Two quick forfeits by the Jr. High Scranton Knights wrestling team on Wednesday evening put 12 points on the scoreboard in favor of the Buckhorns, and Chase Gallik picked up a pin to pad that lead to 18-0 in the first match actually wrestled, but it was far from over. The Knights fought back but fell 58-42.
“We came out a little flat and it was tight but they’re a good team. They have strong kids and they’re physical. We woke up in those middle weights and started to come around but we need to do a better job getting these kids up before a match,” said Buckhorn Coach Scott Gee.
Ten matches in, the Bucks’ big lead was cut to just six points at 30-24 with Dillon Brouschart on deck for the Purple Pack at the 130 pound weight class.
Brouschart was down 6-3 entering the third period against Khalil Rivera, but with 58.2 seconds left in regulation, he found his opening and attacked, getting the pin and celebrating with a subtle fist pump and the crowd erupted. It was the turning point in the match, giving the momentum back to the Bucks in a tight match.
“He’s (Brouschart) a kid who hasn’t had a lot of success up until recently and he’s been working and working and working, continually trying to get better and now it’s starting to pay off for him. I expect him to get stronger and more technical and fine tune some of those points and he will continue to get better,” added Gee.
Dillon, just a seventh grader, was excited with his pin as well. “I was doing whatever I could to survive and not get pinned. I found an opening and capitalized on it. I was really excited, it was the best feeling I’ve ever felt,” he said after the match.
The pin made it 36-24. Two matches later Ben Gendlemen (145) made it 42-30 when he pinned Nick Leggin in the first period and then Jared Wehrmen (155, win by forfeit), Mike Pajalich (210, win by pin), and Calvin Kreiter (250, 11-0 decision) closed out the match for the Buckhorn Pride.
Hawley, Pa. —
