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TUNKHANNOCK — It was a matchup between two of the ranked 132-pounders in the state when Tunkhannock’s Tommy Traver and Hanover Area’s Jeff Bennett squared off in the finals of the 39th Annual Tunkhannock Holiday Wrestling Tournament.

The two Wyoming Valley Conference grapplers, who were both returning tournament champions, put on a nice performance with the Tigers sophomore winning his second straight title with a 6-2 victory to stay unbeaten this season with a record of 15-0.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match going in, but I knew that if I got my stuff it was gonna be close, and I got my stuff and ended up coming out on top,” Traver said.

All of Traver’s six points came on takedowns, one in each period as the No. 7 ranked wrestler in Class 3A according PA Power Wrestling took a 6-0 lead. All Bennett – ranked No. 11 by the outlet in Class 2A – could manage was a reversal late in the third period.

“My gameplan with everyone is to just stay with them and keep going at them, get in their face and eventually you’re gonna break them down and get two points,” Traver said. “When he reversed me, I was kinda getting a little sloppy on top trying to force some stuff. Then all I was thinking was it’s time to get out on bottom and in a neutral position … but it was too late.”

Traver was the only tournament champion from the Wyoming Valley Conference as three of his teammates, David Evans (106), David Gavek (113) and Sam Rice (195) all settled for second place. Bennett was one of three from Hanover Area to finish as runner-up. J.J. Hooper (182) and Nick Hannon (285) also took second for the Hawkeyes.

The Tigers were the top team from the WVC in the standings, taking third with 140 points, while Hanover Area followed in fourth with 134.

“As a team, to be honest, I was really surprised that we took third place,” said Traver, a sophomore. “A lot of guys wrestled tough (Thursday and Friday). We really got the pins we needed for the bonus points and I think it was a great turnout for Tunkhannock.”

Wyalusing won the team title with 222.5 points with four champions, including 152-pounder Josh Haley, who won his fourth tournament championship.

Wyoming Seminary’s B Team finished in second place with 188.50 points. The Blue Knights only entered seven wrestlers in the tournament, but claimed five champions, a third-place finisher and a fourth-place medalist.

Sem’s champs were Nick Botello (106), Nick Bauer (113), Tyler Vince (120), Connor Kievman (126) and Benny Baker (138). Not only did the Blue Knights claim five titlists, but they picked up their first winners since rejoining the tournament more than five years ago. The last time they crowned a champ was in 2008 when the school’s A Team won the event.

“It’s a special day for us. It shows that these kids are capable of being at the A Team level,” Sem assistant coach Drew Feldman said. “They’re gonna battling in the room. They’re gonna keep making everybody in the room better and this is only gonna add a little more competition in the room and get us ready for (the postseason)”

Vince, a resident from the Pittston area, was in the most entertaining final of the 14 defeating Fred Lewis from Blue Ridge 13-11 in overtime.

In a back-and-forth match, Vince led 7-4 heading into the third period. But Lewis countered with a takedown and three back points in the third period to go ahead 10-7 late in the period. Just then, after being on his back, Vince managed a reversal to pull within a point. After letting up Lewis, Vince got a takedown with the clock expiring to tie the score at 11-11 and force overtime.

“When I realized I was down by three, I turned it on,” said Vince, a junior. “I get better as match goes on. When I know I have to score points, I get better.

“I’ve only been pinned four times ever. I hate that, giving up six team points and not getting a win. No one should be able to hold you on your back if you’re a good wrestler.”

In the extra session, both athletes tried numerous moves but couldn’t get points for a takedown. That was until Vince finally was awarded the two points right at the buzzer to pull out the win.

“I was just trying to keep fighting. When you get late in a match there, you know they’re tired but you can’t show them that you’re tired,” Vince said. “You just have to go out there and go as hard as you can all the time trying to get that last takedown and that win.”

Wyalusing’s Creighton Edsell (160) and Dawson Otis (285) repeated as tournament champs, while Scranton Prep’s Ivan Balavage defeated Rice with a last-second takedown to win 8-7 and claim his first tournament crown.

Western Wayne scored 120 points to finish in fifth place, while Coughlin’s 118.50 were good for sixth.

