HANOVER TWP. — Two big runs were the theme of Wednesday night’s WVC Division 2 wrestling dual: Dallas came out swinging, Hanover Area fought all the way back.
The Mountaineers got the last shots in, however, and knocked the Hawkeyes from the ranks of the Division 2 unbeaten.
Noah Moran picked up a crucial three points in the longest bout of the night, and a forfeit win in the meet’s finale lifted Dallas to a 39-35 win over Hanover Area.
The Mountaineers improved to 3-0 in the division, with Tunkhannock and fellow unbeaten Berwick left on the schedule. Hanover Area fell to 2-1 with the loss.
“This was a big one, Hanover Area’s program is in really good shape,” Dallas coach Mike Richards said. “We put this one on the calendar as one, if we wanted to win the conference, we’d need to get over that hump.”
The meet went back-and-forth, playing to each team’s strengths: Dallas in the heavier weight classes, Hanover Area in the lighter weights.
Dallas took a 30-0 lead through the first five bouts, but a pinfall win for Gregory Vassallo at 285 pounds kicked off a run that saw Hanover Area pull ahead 35-30, losing out on one point after a team penalty was assessed.
When Moran stepped to the mat for his 133-pound bout with Jeff Peck, there was no margin for error — any result against him would seal the match for the Hawkeyes.
“Coach told me it was going to come down to the last match, I was just waiting for my opportunity,” Moran said. “I knew I had to get out there and win.”
He did his job, in the only bout to go the distance on Wednesday: Moran built up a big lead through two periods, and hung on for the last two minutes to pick up a critical 11-8 decision win over Peck.
“Noah’s been wrestling a long time, he’s been around the block and he knows how to wrestle,” Richards said. “I had full confidence that he could win that match for us.”
The decision win cut Hanover Area’s lead down to 35-33, and a forfeit victory for Troy Jones at 145 pounds delivered the victory for Dallas.
The Mountaineers were boosted by four quick pins and a forfeit to start the meet, with falls picked up by Caiden Scouton, Bobby Booth, Kenny Martin and Hunter Pitcavage.
After Vassallo put a stop to Dallas’s run with his win at 285, Hanover Area quickly added 12 more points with forfeit wins at 107 and 114 to quickly cut into the lead.
The Hawkeyes then got three straight pins from Ethan Noe, CJ Caines and Derek Warman to briefly take the lead heading into the final two bouts.
Dallas will compete this weekend at the Berwick Duals, and return to Division 2 action next Wednesday against Berwick.
Hanover Area’s next Division 2 meet will be next Wednesday against Lake-Lehman.
BOYS SWIMMING
Holy Redeemer 85, Nanticoke Area 59
Chris Dutko won two individual events and swam on two relay winners as Holy Redeemer picked up the win.
Dutko took first in the 200 free and 100 fly, and added wins in the 200 medley and 400 free relays.
Brady Rushton had two wins for Nanticoke Area, taking first in the 100 free and 100 breaststroke.
Tunkhannock 147, Berwick 13
Eight different Tigers won at least one individual event as Tunkhannock cruised to a win over Berwick.
Josh Gaudet led the pack with two individual wins in the 200 IM and 100 free events.
GIRLS SWIMMING
Holy Redeemer 92, Nanticoke Area 36
Olivia Davis (200 free and 100 back) and Arden Brunn (50, 500 free) each won two events to lead the Royals.
Lucy McGovern (100 free) and Sophia Zadzura (100 breast) picked up wins for Berwick.
Tunkhannock 100, Berwick 81
Annie Bonnice (200 and 500 free), Miranda Anderson (200 IM, 100 fly) and Callaway Madus (50 free, 100 breaststroke) were the big winners in Tunkhannock’s win.
The Tigers won 11 of the 12 contested events.
Berwick’s lone first place finish came in the 200 free relay.
COLLEGES
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Misericordia 67, Delaware Valley 49
The Cougars had five players reach double figures in a road win to open up conference play.
Jocelyn Grosch and Emily Romanowski had 13 points each to lead Misericordia.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Delaware Valley 73, Misericordia 61
The Cougars fell in their MAC Freedom opener on Wednesday.
Will Anozie led Misericordia with 17 points, while Matt Prociak added 16 points and 12 rebounds.
H.S. WRESTLING
Dallas 39, Hanover Area 35
107 — Chase Smith (HAN) won by forfeit; 114 — Josh Gyle (HAN) won by forfeit; 121 — Ethan Noe (HAN) pinned Aidan Jennings, 3:21; 127 — CJ Caines (HAN) pinned Tyler Roberts, 1:12; 133 — Derek Warman (HAN) pinned Aidan Hilburt, 1:04; 139 — Noah Moran (DAL) dec. Jeff Peck, 11-8; 145 — Troy Jones (DAL) won by forfeit; 152 — Caiden Scouton (DAL) pinned Michael Perez, 0:27; 160 — Bobby Booth (DAL) pinned Lucas Cruz, 2:47; 172 — Sam Kelley (DAL) won by forfeit; 189 — Kenny Martin (DAL) pinned Brenden Spry, 1:18; 215 — Hunter Pitcavage (DAL) pinned Alex Heichel, 1:25; 285 — Gregory Vassallo (HAN) pinned William Henniger, 1:37.
Match started at 152 pounds