Council Rock North wrestling continues to roll, avenges 2016 loss to Neshaminy (VIDEOS)
Council Rock North freshman Luke Lucerne, right, recorded his 25th win of the season when he pinned Neshaminy 106-pounder Harry Fornes in the first period, helping the Indians to a 53-13 dual meet triumph. (J.S. Garber – For 21st-Century Media)
NEWTOWN – Entering Wednesday night’s dual meet with visiting Neshaminy, Council Rock North was seeking to avenge a loss suffered at the hand of the Skins last year.
In reality, there’s not much to compare with regard to personnel. Only a half-dozen grapplers who participated in the 2016 meet for each program remain on their respective squads and only four for each team took the mat last night.
But while the ranks at Neshaminy have been decimated by graduations and defections (some kids quit), the Indians have been infused with new talent up and down the lineup. That new blood was on full display Wednesday night at Rock North as the Indians easily rolled to a 53-13 triumph, their third consecutive dual meet win against a Suburban One National League (SONL) opponent.
“We had a sour taste in our mouths coming into it this year,” said CR North junior Nick Nucero, one of four Rock wrestlers who competed in the North-Neshaminy dual meet last year.
“So we trained hard and came out this year full speed ahead. That was reflected in the score.
“We worked hard and we showed up.”
While Nucero wrapped the meet up with a 9-2 decision over Skins’ 170-pounder Brock Leinbach, Neshaminy 182-pound freshman Zack Magdelinskas got the Skins off to a good start when he majored North sophomore Connor Mooney-Moore. In the end however, Neshaminy could not get past three early pins posted by the Indians and 18 points the Skins surrendered on forfeits.
Wrestlers winning by fall for the Rock included sophomore Tykee Jackson (220), Luke Lucerne (106) and Lucas Keller (CRN). While Neshaminy heavyweight Kyle Osterhoudt stalled some of the bleeding by the Skins when he pinned North junior Alec Leyferman, forfeits at 120 and 126 pounds put the Rock on top 36-10 by the time Neshaminy sophomore Jackson Erb took the mat.
A regional qualifier in 2016, Erb entered the match with 21 wins to his name in the current campaign. He most likely could have gotten an easier win at 126 pounds, his usual slot in the lineup. However, North started bumping its wrestlers up, starting at 120 pounds. That meant that Sammy Hayes, one of the Indians’ three standout freshman, would wrestle at 132 pounds.
Neshaminy skipper Mike Stewart wanted to see how Erb, who went 34-8 while finishing third in District 1 last season at 120 pounds, did against Hayes, who entered the bout with a record of 18-7.
After taking an early 2-0 lead with a takedown, Erb pushed his edge to 3-0 in the third period and looked like he was easily on his way to his 22nd win of the season. While Hayes got a takedown inside of the 30-second mark to make things interesting, Erb scored the final point and a 4-2 decision.
“We wanted Jackson to get that match and he wrestled the best,” said Stewart. “It hurt us with the forfeit in the earlier match but he went out there and got us a win.”
Unfortunately for the Skins fans who made the trip to Newtown, the Rock ran the table from there.
North freshman Cam Robinson continued to impress, notching his 24th win when he majored Neshaminy junior Austin Saba, 13-2, in a 138-pound matchup that put the Indians on top, 40-13, and sealed the Rock’s third straight victory in the SOL.
Juniors Gianncarlo Flores (145) and Jacob Shalinsky (152) continued the onslaught with decision wins and Dillon Sheehy (160) majored sophomore Rory Rienzi, 11-1, moments before Nucero took the mat.
Nick’s opponent, Brock Leinbach, entered the match with 15 wins thus far this season. While Nucero majored Leinbach in a third-place sectional bout last year, Brock got an early takedown to take a 2-0 lead just 40 seconds into the first period.
Before the end of the initial stanza however, Nucero ealiy reversed his fortunes, getting a takedown of his own then adding three back-points to take a 5-2 lead heading into the second period.
“I wrestled him before so I kind of knew his style,” said Nucero. “But my style has changed because I’m doing freestyle, now, and a couple other things.
“My favorite move is a throw and almost every other match, I hit an inside or outside trip.
“All of that comes with freestyle.”
Nick wrapped up a 9-2 decision win with takedowns in each of the last two periods. Each time Leinbach attempted a point-scoring maneuver, Nucero turned the tables on his opponent and secured points of his own.
“I stayed aggressive throughout the entire match,” stated Nucero. “I wasn’t going to let him do anything to get back into it.”
With the win, North pushes its way to 10-4, overall, 3-1 in the SOL National Conference. The Indians wrestle next Wednesday Feb. 1 at Pennsbury.
For Neshaminy, now 7-13, 3-1 in the SOL National Conference, it doesn’t get any easier. The Skins face defending District 1 and D-1 Duals Champion Boyertown in the opening round of the District 1-AAA Duals tonight at Methacton High School. Tuesday Jan. 31, Neshaminy hosts CR South, which is unbeaten in the SONL, and is battling Oxford Area tonight in the first round of D-1 Duals. The Golden Hawks finished as runner-up to the Bear in last year’s competition.
NOTES: In addition to the graduation of Bruce Graeber (285), Ben Stern (195), Joey Little (152) and Asaph Alexander (126), the Skins suffered additional personnel losses when Mike Megahan (113), Jon Albarran (170) and Vincent Stabilito (182) decided not to compete on the varsity level this season. Additionally, sophomore Colton Jordan (113), a D-1 medalist in 2016, has been unable to wrestle due to an injury since helping the Skins finish fifth in Souderton’s Big Red Duals held the middle of January.
Council Rock North 53, Neshaminy 13
(Jan. 24 at CR North)
182 — Zack Magdelinskas (N) maj. dec. Connor Mooney-Moore, 14-2
195 — Michael Ridlon (CRN) won by forfeit
220 — Tykee Jackson (CRN) pinned Matthew Soska, 1:04
285 — Kyle Osterhoudt (N) pinned Alec Leyferman, 4:30
106 — Luke Lucerne (CRN) pinned Harry Fornes, 1:10
113 — Lucas Keller (CRN) pinned Ethan Ohler, 1:09
120 — Tyler Moyer (CRN) won by forfeit
126 — Shane Thompson (CRN) won by forfeit
132 — Jackson Erb (N) dec. Sammy Hayes, 4-2
138 — Cam Robinson (CRN) maj. dec. Austin Saba, 13-2
145 — Gianncarlo Flores (CRN) dec. Gus Natelli, 2-0
152 — Jacob Shalinsky (CRN) dec. Gunner Spain, 6-3
160 — Dillon Sheehy (CRN) maj. dec. Rory Rienzi, 11-1
170 — Nick Nucero (CRN) dec. Brock Leinbach, 9-2
RECORDS: Neshaminy (7-13, 3-1 SOL National); CR North (10-4, 3-1)