Tunkhannock Holiday Wrestling Tournament

Team Scores: 1. Wyalusing (Wya) 222.50; 2. Wyoming Seminary B (Sem) 188.50; 3. Tunkhannock (Tun) 140; 4. Hanover Area (Han) 134; 5. Western Wayne (WW) 120; 6. Coughlin (Cou) 118.50; 7. West Scranton (WS) 113.50; 8. Valley View (VV) 110; 9. Montrose (Mon) 98.50; 10. Scranton Prep (SP) 94; 11. Abington Heights (AH) 90; 12. Mahanoy Area (MA) 82; 13. Pocono Mountain East (PME) 78.50; 14. Canton (Can), Wyoming Area (WA) 68.50; 16. Kutztown (Kutz), Pocono Mountain West (PMW) 64; 18. Northeast Bradford (NEB) 62; 19. Mount Carmel (MC) 59; 20. Bradford (Brad) 53; 21. Elk Lake (EL) 47; 22. Sayre (Say) 45; 23. Lackawana Trail (LT), Nanticoke (Nan) 33; 25. Blue Ridge (BR) 27.50; 26. Mountain View (MV) 5

Finals

106 – Nick Botello (Sem) pinned David Evans (Tun) 5:39

113 – Nick Bauer (Sem) dec David Gavek (Tun) 10-4

120 – Tyler Vince (Sem) dec Fred Lewis (BR) 13-11, OT

126 – Connor Kievman (Sem) pinned Joe Hester (Mon) 1:59

132 – Tommy Traver (Tun) dec Jeff Bennett (Han) 6-2

138 – Benny Baker (Sem) dec Luke Yonkin (Wya)6-1

145 – James Benjamin (PME) dec Brett Uhrin (VV) 10-7

152 – Josh Haley (Wya)tech fall Timmy Ward (Can) 15-0, 4:00

160 – Creighton Edsell (Wya)dec Colin Fegley (MA) 7-2

170 – Matt Lewandowski (MA) dec Ed Mapes (Wya)5-3

182 – Ryan Kipp (Wya)dec J.J. Hooper (Han) 4-2

195 – Ivan Balavage (SP) dec Sam Rice (Tun) 8-7

220 – Greg Bensley (PMW) pinned Cole Fuller (WW) 1:12

285 – Dawson Otis (Wya)pinned Nick Hannon (Han) 1:43

Third Place

106 – Joe Rowley (Han) pinned Nini Cinti (Cou) 2:40

113 – Ryan Dunn (WW) pinned Colby Sindoni (Say) 2:00

120 – Jake O’Brien (Mon) pinned Braeden Breitharpt (PME) 5:29

126 – Brandon Judge (VV) dec Jake Brown (Cou) 2-0

132 – Tyler Thompson (Brad) dec Josh Brown (Cou) 6-2

138 – Jared Slack (WS) dec D.J. Erickson (Han) 3-1

145 – Dillon Keane (Brad) dec Michael Gallorenzi (Sem) 7-0

152 – Marc Stine (VV) dec Alex Buttner (SP) 12-5

160 – Kyle Costello (Sem) dec Matt Ingrassia (Say) 8-2

170 – Jake Cole (Cou) dec Bruce Parola (SP) 5-2

182 – Adam Buczynski (WA) pinned Logan Bachman (Kutz) 1:52

195 – Adam Wellard (AH) dec Mike Wilcox (Wya)4-3

220 – Logan Hivner (AH) pinned Cody Tunnicliff (Wya)2:30

285 – Damon Barhight (WA) dec Owen Maryott (NEB) 2-0

Fifth Place

106 – Anthony Caramanno (WS) DQ Luke Adzema (MC)

113 – Jake Sharadin (Kutz) pinned Sammy Segers (SP) 1:51

120 – Darren Schum (Wya)dec Yahny Ortiz (WS) 9-4

126 – Josh Beeman (Tun) dec Francisco Lopez (EL) 2-0

132 – Tyler Baltrusaitis (LT) pinned Mak Gleckner (Can) 2:02

138 – Ethan Landis (Can) dec Joe Pahler (Cou) 3-0

145 – Braden McIntosh (WW) pinned Frankie Castano (Cou) 1:50

152 – Harrison Clookey (WW) defaulf Tommy McDonald (MC)

160 – Devon Jacobi (PME) default Noah Rakowski (Han)

170 – Jake Hand (EL) default Tyler Fisher (Kutz)

182 – Bobby Walls (WS) pinned Matthew Trygar (WW) 3:46

195 – Justin Joseph (WA) dec Connor Judge (VV) 9-7

220 – Noah Worsnick (WS) default Seth Forbes (NEB)

285 – Corey Harrison (Cou) dec Robert Gregory (Mon) 4-0

Seventh Place

106 – Logan Newton (Wya)pinned Zach Capie (Nan) :31

113 – Cullen Ratchford (LT) pinned Bill Peters (AH) 4:48

120 – Scott Jacoby (AH) pinned Justin Ganser (LT) 3:27

126 – Garrett Walsh (WS) dec Noah Johnson (AH) 5-3

132 – Alphonzo Lee (PMW) forfeit Juan Loboda (EL)

138 – Nate Gutierez (PMW) dec Chris Kondash (MA) 4-1

145 – Mikyle Fabrizio (Mon) forfeit Collin Kashatus (Nan)

