Winters Mill comes up short against Cavaliers

Old Man winter tried again Saturday to postpone the South Carroll-Winters Mill wrestling match, but he failed.

The two teams met at Winters Mill for the county dual meet title and the Cavaliers handed the Falcons their first loss of the season, 29-27.

Winter weather had postponed the meet twice before, but the meet was worth the wait. The two teams could match up again Wednesday in the state dual meet which will be held at South Carroll.

"You knew it was going to be that tight. It will be tight again next time,’’ said Winters Mill coach John Lowe.

The Cavaliers were up by five points entering the final match at 130 pounds. South Carroll’s Sam Willingham against Winters Mill Keith Steine. Steine won the match, but Willingham won the meet.

All Willingham had to do was stay off his back. Steine earned four takedowns, but couldn’t turn Willingham over for a pin. Steine was one of three seniors in the line-up fpr the Falcons.

"A couple of things we didn’t expect, a couple of wins here and there that went other ways. It was nice to see Cody Sharkey and Brandon Brundley wrestle matches that were predicted by some to go the other way and I thought they did great jobs,’’ said Lowe.

The Falcons got pins from Justin Kozera, Flavio Valdez and Taylor Logue.

"This was virtually meaningless. This was just to determine who we wrestle first day next week. I am an old school guy. The county tournament is the county champ for me. The big cheese is still waiting in the fridge and we have to go get it,’’ said Lowe after the match.

South Carroll jumped out to a 23-6 lead, but Winters Mill fought back to take a one point lead after a pin by Logue at 112.

The visitors took the next two matches to make the five point margin going into the final match.

"We started right out of the blocks hard. We went on a five-match win streak. We really came out and took it to them. After that 215 match, the momentum seemed to turn and they came right back out and that is want a wrestling match is supposed to look like. Two very even teams. It comes out to who scores bonus points and who doesn’t,’’ said Cavalier coach Bryan Hamper.

The win gave South Carroll the county title with a 7-0 record. They are 18-2 overall. The Falcons are 6-1 in the county and 13-1 overall.

"There are going to be some guys mad with their performances and we are going to have to clear our heads. We are going to have to walk away a little bit, so we are going to be alright.,’’ said Lowe.

South Carroll 29, Winters Mill 27

135-Collin Plumley, SC dec. Wes Cook , 5-4.

140-Cody Sharkey, WM dec. Alex Stavish, 6-1.

145-Jake Pooton, SC tech fall Arizona Oxendine, 15-0.

152-John Gaunt, SC dec. Chase Cullison, 6-4.

160-Derek Fung, SC dec. Allen Corbin, 9-2.

171-Willie Reiter, SC dec. Marshal Chang, 5-0.

189-Steve Schmitz, SC pin Jake Utz, :36.

215-Brandon Burndley WM dec. Joe Wright, 7-1.

285-Justin Kozera WM pin Jacob Bostic, :28.

103-Flavio Valdez, WM pin KC Stipcak, 2:45.

112-Taylor Logue, WM pin Michael Mullen, :48.

119-Billy Atwell, SC dec. Chris Rose, 10-4.

125-Chris Wampler, SC dec. Gunner Cullison, 5-2.

135-Keith Steine WM dec. Sam Willingham, 8-5.