Just a few weeks into the season, Bradford High wrestling coach Jamey Miller has been preaching to his team the importance of hard work.
That hard work, combined with superior conditioning, was the driving factor in the Owls’ 37-24 Allegheny Mountain Wrestling League victory over visiting Oswayo Valley (0-1) Thursday night. Bradford High won six of the eight matches wrestled.
“The difference is the work they’re putting on a day-to-day basis,” Miller said. “They’re in better shape and they’re going to continue to get in better shape. They know every day they walk into that mat room, we expect them to push a little bit harder and a little bit harder.
“Their recovery time has gotten so much better.”
The Owls’ conditioning level helped in two major decision match wins, as Colby Keane took down Colton Gietler, 12-3, at 132 pounds and Tyler Thompson beat Isaiah Barney, 13-5, at 145 pounds.
The night started at 170 pounds where Bradford’s Chance McGuire faced off Daniel Thompson. McGuire made quick work of his opposition, pinning Thompson in 40 seconds.
The Green Wave – wrestling in their first match of the season – won the next two matches which featured some of the best wrestlers from both teams going at each other. At 182 pounds, Bradford High’s Hunter Gray used a takedown to take a 4-2 lead, but Shroyer tied it up with two back points just before the first period buzzer sounded.
Midway through the second, however, Shroyer was able to pin Gray.
Next, Oswayo Valley’s Grant West pinned Andrew Piganelli in three minutes as the visitors took a 12-6 lead in team points.
“We matched up where my better guys were matched up with Bradford’s better guys and their guys were better,” Oswayo Valley head coach Denny Bloss said. “His guys were ready. They’re fit and they’re ready. He’s got a nice middle bunch that’s going to be tough for anyone to beat.”
Three straight forfeits set up Keane and Gietler’s bout, while 138-pounder Kyle Hartman (pin), 145-pounder Thompson and 152-pounder Dillon Keane (tech fall) each picked up Bradford High wins.
Derek Sunafrank pinned Oswayo Valley’s Simon Coals in 1:57 in the evening’s last match.
Bradford High’s Austin McCracken won by forfeit at 220, while Dylan Pesock (113) and Michael VanDergrift (heavyweight) won by forfeits for Oswayo Valley.
Oswayo Valley is off until Jan. 3, while Bradford returns to the mat next Thursday and Friday for the Tunkhannock tournament.
“They just need to keep working on their conditioning,” Miller said, noting his wrestlers gave it their all Thursday night. “Without a doubt, that made a lot of difference in some of those matches.”
BRADFORD 37, OSWAYO VALLEY 24
106 – No match
113 – Dylan Pesock (OV) won by forfeit
120 – No match
126 – No match
132 – Colby Keane (B) major decisioned Colton Gietler 12-3
138 – Kyle Hartman (B) pinned Michael Hewitt :35
145 – Tyler Thompson (B) major decisioned Isaiah Barney 13-5
152 – Dillon Keane (B) technical pinned William Rusell 5:17
160 – Derek Sunafrank (B) pinned Simon Coals 1:57
170 – Chance McGuire (B) pinned Daniel Thompson :40
182 – Nate Shroyer (OV) pinned Hunter Gray 3:14
195 – Grant West (OV) pinned Andrew Piganelli 3:00
220 – Austin McCracken (B) won by forfeit
HWT – Michael VanDergrift (OV) won by forfeit
