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Dawgs Fall To Hazleton Cougars 42 - 22 On January 26
Posted January 26, 2007
The Dawgs hosted the Cougars of Hazleton
Area on Friday, January 26. Berwick incurred their first district loss
of the season by the score of 42-22.
Berwick is now 13-8 on the season with
one dual left on the regular season schedule. The Dawgs host Crestwood
at home on Wednesday, January 31.
The Cougars came to Berwick to wrestle
and wrestle they did. From the very start when the Dawgs lost the
opening coin toss, to losing some big and highly anticipated match-ups, it
was a tough night all around in Dawgtown.
The Dawgs must now build-off from this
loss and use it as motivation in completing the regular season and in
competition for District Duals next weekend.
Berwick got on the scoreboard first with
6 points when the Cougars unexpectedly tipped their hat with a forfeit
awarded to freshman Chris Bujno. The Cougars took their first bite of
the night and lit up their side of the scoreboard in winning the next bout
by major decision.
With Berwick in the lead 6-4, sophomore
Steve Prebola was released into the circle of warfare. Prebola
immediately engaged his opponent with his voracious quickness and strength
that overpowered his rival for an excellent and dominating 12-2 major
decision.
Berwick was now leading 10-4.
Hazleton struck right back by taking the
next 2 bouts, one by fall and one by major decision, that lifted them into
the lead by the score of 14-10. As it turned out, it would be a lead
that would never again be relinquished.
Junior Lou Ney was up next for the Dawgs
to partake in one of the key bouts of the night. Ney, wrestling
on-fire with simply non-relenting determination, was not to be denied as he
used his superior technical skills and prowess to record a superb 6-2
decision.
Berwick was now down by only 1-point by
the score of 13-14.
The Cougars then took their biggest bite
of the night winning the next three consecutive bouts by decision, fall, and
major decision. This Hazleton flurry quickly left the Dawgs in a
trailing position by the score of 13-27.
Junior Nick Venditti was called upon to
stop the bleeding and was sent out to do battle in one of the night's key
match-ups. Venditti put on a brilliant performance for the Dawg
Faithful as he used his massive strength combined with a pair of hips
balanced to perfection to record an outstanding 4-2 decision against a very
talented and worthy opponent. Venditti's win narrowed the Dawg deficit
to 16-27.
The Cougars quickly responded and put the
night's action out of reach by winning the next two bouts, the first by
fall, and the second in an overtime decision that was a result of an all-out
slugfest that was one of the most exciting bouts of the night.
Hazleton now held an insurmountable 36-16 lead.
Sophomore Ryan Sitler, the Dawg pinning
machine, ignored the scoreboard and wrestled with the champion mindset
knowing he must take to the mat of manhood to complete his job at
hand. And what a job Sitler did. Ryan aggressively attacked his
opponent off the whistle and dealt menacing and merciless punishment before
crushing soldiers flat to the mat in only 1:17.
The Cougars took their last bite of the
night by taking the last bout by fall. Hazleton wrapped up their night
at Berwick dealing the Dawgs a 42-22 loss.
Winning Dawgs Against Hazleton
Chris Bujno: Forfeit
Steve Prebola: Major Decision
Lou Ney: Decision
Nick Venditti: Decision
Ryan Sitler: Fall
The Dawgs compete next at home in another
key district battle against the Crestwood Comets on Wednesday, January 31,
at 7pm. On Friday & Saturday, February 2 & 3, the Dawgs will
be competing in the District 2 Class AA Team Dual Championship
Tournament. The quarterfinal and semi-final will be held Friday at
Lake Lehman with the finals Saturday night at Pittston.
Go Dawgs!!
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