In an effort to support both the Waynesburg Wrestling Association and the CCNS youth program, alumni from both schools got together on Saturday October 14th at Waynesburg Central High School. It was a pre-season event unlike any other. A time for some once-upon-a-timers to relive life on the mat and remember how difficult wrestling one minute periods actually were. With that effort, these guys were able to PACK the gym! The “Dual Meet”, as it is, would see some blood times, injury times, overtimes, and just some heavy breathing times.
For Canon McMillan, wrestlers ranged from 1983 to 2018 graduates. Waynesburg was able to round up wrestlers ranging from 1980 to 2012. All of these guys include NCAA All Americans, NCAA wrestlers, PIAA place winners, and current coaches. There was even an “exhibition” style match with a couple 8 year old wrestlers.
While Waynesburg ended up winning the “dual” meet, by my count, 37-12, it was an honor to see all these men get together and help support their youth programs. Hopefully, this is something that can continue for more years and we can bring out more alumni to participate. See the individual results below.
Wrestling began with a fun matchup of two 8 year olds. It was a showdown of Owen Bosworth of WBG and Cora Studd of CM. Owen capitalized with an early takedown. He moved Kora to her back. While Kora fought hard, Owen was able to complete the fall at 42 seconds.
The first bout of the alumni featured Clint Podish, WBG class of 2007, and Joey Proie, CM class of 2002. Early in the first, Podish registered a takedown. Proie stands out for an escape. Podish finishes off the period with an ankle pick to end the first 4-1. Podish chooses bottom to start the second. He starts with an escape. Proie pushes in and is able to secure his own takedown. Before the period let out, Podish was able to hit a switch for a reversal. Second ends 7-4. They start neutral in the third. After trading takedowns and escapes, the match wrapped at 10-7.
Next up showcased Jeremy Ellis, WBG class of 2011, and Nate Santelli, CM class of 2002. Ellis fought off a shot from Santelli and spun behind to take the lead. He rode out the period to finish the first a 2-0. They went neutral for the second where Ellis again spun around and rode out the period. 4-0. Ellis would take top in the third. After a few turning attempts, the match would wrap up 4-0.
They moved to Mark Throckmorton, WBG class of 2004, and Aaron Jennings, Jefferson-Morgan class of 2004 wrestling for CM. This was stalemate of a match with both wrestlers trading some shot attempts and defenses. Each scored an escape during the periods they chose bottom. At one point, Throckmorton garnered some suspenseful gasps on throw attempt but, ultimately, he slipped off. They moved onto OVERTIME! About halfway into the overtime, Throckmorton exploded in on a single that he was able to finish on the edge of the mat to take a 3-1 victory.
Next saw Justin Smith, WBG class of 1998, against Kevin Brooks, CM class of 1993. Smith started strong with a takedown that was close to the edge and ultimately called out of bounds by the referee. Brooks came back with a shot of his own. Smith’s defense was strong though and tilted Brooks for a takedown and near fall. Ending the first at 4-0. An escape in the second pushed the lead to 5-0. A neutral start in the third saw Brooks slip off the top on a shot defense and ended the match at 7-0.
The next matchup was Tommy Henderson, WBG class of 2012, against Albert Miles, CM class of 2003. Miles put Henderson down into a front headlock early where he moved behind for the takedown. After a few tilt attempts, the period closed 2-0. After riding out Henderson throughout the second, Miles went down to start the third. Henderson tries to roll over the front on a side headlock. Miles slips it for a reversal and eventually lets him up. Towards the end, Miles fights off a chancery attempt and winds up with the first victory of the day for CM. 4-1.
JD Higgins, WBG class of 2006, matched up with Matt Luba, CM class of 2003. Luba flashed early with a takedown and Higgins escapes out. 2-1. The second period was on the feet with hand fighting and positioning. There were a couple shots pushed aside by both. Higgins took bottom for the third in which Luba rode the period out for the 2-1 victory.
Dustin Henderson, WBG class of 2006, took on Dustin Dunkovich, class of 2000. Through the first two periods, there was an escape by Henderson and loads of hand fighting. In the third, Dunkovich went to the bottom. Henderson locks a cradle and get a few swipes. Dunkovich rolls the cradle through and ends up on top. Henderson escapes from bottom and the match with a 4-2 win.
Up next were Joe Throckmorton, WBG class of 1980, and Ray Phillips, CM class of 1983. They circled through a scoreless first period. Throckmorton escaped in the second period. Phillips tried to return the favor in the third but Throckmorton rode with the college style near ankle lace. Throckmorton used a late period arm bar to turn Phillips and gathered a 3-0 win.
To the mat was Zach McGinnis, WBG class of 2011, and Mike Binni, CM class of 2018. This was an even first period with no score. Binni went on bottom in the second where McGinnis fought off an early flurry from Binny to stay on top. McGinnis put in the legs but Binni was able to slip out and get a reversal. McGinnis went down for the third. He popped up and went to work to catch up. A late takedown gave McGinnis the win 3-2.
Jeremy Snyder, WBG class of 2001, wrestled off with Dennis Cole, CM class of 2005. Cole fights off shots with front headlocks and go-behinds in the first and second period to take a 4-0 lead. The third was another neutral period that saw a few shot defenses but no points. Cole wins 4-0.
Matt Blair, WBG class of 1989, squared off with Bobby Owens, CM class of 1993. Blair defended a shot and spins for the takedown and finishes the first on top. 2-0. Blair goes bottom for the second. He escapes and they finish the second on their feet. Unfortunately, before the third period could start, Owens has an issue with is shoulder and defaults out of the match.
Following that, Luke Lohr, WBG class of 2010, sparred with Bryan Milligan, CM class of 2017. Lohr gets in deep on both a double and a high crotch in the period to end the first 4-1. A neutral start sees Lohr snap down Milligan to go up 6-1. Again a neutral start where Lohr ducks for a takedown and then defends a Milligan shot to score another. Lohr wins 10-2.
Next, Phil Stoneking, WBG class of 1992, met up with Nate Frantz, Chartiers-Houston class of 2005 for CM. A scoreless first led into a second period on their feet. There was a shot/reshot flurry where Frantz finishes on top and the period. 2-0. Stoneking chose bottom for the third. Frantz put the legs in to try to ride Stoneking out. Stoneking slides through the back when Frantz went too high and straight to Frantz back. Stoneking marks the first fall for the old guys at 2:44.
For the last match of the day, the stakes were raised. Nick Garber, WBG class of 2007, and Dalton Macri, CM class of 2014, would wrestle a two minute first period followed by one minute second and third periods. In the first period Garber and Macri would trade nice looking takedowns and matching escapes for a tied 3-3 affair. In the second, Macri chooses bottom. He scrambles a reversal and lands straight to Garber’s back. After the near fall, they go into the third 8-3. Garber goes to the bottom, but he wouldn’t mount the comeback as Macri rides the period. Macri wins 8-3.