Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

HANOVER TWP. — R.J. Driscoll has been in pressure situations before.

Heck, the Lake-Lehman junior was a state qualifier last season so he was put to test several times before and has stepped up.

So with a key Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 dual on the line, in a packed and loud Hanover Area High School, Driscoll felt the pressure but didn’t let it bother him.

Wrestling at 138-pounds in the last match of the night against the Hawkeyes’ Zakee Nettles, Driscoll stepped up once again for the Black Knights coming back from a two-point deficit in the first period to roll to a major decision and lead Lake-Lehman to a 34-30 victory.

“Just another good match. I had to go out and wrestle and do what I do,” Driscoll said.

Early in the final bout of the night, Nettles got a takedown on Driscoll and appeared to be in control.

“I’m thinking upset,” Hanover Area coach Anthony Mercadante said when asked about Nettles’ early takedown. “I don’t even know if I’d call it upset because I have a lot belief in my kids’ abilities…But I was thinking ‘good start to the match we might have this.’”

But Driscoll didn’t let than bother him. He tied the match in the first period when Nettles was hit with two stalling calls for Driscoll’s first point than equaled the score on an escape. From there, Driscoll chose down to start the second period. He hit a reversal to take the lead then a Peterson resulted in five back points later in the second and he was on his way to a 14-2 victory.

“I was pretty happy being able to go in and do the job for my team, put the team on my back and come through in the clutch,” Driscoll said.

The dual entered the last bout tied 30-30. The Hawkeyes (1-1 Division 2) fought back from a nine-point deficit in the previous two matches when Jeff Bennett won by decision over Garrett Kolb at 126, and D.J. Erickson pinned Dylan Meehan at 132. Even though Kolb lost, he avoided getting pinned and allowing three more bonus points by Bennett, who won via fall last time the two met at the WVC tourney.

“I told my kids before the match, bonus points are going to be big both ways, giving up bonus points and getting bonus points,” Mercadante said. “All the credit to Kolb not giving up the six. All these Lehman wrestlers are tough. I knew six was not guaranteed in that match.

“I told my kids, bonus points are great. If you don’t oh well, next man up, next man in line. Bennett went out and did his job, he got a big win for us that us closer.”

The Black Knights (3-0 Division 2) trailed by 12 points after four bouts, 15-3. Lehman’s Bob Lipski started the dual with a win by decision over Owen Davis at 145, but Hanover Area won the next three weights thanks to a decision by Mike Lenahan and a pin from J.J. Hooper sandwiched around a Lake-Lehman forfeit.

But then Tommy Williams, Lehman’s 182-pounder started a run for the team. After he registered a pin, Kris Rosencrans (195) followed with a fall of his own, and Mike Slivinski won a rematch of the WVC final against Nick Hannon at 220 pounds, 3-1 in overtime to give the Black Knights an 18-15 lead.

“We wrestled tough, they wrestled tough. We were just the better team tonight, that’s all,” Lake-Lehman coach J.J. Konigus said. “It could have gone either way on any given night.

“That was a great match. It was great for high school wrestling. It’s great to see all these fans out here, screaming and yelling and having a good time. That’s what it’s all about.”

John Sheridan, Hanover Area’s standout heavyweight, put the Hawkeyes back in front, 21-18, with a second-period fall. But the Hawkeyes then forfeited 106 and 113 as Lehman regained the lead at 30-21.

Hanover Area will wrestle Nanticoke on Saturday before seeing GAR next Wednesday and Meyers on Jan. 30.

Speaking of Meyers (1-0 Division 2), head coach Ron Swingle was in attendance on Wednesday since his team was off. The Mohawks head to Lehman Township on Friday night to face the Black Knights in what could ultimately decide the division championship. Last year, Meyers defeated Lehman in the last dual of the regular season to claim the division title before winning the District 2 Class 2A duals and team championships.

“If we wrestle how we can wrestle we’ll win the match,” Konigus said. “We just gotta wrestle hard and take it one match at a time. Ronnie’s a good coach. He’s smart. He knows what he’s doing.”

Hazleton Area 66, Crestwood 6

Cougars’ 138-pound junior Jimmy Hoffman won his match by technical fall to pick up career win No. 100.

Jayson Brielmeier (120), Steve Longazel (182), Collin Gunsser (220) and Zach Fuchick (285) all won by fall for Hazleton Area.

Crestwood’s Tyler Shaud won by fall at 106.

Pittston Area 57, Berwick 10

Jon Martinez (152 pounds), Nikko Cincogouarni (220) and Gino Coffay (285) each scored pins as Pittston Area topped Berwick. Allen Thomas picked up a win for the Patriots with a 12-8 decision at 182 pounds.

