Berwick Defeats Coughlin Crusaders 37 - 21 In Key Dual On January 21

The Dawgs traveled to Coughlin High School on Saturday, January 21, to take on the Crusaders in another key district competition with postseason team duals implications.  After a close loss to Hazleton in their last dual, Berwick needed to step it up.  The Dawgs rose to the occasion and impressively defeated Coughlin by the score of 37 - 21.

Berwick's dual with the Crusaders was another tightly knit contest where a total of 6 bouts were decided by 3 points or less.  Each team split the close bouts taking 3 each but the Dawgs placed 3 falls on the scoreboard with Zeb Bankes, Tyler Perry, and Aaron Karns recording pins for Berwick.  Zeb Bankes had the quickest fall of the night in 22 seconds.

Berwick came out on fire taking the first 4 bouts of the contest to build a 15-0 lead.  Senior Zeb Bankes entered the circle of war first for the Dawgs and delivered a speedy and pulverizing 22 second pin.  Freshman Dom Yantorn took to the mat next, and in the most exciting bout of the night that had the Dawg Faithful riveted to their seats, ended up walking off the mat with a thrilling double overtime ride-out victory in his pocket via a key 9-8 win.  Freshman Steve Prebola, in another mother of all slugfests, out-wrestled and out-lasted his opponent in commandeering an excellent 10-8 win by decision.  Sophomore Lou Ney entered the circle of manhood next and put on a grand display of technique and willpower in steering a 7-2 decision up to the lights on the scoreboard.

The Crusaders took the next bout by fall but Berwick still retained a sizeable 15-6 lead.  Berwick would not allow Coughlin to build any momentum throughout the contest and immediately made a statement following the first Crusader points.

Junior team captain Tyler Perry put the lights out on any hope for the Crusaders when he slammed the lights shut on his opponent with a swift and punishing pin in 1:37.  Sophomore Nick Venditti followed-up in the next bout by engaging in a relentless offensive attack against his opponent for an imposing 7-2 decision.  The flurry by Perry and Venditti elevated the Dawg lead to 24-6.

Coughlin, in danger of letting things get out of control, responded by placing 6 points on the board with a fall in the following bout.  Senior team captain Josh Walsh was up next for the Dawgs and stomped out any opposition rally on the night by putting on his marquee display of strength and technical prowess in recording a 16-7 major decision.

Berwick's lead was now 28-12.

The Crusaders would not go away without a fight and took the next 2 bouts by decision.  But sophomore Aaron Karns was another Dawg that refused to allow any opposition momentum.  Karns came out to the mat on fire and wasted no time in taking his opponent's shoulders to the mat with a volcanic blast that seamed a singlet to the floor in just 1:02.

Both teams split the last 2 bouts with Coughlin raking in a close 6-4 decision.  Dawg's sophomore Derek Bower took the circle of battle for the last bout of the night.  With Berwick's win already notched in pen, Bower was on a personal mission.  Derek would not be denied as he came out with all guns blazing and raised the voices of all Dawg Faithful by winning an exciting and determined 9-7 decision.

With the Dawgs emptying the gym with the all-important 37-21 win against Coughlin, Berwick now controls its own destiny for postseason team duals.

Winning Dawgs Against Coughlin
Zeb Bankes:  Fall
Dom Yantorn:  Decision
Steve Prebola:  Decision
Lou Ney:  Decision
Tyler Perry:  Fall
Nick Venditti:  Decision
Josh Walsh:  Major Decision
Aaron Karns:  Fall
Derek Bower:  Decision

Go Dawgs!!