YATESVILLE — Bragging rights between Crestwood and Pittston Area and their top wrestlers are not quite settled yet.
Crestwood seemed in command of the Wyoming Valley Conference Tournament until Pittston Area rallied late for a half-point win.
The Patriots entered Wednesday night in control of the WVC Division 1 race until the visiting Comets won six of the final seven bouts to complete a comeback from 16 points down and post a 36-25 victory that created a tie for first place.
Pittston Area is 16-4 overall and Crestwood is 6-5, but both are now 3-1 in the WVC with one Division 1 match remaining.
Lincoln Bibla was in the middle of the rally, posting his 100th career win by avenging three earlier losses to Brody Spindler, including in the most important result of the WVC Tournament.
“I’ve learned from the past matches,” said Bibla, who scored a key takedown midway through the second period and another at the final buzzer of a 7-2 victory. “I learned what I need to do is wrestle my match instead of trying to beat him at what’s he’s good at.”
Bibla and Spindler, who were scoreless through two periods of Spindler’s 6-2 tournament victory, were again tied 0-0 at 215 pounds after one period. Bibla escaped 12 second into the second, then scored the takedown that allowed him to dictate much of the remaining action after taking a 4-0 lead.
“I’ve been practicing,” Bibla said. “I think of myself as a kind of athletic guy, so that’s my strength, explosive movements. I saw the opening. I knew I just had to give it full power and go for the score.”
Martin Bibla, Crestwood’s head coach and Lincoln’s father, had to miss the match because of an illness but sent his son a congratulatory text that he was able to read between taking pictures while showing off a banner commemorating the event.
Pittston Area’s Dominic Innamorati also celebrated his 100th career win, giving Pittston Area a 22-15 lead with three quick takedowns and a pin 55 seconds into the 160-pound bout.
The Comets outscored the Patriots 21-3 the rest of the way.
Mariusz Bibla got it started and Nathan Wisniewski gave Crestwood its first lead with consecutive technical falls at 171 and 189.
Heavyweight Kyle Draina added another after Lincoln Bibla’s win.
When Dylan Bellas fought off a possible pin by Pittston Area’s Mikel Roman in the 107-pound bout the win was clinched.
Nicholas Webb added the last Crestwood win.
Freshman Liam Kakalecik had given the Comets an earlier boost with a comeback at 139.
Pittston Area was already ahead 16-0 in the team score when Hayden Harris built a 20-7 lead with 1:35 left and was closing in on a technical fall.
Kakalecik came up with a reversal with 1:20 left and, when it looked like he was simply attempting to reduce potential Pittston Area bonus points, he came up with a pin with 26 seconds remaining to get Crestwood on the scoreboard.
Wyo. Valley West 60, Nanticoke Area 6
Loudon Giza (139), Tanner Pearson (172), Gunner Giza (215) and Bradley Lamoreaux (285) won via pins for Wyoming Valley West. All were in the first period.
GIRLS WRESTLING
Nanticoke Area 42, Wyo. Valley West 21
Matilda Serrano (100), Penelope Serrano (106), McKenzie Godin-Boyle (130) and Keira Landmesser won by falls for Nanticoke Area.
BOYS SWIMMING
Holy Redeemer 106, Wyoming Seminary 57
Chris Dutko (200 free, 500 free) won the distance events for Holy Redeemer.
William Moller (200 IM, 100 breast) and Kacy Miller (50 free, 100 free) were also a double winners for the Royals. Johnny Fredericks captured the diving.
Jack Heisler (100 back, 100 fly) won two events for Seminary.
GIRLS SWIMMING
Wyoming Seminary 80, Holy Redeemer 71
Eva Blaum (100 free, 200 free), Abigail Ryu (200 IM, 100 breast), Rachel Ryu (50 free, 500 free) and Ava Bednar (100 fly, 100 back) all posted two victories for Wyoming Seminary.
Holy Redeemer’s Addie Brill won the diving.
Crestwood 36, Pittston Area 25
121: Tibor Toth (PA) dec. Anson Jumper, 10-2. 127: Jahiem Butler (PA) pinned Matteo Belanchik, 1:30. 133: Shawn Shimonis (PA) pinned Mason Ford, 1:07. 139: Liam Kakalecik (Cr) pinned Hayden Harris, 5:34. 145: Hunter Konschnik (PA) pinned Michael DeMarco, 1:46. 152: Thomas Stavitzski (Cr) dec. Chase Baron, 8-3. 160: Dominic Innamorati (PA) pinned Jack Hoover, 1:05. 172: Mariusz Bibla (Cr) tech. fall over Aiden Sweder, 17-1, 4:42. 189: Nathan Wisniewski (Cr) tech. fall over Wyatt Sweder, 18-1, 4:00. 215: Lincoln Bibla (Cr) dec. Brody Spindler, 7-2. 285: Kyle Draina (Cr) tech. fall over Noah Gruber, 18-1, 4:29. 107: Mikel Roman (PA) dec. Dylan Bellas, 14-9. 114: Nicholas Webb (Cr) dec. Tim Riefler, 15-8.
Wyo. Valley West 60, Nanticoke Area 6
107: Jacob Gluchowski (WVW) won by forfeit; 114: double forfeit; 121: Adam De’Amorin (WVW) won by forfeit; 127: Joe Davis (WVW) won by forfeit; 133: double forfeit; 139: Louden Giza (WVW) pinned Dion Reaves 1:22; 145: Treston Allen (NAN) won by forfeit; 152: Caleb Hoffman (WVW) def. Ryan Chamberlain; 160: Amor Sims (WVW) won by forfeit; 172: Tanner Pearson (WVW) pinned Jason O’Borski, 1:42; 189: Jordan Sachs (WVW) won by forfeit; 215: Gunner Giza (WVW) pinned Owen Atkins, 1:36; HWT: Bradley Lamoreaux (WVW) pinned Connor Dotzel, 0:52.