Alec Talanca had a major decision over Jarrod Cooper at 126 pounds while Travis Dent scored a pin at 113 for Berwick.

Tunkhannock 54, Coughlin 24

Tunkhannock scored pins thanks to David Gavek (106 pounds), Josh Beeman (113), Jake Richards (138), Bill Manley (152), Mike Manley (160) and Ricky Stevens (220).

Two big wins by Coughlin came when Jake Brown (126) pinned Tommy Traver, and Josh Brown won by decision over Dakota Quick at 132.

Dallas 51, Wyoming Valley West 26

Kade Kravits (113 pounds), Anthony Deluca (126), Justin Hutchins (145), Cole Dixon (182) and Danny Burkhart (285) each pinned their opponents as Dallas nearly doubled up on Wyoming Valley West.

Alec Sampson (132) scored a 5-0 decision for Dallas.

Lake-Lehman 34, Hanover Area 30

106: Bobby Long (LL) won by forfeit; 113: Austin Schuler (LL) won by forfeit; 120: no contest; 126: Jeff Bennett (Han) dec Garrett Kolb 9-3; 132: D.J. Erickson (Han) pinned Dylan Meehan 4:54; 138: R.J. Driscoll (LL) maj dec Zakee Nettles 14-2; 145: Bob Lipski (LL) dec Owen Davis 10-6; 152: Mike Lenahan (Han) dec Jake Tomolonis 3-0; 160: Tom Mercadante (Han) won by forfeit; 170: J.J. Hooper (Han) pinned Chris Hadsall 1:49; 182: Tommy Williams (LL) pinned Donnie Lott-Kemp 3:52; 195: Kris Rosencrans (LL) pinned Isaiah Stebbins 5:36; 220: Mike Slivinski (LL) dec Nick Hannon 3-1, OT; 285: John Sheridan (Han) pinned Kaleb Konigus 2:14

Note: Match started at 145 pounds

Hazleton Area 66, Crestwood 6

106: Tyler Shaud (Cre) pinned Liam Katz :32; 113: Jacob Maurer (Haz) won by forfeit; 120: Jayson Brielmeier (Haz) pinned Jason O’Neill 1:31; 126: Chris Lasecki (Haz) tech fall Brandon Rinehimer 17-2, 5:40; 132: Anthony Martoccio (Haz) dec Ron Grevera 7-3; 138: Jimmy Hoffman (Haz) tech fall Saige George 16-0, 5:25; 145: Keith Lowery (Haz) won by forfeit; 152: Shane Noonan (Haz) maj dec Liam Stone 11-0; 160: Joe Larock (Haz) dec Anthony Kovalchik 9-3; 170: James Brielmeier (Haz) maj dec Ryan Black 14-0; 182: Steve Longazel (Haz) pinned Paul Ashton 3:04; 195: Carson Kinney (Haz) won by forfeit; 220: Collin Gunsser (Haz) pinned Shane O’Rourke 2:31; 285: Zach Fuckick (Haz) pinned Tyler Nuss 1:36

Note: match started at 160 pounds

Pittston Area 57, Berwick 10

106 — Avonni Tooley (PIT) won by forfeit; 113 — Travis Dent (BER) pinned Brandon Lopez 2:53; 126 — Alec Talanca (BER) maj dec Jarrod Cooper 12-2; 132 — Jon Williams (PIT) won by forfeit; 138 — Nick Johnson (PIT) won by forfeit; 145 — Josh McGilvary (PIT) won by forfeit; 152 — Jon Martinez (PIT) pinned Austin Dewald 5:38; 160 — Jason Deboard (PIT) won by forfeit; 170 — Hunter Booth (PIT) won by forfeit; 182 — Allen Thomas (PIT) dec Luke Fisher 12-8; 220 — Nikko Cincogouarni (PIT) pinned Stone Force :29; 285 — Gino Coffay (PIT) pinned Christopher Gross 3:19.

Note: Match started at 120 pounds

Tunkhannock 54, Coughlin 24

106 — David Gavek (Tun) pinned Tino Marrow 3:20; 113 — Josh Beeman (Tun) pinned Joe Rey 3:11; 120 — Joe Pahler (Cou) dec Tom Bachman 3-1; 126 — Jake Brown (Cou) pinned Tom Traver :52; 132 — Josh Brown (Cou) dec Dakota Quick 3-1; 138 — Jake Richards (Tun) pinned Frankie Castano 4:10; 145 — Mike Brown (Cou) pinned Connor Munley 1:53; 152 — Bill Manley (Tun) pinned Zack Kenzakowski 1:11; 160 — Mike Manley (Tun) pinned Jeff Sosa :57; 170 — Dalton Ray (Tun) won by forfeit; 182 — Jarod Bernoski (Tun) won by forfeit; 195 — Sam Rice (Tun) won by forfeit; 220 — Ricky Stevens (Tun) pinned Carl Clemons :13; 285 — Ryan Solt (Cou) pinned John Walsh :17.

