William Penns Daniel Sinclair works for a takedown against Smyrnas Tyree Heath at 144 pounds. Sinclair won 11 4. Photo by Pam Lane 1

William Penn grapplers upset fifth-ranked Smyrna

Benny MitchellHeadlines, Sports

William Penns Daniel Sinclair works for a takedown against Smyrnas Tyree Heath at 144 pounds. Sinclair won 11 4. Photo by Pam Lane 1

William Penn’s Daniel Sinclair works for a takedown against Smyrna’s Tyree Heath at 144 pounds. Sinclair won 11-4. Photo by Pam Lane

New Castle – The Wm. Penn wrestlers knew the history heading into their Monday night showdown with number five ranked Smyrna. The Colonials last win over the Eagles was 17 years ago in 2006.

Monday night’s win was the biggest win for the program over the last 20 years as Wm. Penn defeated Smyrna 39-32 in front of a loud home crowd.

With the match starting at 157 pounds the Colonials jumped out to a 21-0 lead behind pins from Michael Lane (157) and Frankie Norris (165). Ziyad Badreldein won a 6-3 decision over the Eagles Teagan Gratowski at 175 pounds and Vincent Che received a forfeit at 190 pounds.

Smyrna climbed back into the match winning five of the next six bouts.

Kael Howell (215), Chi Chi Eule (285), Warren Coates (113) and Wyatt Miller (120) all had pins while Qwantez Watkins (126) added a technical fall for the Eagles as they took their only lead of the night 29-27 going into a 132 pounds.

Nick Hendricks and Kyle Davis put on the most competitive match of the night as Davis took down Hendricks to his back in the first period as the Smyrna wrestler took a 5-2 lead at the end of the first period.

Hendricks chipped away at the lead with an escape and a takedown in the second period followed by two near fall points late in the third period to get the 7-5 decision and put the Colonials back in the lead 30-29.

“When I got caught on my back I thought, I’m not going to let this happen, my team needs me,” Hendricks said.

Hendricks gave the Wm. Penn a lead they would not relinquish much to the pleasure of head coach Joe Archangelo.

“He (Hendricks) banged his shoulder up and we really weren’t sure if he was going to be able to go, but here he is, he got the job done and we could be more proud of this guy,” Archangelo said.

Jamir Ross received a forfeit at 138 pounds followed by an 11-4 decision by Daniel Sinclair over Tyree Heath at 144 pounds putting the match out of reach 40-29.

Jesse’s Dixon won a 12-6 decision over Austin Smith at 150 pounds to end the night. Jayden Ellis added a pin for Wm. Penn at 106 pounds.

Wm. Penn improves to 3-1 while Smyrna falls to 5-6 on the season.

Caesar Rodney defeats St. Georges

 

Caesar Rodney used pins by Cody Waski (157), Logan Heffington (165), Owen Dixon (175), Walter Toomer (285), Cole Moffett (113) and Nick Moore (120) to defeat St. Georges 51-18.

The Riders got a technical fall by Trevor Copes (126) and a major decision by Graig Dixon (144).

Gavin Sheehan (138), T.J. Arrowood (190) and Odai Morgan (215) all had pins for the Hawks.smyrna

The Riders improved to 5-1 while the Hawks fell to 3-2.

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