152 – Bubba Novak (WS) dec Zakee Nettles (Han) 3-2

160 – Cole Aukema (Mon) pinned Tommy Carroll (SP) 4:55

170 – Jeremy Seymour (WS) dec Ryan Atcavage (WW) 4-2

182 – Jake Stephens (Tun) pinned Sean Sprague (VV) 2:47

195 – Derek Swoyer (WW) pinned Carl Fisher (WS) 2:50

220 – Logan Burns (VV) forfeit Wes Shurock (MC)

285 – Anthony Giordano (WS) pinned Ryan Wuttke (MA) 3:35

Semifinals

106 – Botello (Sem) pinned Adzema (MC) 1:14; Evans (Tun) maj dec Rowley (Han) 14-0

113 – Bauer (Sem) pinned Dunn (WW) 1:52; Gavek (Tun) pinned Sharadin (Kutz) 2:49

120 – Vince (Sem) pinned O’Brien (Mon) 3:04; Lewis (BR) pinned Ortiz (WS) 2:29

126 – Hesler (Mon) pinned Beeman (Tun) 5:14; Kievman (Sem) dec Brown (Cou) 7-5

132 – Traver (Tun) dec Thompson (Brad) 8-1; Bennett (Han) pinned Baltrusaitis (LT) 2:56

138 – Baker (Sem) pinned Erickson (Han) 1:41; Yonkin (Wya)dec Slack (WS) 8-2

145 – Brett Uhrin (VV) dec Keane (Brad) 9-4; Benjamin (PME) dec Giallorenzi (Sem) 9-2

152 – Haley (Wya)maj dec Clookey (WW) 15-2; Ward (Can) dec Buttner (SP) 3-0

160 – Edsell (Wya)maj dec Jacobi (PME) 8-0; Fegley (MA) dec Rakowski (Han) 15-12

170 – Lewandowski (MA) dec Parola (SP) 5-0; Mapes (Wya)dec Cole (Cou) 10-9

182 – Hooper (Han) pinned Buczynski (WA) :59; Kipp (Wya)pinned Bachman (Kutz) 4:36

195 – Rice (Tun) dec Wilcox (Wya)7-0; Balavage (SP) maj dec Judge (VV) 16-5

220 – Fuller (WW) pinned Forbes (NEB) 3:25; Bensley (PMW) pinned Tunnicliff (way) :49

285 – Otis (Wya) pinned Gregory (Mon) :32; Hannon (Han) pinned Barhight (WA) 2:36

Scranton Prep’s Ivan Balavage of Avoca, back, takes down Tunkhannock’s Sam Rice en route to a last-second victory in the 195-pound bout in the Tunkhannock Kiwanis wrestling tournament on Friday evening.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL123116WrestlingKiwanis_1.jpg.optimal.jpgScranton Prep’s Ivan Balavage of Avoca, back, takes down Tunkhannock’s Sam Rice en route to a last-second victory in the 195-pound bout in the Tunkhannock Kiwanis wrestling tournament on Friday evening. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Seminary’s Nick Botello, top, grapples Tunkhannock’s David Evans in the 106-pound bout.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL123116WrestlingKiwanis_2.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Nick Botello, top, grapples Tunkhannock’s David Evans in the 106-pound bout. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Seminary’s Nick Bauer, top, wrestles Tunkhannock’s David Gravel en route to victory in the 113-pound bout.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL123116WrestlingKiwanis_3.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Nick Bauer, top, wrestles Tunkhannock’s David Gravel en route to victory in the 113-pound bout. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Seminary’s Tyler Vince, top, wrestles Blue Ridge’s Fred Lewis en route to victory in the 120-pound bout.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL123116WrestlingKiwanis_4.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Tyler Vince, top, wrestles Blue Ridge’s Fred Lewis en route to victory in the 120-pound bout. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Seminary’s Connor Kievman, left, tries to pin Montrose’s Joe Hester in the 126-pound bout.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL123116WrestlingKiwanis_5.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Connor Kievman, left, tries to pin Montrose’s Joe Hester in the 126-pound bout. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Seminary’s Benny Baker, top, controls Wyalusing’s Luke Yonkinr in the 138-pound bout.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL123116WrestlingKiwanis_7.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary’s Benny Baker, top, controls Wyalusing’s Luke Yonkinr in the 138-pound bout. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Tunkhannock’s Tommy Traver, left, escapes the grasp of Hanover Area’s Jeff Bennett in the 132-pound bout in the Tunkhannock wrestling tournament on Friday evening.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_TTL123116WrestlingKiwanis_6.jpg.optimal.jpgTunkhannock’s Tommy Traver, left, escapes the grasp of Hanover Area’s Jeff Bennett in the 132-pound bout in the Tunkhannock wrestling tournament on Friday evening. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Dave Rosengrant

For Times Leader

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