Note: Match started at 182 pounds

Dallas 51, Wyoming Valley West 26

106 — David Krokowski (WVW) pinned Logan Rice :51; 113 — Kade Kravits (DAL) pinned Kevin Long :35; 120 — Wayne Smith (WVW) pinned Colin Shedletsky 3:05; 126 — Anthony Delucca (DAL) pinned Travis Clarke 5:43; 132 — Alec Sampson (DAL) dec Corey Yashinski 5-0; 138 — Landon Stanislaw (WVW) pinned Robert Wagner 5:18; 145 — Justin Hutchins (DAL) pinned Zach Schmidt 1:28; 152 — Steve Newell (DAL) won by forfeit; 160 — John Lagoski (WVW) dec Xavier Barber 9-6; 170 — TJ Pashinski (WVW) pinned Moustafa Almeky :50; 182 — Cole Dixon (DAL) pinned Garrett Giza at 2:33; 195 — Eric Lanfeld (DAL) won by forfeit; 220 — Shawn Henninger (DAL) won by forfeit; 285 — Dan Burkhart (DAL) pinned Sam Novas 3:28.

Note: Match started at 152 pounds; 160 pound bout WVW lost 1 point for unsportsmanlike conduct

J.J. Hooper of Hanover Area (blue) put pressure on Lake Lehman’s Chris Hadsall during the 170-pound match of Wednesday’s dual at Hanover Area High School. Hooper won the match with a fall in 1:49.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012116wrestling1.jpg.optimal.jpgJ.J. Hooper of Hanover Area (blue) put pressure on Lake Lehman’s Chris Hadsall during the 170-pound match of Wednesday’s dual at Hanover Area High School. Hooper won the match with a fall in 1:49. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader

Hanover Area’s J.J. Hooper tried to break down Lake Lehman’s Chris Hadsall during Wednesday night’s dual.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012116wrestling2.jpg.optimal.jpgHanover Area’s J.J. Hooper tried to break down Lake Lehman’s Chris Hadsall during Wednesday night’s dual. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader

Mike Lenahan of Hanover Area (top) and Jake Tomolonis of Lake-Lehman wrestle in the 152-pound weight class during Wednesday night’s dual. Lenahan won by decision, 3-0.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012116wrestling3.jpg.optimal.jpgMike Lenahan of Hanover Area (top) and Jake Tomolonis of Lake-Lehman wrestle in the 152-pound weight class during Wednesday night’s dual. Lenahan won by decision, 3-0. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader

Hanover Area’s Owen Davis (top) applies pressure on Lake-Lehman’s Bob Lipski during the 145-pound match on Wednesday. Lipski won the match 10-6.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012116wrestling4.jpg.optimal.jpgHanover Area’s Owen Davis (top) applies pressure on Lake-Lehman’s Bob Lipski during the 145-pound match on Wednesday. Lipski won the match 10-6. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader

By Dave Rosengrant

[email protected]

Wyoming Valley Conference

Wrestling Standings

DIVISION 1`Division`Overall

Tunkhannock`5-0`10-1

Hazleton Area`4-1`9-1

Dallas`4-1`8-7

Coughlin`3-2`4-7

Pittston Area`2-3`3-4

Crestwood`1-4`1-10

Wyoming Valley West`1-4`2-8

Berwick`0-5`1-9

DIVISION 2`Division`Overall

Lake-Lehman`3-0`6-0

Meyers`1-0`7-3

Hanover Area`1-1`5-9

GAR`1-1`1-5

Nanticoke`0-2`1-5

Wyoming Area`0-2`4-2

Wednesday’s Divisional Results

Dallas 51, Wyoming Valley West 26

Tunkhannock 54, Coughlin 24

Hazleton Area 66, Crestwood 0

Pittston Area 57, Berwick 10

Lake-Lehman 34, Hanover Area 30

Upcoming Divisional Schedule

Friday

Meyers at Lake-Lehman

Tunkhannock at Wyoming Valley West, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday

Pittston Area at Dallas

Crestwood at Berwick

Nanticoke at Hanover Area

Wyoming Area at GAR

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Dallas at Tunkhannock

Wyoming Area at Meyers

Crestwood at Coughlin

Pittston Area at Hazleton Area

Wyoming Valley West at Berwick

Nanticoke at Lake-Lehman

Hanover Area at GAR

Reach Dave Rosengrant at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @tldrosengrant