ORWIGSBURG — Blue Mountain’s Lucas Forbes shot in on a single leg takedown and hoisted Tri-Valley’s Anthony Snyder into the air.
In one swift, precise show of strength, the Eagles’ junior summarized Blue Mountain’s 48-17 victory over the Dawgs in a Schuylkill League Division I battle of wrestling unbeatens.
When push came to shove, the Eagles were just too strong for the Dawgs.
Forbes decisioned Snyder, a two-time state qualifier, 11-6 at 152 pounds, one of several swing bouts in Wednesday’s showdown that went the Eagles’ way.
After falling behind 14-0 after three bouts, Blue Mountain won 10 of the final 11 to improve to 13-0 overall and 3-0 in Division I. The Eagles are tied atop the Division I standings with Pottsville, which defeated North Schuylkill 35-27.
“We knew we had those toss-up matches that we had to win,” Forbes said. “We knew if we won those, we’d be able to cruise in the meet.
“We basically won all of those toss-up bouts. As a team, it was a great win.”
Tri-Valley (9-1, 2-1 D-I) looked dominant early, as Kyle Stephen (16-5) decisioned Ben McQuillen
4-3 at 120, Caleb Bordner (16-3) won by fall at 126 and Sammy Hepler (15-4) recorded six takedowns en route to an 18-3 technical fall at 132.
The Dawgs had 12 takedowns to none for the Eagles through three bouts and had built a 14-0 lead. For the match, Tri-Valley had 20 takedowns to the Eagles’ 19.
After a forfeit at 138 got the Eagles on the board, Christian Gosch and Forbes won back-to-back battles between veteran, accomplished wrestlers.
Gosch (20-2) used a third-period takedown to decision Chase Schaeffer 7-5 at 145. A takedown with 5 seconds left in the second period helped the senior tie the bout at 4-4. Schaeffer (15-4) never recovered.
“I definitely knew I needed one more score before the end of that period,” Gosch said of the second-period takedown. “Once I clinched that, I knew it was my time to get it.
“I knew I had to come out tough and get the win for the team,” Gosch continued. “That was basically the pivot match. I knew if I could win that one, it would help spring us forward.”
Snyder recorded the first takedown against Forbes and led 2-0 after one period. Forbes (16-4), however, reversed Snyder to start the second period and proceeded to compile four takedowns the rest of the way.
The victory sliced Tri-Valley’s lead to 14-12.
“It was a big win for me. I felt confident coming in,” Forbes said. “I knew that if I got to my offense and did what I wanted to do, I would have a good shot. It worked out.
“In the first period, I had to get a feel for him. He was heavy on my head, in and out, in and out. Once I got comfortable, I felt good shooting from both sides. I was able to get in on his leg and finish some takedowns.”
Forbes’ win was a springboard, as Blue Mountain dominated the match from there by winning eight of nine bouts.
Ian Cagle (160), Erech Noecker (220), Kirk Dougherty (285) and Josh Mason (103) recorded falls, while Nick Ney (182) and Mitch Rice (195) won decisions in toss-up bouts.
It was the first varsity victory for Ney, a sophomore. Rice collected four takedowns in his victory.
Tri-Valley’s only win in that span was Hunter Harner’s 7-3 win over Devon Krammes at 170, a bout Krammes was in from start to finish.
“Every one of my kids, from the start to the finish, wrestled as hard as they could possible wrestle,” Blue Mountain coach J.J. Fasnacht said. “Those guys in the middle, those are all swing matches.
“It was a fun night to watch our boys wrestle. I’m happy with those guys in between that stepped up. The whole team did.”
Meet Summary
Blue Mountain 48, Tri-Valley 17
120 — Stephen (TV) dec. McQuillen, 4-3; 126 — Bordner (TV) pinned Ochs, 3:23; 132 — Hepler (TV) tech. fall Sincavage, 18-3, 5:28; 138 — Bender (BM) won by forfeit; 145 — Gosch (BM) dec. Schaeffer, 7-5; 152 — Forbes (BM) dec. Snyder, 11-6; 160 — Cagle (BM) pinned Schwalm, 1:59; 170 — Harner (TV) dec. Krammes, 7-3; 182 — Ney (BM) dec. Chacon, 10-5; 195 — Rice (BM) dec. Smeltz, 11-7; 220 — Noecker (BM) pinned Scheib, 3:00; 285 — Dougherty (BM) pinned Renninger, 1:00; 103 — Mason (BM) pinned Boltz, :36; 113 — Blankenhorn (BM) won by forfeit