Falcons notch wrestling win

Sophomore Kyle Taylor put up a good battle before he was pinned in Coudersport's home wrestling debut Tuesday. He is one of several underclassmen learning the ropes for coach Thad Taylor's Falcons. Paul Burdick Photo

"It was nice to put one in the win column," was coach Thad Taylor's reaction to Coudersport's 36-24 victory over visiting Sheffield in an abbreviated varsity wrestling match Tuesday night.

Taylor saw some promising signs as a couple of relative newcomers, Tony Capatch and Mike Dunn, pinned their opponents in the upper weight classes.

Capatch, a sophomore, dominated Tyler Russell at 215 before putting down the hammer at the 43-second mark.

Dunn, a senior who just started wrestling this season, continued his rapid progress by pinning Stephen Eck in 64 seconds.

Kyle Taylor gave Jesse Parsons a battle at 171 before he was pinned late in the third period.

Touch Mongkonsawat, an exchange student from Thailand, was pinned at 145.

Sophomore Dirk Cowburn improved to 11-0 with a forfeit win at 160. Sheffield dodged Coudersport junior Rich Keagle by forfeiting 189. Justin Barentine (112) and Keegan DeLung (152) also picked up forfeit wins.

Brandon Grabbitt scored a crowd-pleasing fall in 53 seconds in JV competition. Nick Ayers and Frankie DeLung won junior high matches.

"Our guys are improving every week," Taylor said. "I'm seeing fewer mistakes and some more aggressive wrestling. We're looking forward to the busy holiday tournament schedule."

Coudersport went 0-4 in the snow-shortened Kane Duals last Saturday.

"We had some kids out of the lineup due to flu and injuries," Taylor pointed out. "There were quite a few positive notes, despite the team scores. Each of our guys improved his takedown defense. Two of our firsttime wrestlers scored their very first match points."

Oswayo Valley beat the Falcons, 36-15. Cowburn met up with another tough 160- pounder, Brandon Slater, and pulled out a 7-4 decision. Taylor (171) and Caleb Spring (140) won by forfeit.

In a 72-10 loss to Corry, Cowburn won an 11-2 major decision at 160 and Dunn pinned his opponent at 285. The Falcons surrendered 36 points on forfeits.

Keagle got a pin at 189 and Keegan DeLung won by fall at 152 in the Falcons' 54-24 loss to Smethport. Dunn won by pin at 285. Cowburn got a forfeit win.

Northeast defeated the Falcons 43-30. Taylor and DeLung pinned their opponents and Cowburn dropped his 160 foe in 23 seconds. Dunn won 4-2 and Spring got a 12-10 win. Keagle was awarded a forfeit win.

Coudersport (1-5) heads to a tournament at Athens this weekend, then competes in a tourney at Redbank Valley the following weekend. After a break, the Falcons host the Coudersport Duals on Jan. 5.