behm defeated Jim Higgins, 11-5, at 135 as
Meyers broke out to a 24-6 lead.
“I was definitely fired up,” Kevin Behm said. “I wanted to wrestle
tough, so I went out there and did what I had to do.”
Mike Conte, a state qualifier and district champion for Meyers last season,
followed with a pin at 140. Teammate Anthony Mercadante did the same at 145.
“Lake-Lehman and Meyers – what can you really say? – it’s a rivalry every
year,” Anthony Mercadante said. “One year, if we’re on bottom and they’re on
top, it’s still going to be a big meet and vice-versa. It’s just one of those
things when you look at the names you gotta get pumped.”
Rodney Mimms of Meyers won by default over Rick Maciejczak at 152.
Maciejczak withdrew because of hypoglycemia. Luke Iseman of Meyers registered
a pin at 160.
Lehman finished the match strong, getting pins by Rich Hislop (171) and
Dave DeLong (189).
Black Knights heavyweight Matt Kehler won by forfeit. Meyers’ heavyweight
Kevin Doyle, a district champ who finished seventh in states last year, is out
with a sinus infection. 103 – Mark Behm (Mey) dec. Kelby Morgan (LL), 2-0 OT.
pinned Ryan Post (LL), 3:35. 125 – Eugene Clemons (Mey) pinned Jeff Taylor
(LL), 1:02. 130 – Carlo Mercadante (Mey) pinned Matt Gonzalez (LL), 1:44. 135
– Kevin Behm (Mey) dec. Jim Higgins (LL), 11-5. 140 – Mike Conte (Mey) pinned
Jason Wood (LL), :52. 145 – Anthony Mercadante (Mey) pinned Jesse Bixby (LL),
John Pitcavage (LL), 3:38. 171 – Rich Hislop (LL) pinned Ken Kwarcinski (Mey),
Kehler (LL) won by forfeit.
WVW 27, GAR 26
PLYMOUTH – Drew Feldman’s major decision over Jack Bawiec led Wyoming
Valley West over GAR.
The Spartans were trailing, 26-23, going into the 275 bout, in which
Feldman scored a 20-8 win for four team points and the victory.
Sean Davies (160) and Louis Lyons (171) came up with clutch pins for the
Grenadiers.
Don Swainbank (103) and Brandon Romanoski (119) each scored technical falls
for the Spartans. 103 – Don Swainbank (WVW) tech. fall Brian Tesar, 17-1,
Romanoski (WVW) tech. fall Joe Harrison, 27-12, 6:00. 125 – Rick Simon (GAR)
dec. Dave Parkinson, 10-3. 130 – Chris Quadrini (WVW) dec. Tony Pachick, 10-6.
maj. dec. John Suchoski, 14-4. 145 – Mark Deliberto (GAR) dec. Pat Bellas
(WVW), 8-2. 152 – Joe Danowski (WVW) dec. Mike Medvec, 8-5. 160 – Sean Davies
(GAR) pinned Matt Turner, 2:45. 171 – Louis Lyons (GAR) pinned Brian Parry,
Feldman (WVW) maj. dec. Jack Bawiec, 20-8.
Tunkhannock 52, Crestwood 15
TUNKHANNOCK – Tunkhannock Area got pins in eight bouts as it defeated
Crestwood.
Joe Mattioli (119), John Belcher (125), Robert Wilson (130), Shawn
Wettstein (135), John Lane (140), Lou MacMillan (152), Mike Rosentell (160)
and Marc Johnson (189) earned pins for the Tigers.
Greg Rose (103) and Matt Adamczyk (145) had falls for the Comets. 103 –
Greg Rose (C) pinned Aaron Howells, :18. 112 – Steve Franko (T) maj. dec.
Mark Lukashinsky, 18-7. 119 – Joe Mattioli (T) pinned Joe Klepacz, 3:03. 125
– John Belcher (T) pinned Jason Reilly, 2:23. 130 – Robert Wilson (T) pinned
Tom Segeda, 4:40. 135 – Shaun Wettstein (T) pinned Aaron Wright, 2:48. 140 –
John Lane (T) pinned Kyle Shanley, 1:48. 145 – Matt Adamczyk (C) pinned Ken
Janisewski, :54. 152 – Lou MacMillan (T) pinned Matt Pavlick, 4:40. 160 – Mike
Rosentell (T) dec. Mike O’Hara, 11-7. 171 – Mike Tears (C) dec. Neil Lane,
(T) dec. Jeff Langin, n/a. WVC Wrestling
