Dawgs Drop District Dual Quarterfinal To Abington Heights 25 - 47 On February 3

Berwick traveled to Pittston High School on February 3 for the first round of the District 2 Class AAA dual championship tournament.  The Dawgs, going in as the #4 Wyoming Valley Conference seed, squared up against the Comets of Abington Heights, the #1 seed of the Lackawanna Seed.  Berwick, with two starters out of the lineup, simply didn't have enough horsepower on the night.  Abington Heights also has a great team this year and came to wrestle and the Comets took the win by the score of 47-25 over the Dawgs.

For the second consecutive year in the District 2 Class AAA dual championship tournament, the team that eliminated Berwick went on to capture the AAA dual title.  Both opposing teams went on to defeat Pittston in the championship final.  This year, Abington Heights defeated Pittston 38-35.

Most people knew the 2005-2006 season would witness a great deal of parity in District 2 Class AAA.  The competition lived up to its billing.  Several teams had a couple losses that were decided by just one or two bouts.  It was definitely an exciting season and proved once again that competition has been on a significant increase within the district over the last several years.

Berwick closes the 2005-2006 dual season by placing another winning season into the record books in going 12-9 for the year.  Five of those losses came at the Virginia Battlefield Duals against some of the best competition in Pennsylvania and Virginia.  Those battles have only made the young Dawgs much better over the season and excitement is in the air for the postseason.

Against Abington Heights at the District 2 Duals, junior team captain Tyler Perry was the first Dawg out of the pen and got Berwick off to a great start when he immediately dominated his opponent off the whistle and stuck a singlet to that mat for a convincing fall in just 1:15.  The Comets struck right back taking the next two bouts, one by major decision and one by fall.  After three bouts, the Dawgs were down 6-10.

Senior team captain Josh Walsh would tie up the team score at 10-10 when he overwhelmed his opponent with his superior strength and technical prowess in notching an electrifying 12-3 major decision.  But once again Abington Heights would strike back after a Dawg win and the Comets took the next two bouts, one by decision and one by fall.  The Comets lead now stood at 19-10.

Sophomore Aaron Karns suspended any sustained opponent rally when he took to the mat with a vengeance and out-wrestled and out-hustled his opponent in recording a superb 9-5 decision.  Abington Heights again traded one loss for 2 wins as they took the next two bouts by fall which elevated their lead to 31-13.

Berwick was in danger of letting the night's contest get totally out of control and needed a rally.  Senior Zeb Bankes took the matter into his own hands when he took to the circle of war on a mission not to be denied.  Bankes delivered one of his patented thunderous falls in 5:46 that put the all-important six bonus points on the scoreboard for the Dawgs.  Freshman sensation Dom Yantorn, in yet another marquee match against one of the top contenders in the district, once again turned the lights out with a lightening quick fall in a highly impressive time of just 56 seconds.

The Dawgs had now closed the scoring gap and were trailing by just six points, 25-31, with three bouts left.  Abington Heights replied by taking all 3 remaining bouts, one by major decision and two by fall, to gain the quarterfinal win over Berwick by the score of 47-25.

Winning Dawgs Against Abington Heights
Tyler Perry:  Fall
Josh Walsh:  Major Decision
Aaron Karns:  Decision
Zeb Bankes:  Fall
Dom Yantorn:  Fall

The Dawgs now have a sizeable break from action as they prepare to gear up for the individual District 2 Class AAA district championship tournament to be held at Hazleton High School on Friday & Saturday, February 24 & 25.

Go Dawgs!!