Deer Park overcomes Riverhead, 39-37

Riverhead had Deer Park on its heels the entire meet; they held a lead throughout. The Blue Waves definitely sensed their first victory of the season as each wrestler sat on the edge of their seat and watched intently. Coach Wade Davey had preached toughness from the Riverhead side, jumping out of his seat and screaming direction to his wrestlers.

“Hold the arm!” he screamed. “Turn him over!”

After Raheem Brown in the 170-pound weight class pinned Fisher of Deer Park in emphatic fashion with just one second left on the second period clock, Riverhead opened its largest lead of the meet, 37-18. Things were looking up; the Blue Waves had done exactly what they needed to put them in a position to win.

But it wasn’t smooth sailing from there.

At 182-pounds, John Roca was pinned and Deer Park added six points to their total, 37-24.

At 195-pounds, Justin Hansel lost 6-0. Had it been an eight-point differential, Deer Park would have been awarded four points but Hansel refused to give up another point even though he was clearly battling a shoulder injury. Deer Park cut the deficit once again, 37-27.

There were two weight classes left: the 220-pound and 285-pound.

All Riverhead had to do was prevent getting pinned. The only way Riverhead could lose if they got pinned two matches in a row.

Jerry Lopez was pinned at 220-pounds which made the score 37-33. A regular decision would award Deer Park only three points so they had to either get a major decision (greater than eight points) to tie or a pin to win.

Chris Williams, despite putting up a fight throughout, was also pinned.

Riverhead (0-2 League IV) lost by the most narrow of margins, 39-37.

“We’ve still have a lot of building to do and we need to toughen up,” Davey said. “After a terrible year like last year, the younger kids don’t have much to look up to.”

This year, like last year, the team only has two seniors. But next year, the team should have a solid core of seniors to bring Riverhead wrestling back to where it should be.

“You know, winning breeds winning,” Davey said.

Other notable matches:

Chris Flood at 106-pounds, pinned Perez in the first period with a pump-handle half-nelson.

Ed Matyka at 113-punds, pinned Rodriguez in the first period after already leading 12-3.
Ryan Gevinksi at 138-pounds, man-handeled Pitocco, winning by a major decision, 14-3.
John Schmitt at 145-pounds, had the fastest pin on of the night on Jacullo 1:30 into the first period.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl
Click thumbnails to enlarge images
{gallery}2014/slideshows/2014_0115_wrestling{/gallery}