The Oswego State wrestling team rallied from behind on Saturday, in its first dual meet of the year in Max Ziel Gymnasium to beat the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers, 21-18.
This opened up the Lakers’ dual season, as they recorded five wins against the Tigers. At the 125-pound weight class, the Tigers’ Mike Nguyen won by decision over Lakers’ Kevin Ramkishun, 7-1. For 133 pounds, senior captain of the Lakers, Omar Santiago won by decision over Tigers’ Roy Bruce, 9-4. Oswego State’s Michael Gentilcore won by technical fall 6:48 into the match over R.I.T.’s John Hamm, 18-1 in the 141-pound weight class.
Freshman Laker, Abubakarr Sow lost to Tigers’ Brad Mayville by decision, 8-5. The Tigers’ Sean Sercu defeated Lakers’ Max Stratton in the 157-pound weight class, 10-6 by decision. Tory Cain of R.I.T. pinned Blake Fisher 2:36 into the match for the 165-pound weight class.
For the 174-pound weight class, the Lakers’ Scott Bova won by major decision over the Tigers’ Nick Fisk, 16-6. In the 184-pound bout, Adam Hughey of the Tigers won by decision over Ed Rose, 4-0. Laker freshman Andrew Cole pinned the Tigers’ Mikhail Solomonik 1:12 into the bout.
This tied up the dual meet, with both teams having 18 points. With one match left, senior captain Kyle Sheridan of the Lakers won with a takedown in overtime over Nick Stewart of the Tigers, 3-1, in the 285-pound weight class.
Sheridan’s match allowed the Lakers to end the meet on top over the Tigers. The turnout on Saturday was important to the Lakers win. Head coach Michael Howard felt that the strength of the crowd helped energize the team.
“The crowd created a great atmosphere,” Howard said.
The Lakers have started the season on a positive note, having three members place at the Ithaca Invitational tournament on Nov. 3. Howard feels that opening the dual meet season at home was important, as well as continuing their positive season.
“It was important to start the dual meet season on the right foot,” Howard said. “We got that accomplished.”
Howard feels that putting the win entirely on Sheridan is unfair to the team. He feels that the entire team’s performance was outstanding. Howard said that Cole’s pin put the Lakers in the position to win after he tied up the meet.
Gentilcore’s win continues his undefeated streak after winning the Ithaca Invitational. Last week he was Oswego State’s Athlete of the Week, and the junior public justice major was the 2010-11 Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference Rookie of the Year. His overall record with the Lakers is 34-11 including his undefeated record with five wins this seasons.
Sheridan is this week’s Athlete of the Week after his strong showing in the final match of the dual meet. Sheridan came out strong after a 1-2 performance at the Ithaca Invitational tournament.
“I was a little nervous,” Sheridan said. “I knew I had to win, I never stopped believing in myself.”
Sheridan feels that there was pressure at the end of the meet. He understood what needed to be done and felt as if he “needed to win for the team.”
The win comes at an important point in the season. Although this opens up the dual meet season, the Lakers will travel to Cornell University for the New York State Collegiate Championships this weekend. They will face Division I athletes, as well as fellow Division III athletes. On Dec. 1, they will travel to RIT for their invitational tournament, and then welcome Ithaca on Dec. 8 at home in the Max Ziel Gymnasium.
