Story by Jon Dinan
The Liberty wrestlers visited Eldred on Tuesday and the combined Eldred/Fallsburg (E-F) team was not such a kind host to Liberty on Tuesday. The “YellowComets” recorded six pins and won all but one of their non-forfeited matches en route to a 54-12 victory.
E-F’s Mantee Williams wasted the least amount of time, pinning Nathanul Rubano in just 18 seconds in the 160-pound match.
At 182 pounds, Tadeusz Loarcas got the best of Liberty’s Ryan Trasks with a 39-second pin.
The closest contest was waged between E-F’s Robert Andersen and Liberty’s German Castano at 152 pounds. Castano had no problem out-muscling his adversary as he took Andersen down several times. But Andersen persevered, slipping his way out of several holds and gradually wore Castano down.
After a grueling 5:40, Andersen found an opening and struck, pinning Castrano by hooking his right leg, then jumped up in celebration of his hard-fought win and well-executed wrestling strategy.
The 170-pound challengers were E-F’s Carl Petersen- Langland and Liberty’s Kevin Morgans. This competition turned out to be another close battle between two tall and wiry wrestlers. The upperhand reversed several times throughtout the match, but at about the four-and-a-half minute mark, Langland was able to wrap his right arm around both of Morgan’s legs forcing his shoulders down for the pin.
Colton Kelty was the only Liberty wrestler to win a non-forfeited match when he pinned E-F’s Andy Martinez in 2 minutes and 43 seconds.
“We’re very happy with the outcome today,” said E-F co-coach Jim Corcoran. “We only have three seniors on the team this year so we are young. But they’re working hard and learning. I anticipate that we’ll have a good showing this year.”
Eldred-Fallsburg is now 4-5 overall and 3-1 in dual meets. They lost to Onteora 42-30 prior to defeating Liberty on Tuesday. Jesse Corcoran was the lone E-F wrestler to pin both his Onteora and Liberty opponent, while Adam Hurwitz and Petersen-Langland also won both of their matches.
E-F will next wrestle in the Washingtonville tournament on Saturday.