By Ted Waddell
LIBERTY —January 12, 2001 - When the home-standing Liberty grapplers first saw the visiting wrestlers from Middletown start their traditional warm-ups by circling the mat, it must have seemed as if the earth was shaking, as the Middletown squad easily outnumbered the Indians two to one. And that’s a lot of beef going around in circles.
In Tuesday night’s non-league match, Middletown (5–2 overall) defeated Liberty (0–2) 60-12.
The home team was handicapped by forfeiting seven of the 13 matches. There was no competition in the 96-pound and 103-pound weight classes.
Despite the otherwise gloomy outing, there were a couple of rays of sunshine falling on the home team matmen.
Liberty’s George Conklin — minus last year’s early season long hair — defeated his 140-lb. opponent 13-11 in a grueling match in which he showed a strong desire to win; at 145 lbs., Anthony Couitt pinned his rival at 5:30; and Randy Caruso defeated his 160-lb. adversary 8-4.
Three young women are members of the Liberty varsity wrestling squad this season: Lauren Michaud, Jennifer Ognibene and Andrea Stabak. All three competed in exhibition bouts during Tuesday’s outing against Middletown, but were defeated.
The Liberty varsity wrestling team is coached by John Lennon. See an upcoming issue of the paper for a more detailed look at the squad.
Middletown 60 • Liberty 12
96: No contest. 103: No contest. 112: Rob Pagan (M) pinned Woodrow Wilson at 3:30. 119: Marcus Butler (M) pinned Dan Ratner at 5:33. 125: Chris Flain (M) won in a forfeit. 130: Stephen Hammond (M) won in a forfeit. 135: Blain Bordeman (M) won in a forfeit. 140: George Conklin (L) defeated Pat Doty 13-11. 145: Anthony Couitt (L) pinned Matt Polizzano at 5:50. 152: Chris Lattimer (M) won in a forfeit. 160: Randy Caruso (L) defeated Nick Miller 8-4. 171: Conan Duelk (M) won in a forfeit. 189: Alex Uskokovic (M) won in a forfeit. 215: Jay Decker (M) won in a forfeit. 275: Alberto Ramos (M) pinned Jermaine Edie at 5:25.