Late Pins Erase Lead, Lift Lions over Leopards 34-29
Minerva 34, Louisville 29
The Louisville Leopards wrestling team built a 23-13 lead, but back-to-back pins by Minerva and another pin late gave the Lions a 34-29 victory at Louisville High School Thursday night. The Leopards are now 2-2 in NBC play after the loss.
Gavin Lovejoy (145) earned the only pin for the Leopards, which gave them a 16-13 lead early on. Then a major decision by by Louisville’s Ray Fitz (152) followed, putting the Leopards 20-13 lead into the hands of their District Champion next.
Down 1-0 heading into the third round, Lucas Poyser (160) won a hard fought match against Minerva’s Scott Boyce 8-3. The decision put Louisville up 23-13.
The double digit margin soon evaporated as the Lutes brothers, Johnathan (170) and James (182), pinned back-to-back Leopards for the Lions, stunningly putting Minerva ahead 25-23. Harrison Hoppel won the next decision to extend the Lions lead to 5 points.
With Heavyweight Nate Terry awaiting a forfeit for the final match, Minerva’s Jacob Smith (220) knew he had to defeat Louisville’s Cole McElroy. After taking a 5-0 lead in the first round, Smith ended the contest by pinning McElroy with just seconds remaining in the second round. The fall would give Minerva a 34-23 lead and a forfeit followed to end the match 34-29.
Dakota Oliver (106) and Todd Bradley (113) also won decisions for the Leopards early on. But, those were countered by Nathan Smith’s (120) pin for Minerva immediately after. Adam LePar (126) also won by major decision early on for the Leps.
BOX SCORE
LIONS 34, LEOPARDS 29
106 — Oliver (L) defeated Hursch, 5-3. LHS 3, MHS 0
113 — Bradley (L) defeated Canonico, 4-0. LHS 6, MHS 0
120 — Smith (M) pinned DiAntiono (L), 1:20. LHS 6, MHS 6
126 — Lepar (L) defeated Cambell (M), 9-0. LHS 10, MHS 6
132 — Hartshorn (M) defeated O’brien (L), 3-2. LHS 10, MHS 9
138 — Long (M) defeated Robison (L), 12-4. LHS 10, MHS 13
145 — Lovejoy (L) pinned Birch (M), 3:15. LHS 16, MHS 13
152 — Fitz (L) defeated Criner (M), 12-2. LHS 20, MHS 13
160 — Poyser (L) defeated Boyce (M), 8-3. LHS 23, MHS 13
170 — Johnathan Lutes (M) pinned Welsh (L), 0:18. LHS 23, MHS 19
182 — James Lutes (M) pinned Changet (L), 0:54. LHS 23, MHS 25
195 — Hoppel (M) defeated Roberts, 8-1. LHS 23, MHS 28
220 — Smith (M) pinned McElroy (L), 3:55. LHS 23, MHS 34
285 — Terry (L) wins by forfeit. LHS 29, MHS 34
NEXT UP: The Wrestling team will be competing in the Hepner Invitational at Austintown Fitch Friday, January 20 at 4 PM and Saturday, January 21 at 9AM. The Leopards next dual meet will be at Marlington on Thursday, January 26. Middle School/JV will start at 5:45 and Varsity will start after at approximately 7:30.
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