January 27, 2011
ByTroy Baranik-Wrestling Team Member
Spartanburg, SC-The St. Andrews wrestling team dominated Spartanburg Methodist and East Tenn. St. in a tri meet Tuesday night at Spartanburg Methodist College by a combined score of 85-27 to improve their season record to 3-10.
With a barrage of 6 first-period falls, St. Andrews rolled to a 42-15 beat down of East Tennessee St. Getting pins for the Knights included freshman Chauncey Foster (125), his first pin of the season, junior Matt Fletcher (141), sophomore Ranson Lee (149), freshman James Green (165), with his first fall of the season, junior Greg Pattis (184), and junior heavyweight Justin Hoover.
The quickest pin of the match belonged to Hoover, who pinned his opponent in 55 seconds. Sophomore Sterling Perry also won by forfeit at 133 lbs. and senior Troy Baranik lost a close 5-2 decision at 157. Freshman Caleb Mitcler (149) also bumped up to fill a hole in the Knights lineup at 174, and after leading during a hard-fought battle, could not fight off his much heavier opponent. St. Andrews still went on to win by a rout, 42-15.
St. Andrews next wrestled host Spartanburg Methodist and actually outdid themselves again winning 43-12 in dominating fashion. The Knights won three matches by pin, two by major decision, two by injury default, and one by forfeit.
Fletcher started off the dual at 141 and outscored his opponent by scoring 5 takedowns en route to a 20-13 decision. Lee came up next and decked his opponent for his second fall of the night and 6 th on the season and is now leading the team in pins on the year.
Baranik was leading his match 10-2 before his opponent suffered a head injury while being taken down to the mat and decided he could not continue giving Baranik the win by injury default and 6 points for the Knights. After Green received a forfeit at 165, Mitcler, again wrestling up 3 weight classes, got caught with a throw by a bigger opponent and pinned. It was then Pattis’ shot to return the favor. After dominating his opponent for the first 2 periods, SMC again had to injury default from the match giving the Knights 6 more points for a 27-6 lead.
After a forfeit at 197, heavyweight Justin Hoover was up and made it look easy, pinning his opponent, who weighed at least 70 pounds more than him with a figure four.
After Eric Brown used a cradle to pin his opponent in the second period at 125, it was then Perry’s turn at 133 to put an exclamation point on the match with a dominating 11-0 major decision to put the final score at 43-12.
Perry has now won 8 of his last 9 matches to run his record to 13-7. Other Knight wrestlers that were 2-0 on the night include Matt Fletcher, Ranson Lee, James Green, Greg Pattis, and Justin Hoover.
“The boys are continuing to work hard and we are right where we need to be as we prepare for the stretch drive of the season. We were missing some starters tonight, but everyone stepped up and did a remarkable job,” stated Head Coach Joe Baranik. “I’m proud of the guys tonight. I’m pleased to see that we seem to be improving every time we take the mat.”
The Knights return to action this Friday and Saturday as they host UNC-Pembroke at 7pm Friday night and Shorter University (GA) at Noon on Saturday. Saturday’s match will recognize seniors, Greg Todd and Troy Baranik. Also being recognized is Justin Hoover who will be graduating in December of this year.
St. Andrews 42, East Tennessee St. 15
125- Chauncey Foster (SA) won by pin over Ian McKinley (ETS), 1:50
133- Sterling Perry (SA) won by forfeit
141- Matt Fletcher (SA) won by pin over Corey Thweatt (ETS), 2:56
149- Ranson Lee (SA) won by pin over Matthew Baker (ETS), 1:29
157- Nicholas Shields (ETS) dec. Troy Baranik (SA) 5-2
165- James Green (SA) won by pin over Michael Puckett (ETS), 2:45
174- James Hagan (ETS) won by pin over Caleb Mitcler (SA), 5:49
184- Greg Pattis (SA) won by pin over Craig Carter (ETS), 2:47
197- Bradley Robbins (ETS) won by forfeit
285- Justin Hoover (SA) won by pin over Spencer Keck (ETS), :55
St. Andrews 43, Spartanburg Methodist 12
125- Eric Brown (SA) won by fall over Andrew Tillman (SMC) in 4:45
133- Sterling Perry (SA) maj. dec. Randy Stevens (SMC), 10-0
141- Matt Fletcher (SA) dec. Kendely (SMC), 20-13
149- Ranson Lee (SA) won by pin over David Hardy (SMC) in 4:05
157- Troy Baranik (SA) won by injury default over Burroughs (SMC) in 4:23
165- James Green (SA) won by forfeit
174- Alex Tozzolino (SMC) won by pin over Caleb Mitcler (SA) in :27
184- Greg Pattis (SA) won by injury default over Grace (SMC) in 4:00
197- Florses (SMC) won by forfeit
285- Justin Hoover (SA) won by pin over Jesse Deyo (SMC) in 2:16
