SMETHPORT – In wrestling, wins and losses as a team often come down to numbers, and the lack of numbers have often worked against coach Marshall Shunk’s team. But he hasn’t let that take anything away from how far his Hubbers team has progressed on an individual level this year.
The Hubbers (6-13) fell to Port Allegany (9-11) 51-18 in their final match of the season. Smethport’s three seniors – Brendan Dickinson, Akete Kindle and Zachary Gamet – were all honored before the match and were all able to participate in their own matches despite there being only five head-to-head contests for the evening.
“We all wrestled well,” Shunk said. “All our seniors got matches, so I was happy there.”
The Gators opened with a victory courtesy of Reese Vollmer, who defeated Bryent Johnson by decision at 106 pounds. Port Allegany then earned victories via forfeit in the 113, 120, 126 and 132-pound classes.
Port then got back-to-back wins from Issac Smoker and Joshua Rees. Smoker defeated Smethport’s Alex Sanderson by the count of 8-5, while Rees pinned Gamet in 2:30.
Another win by forfeit for Port was succeeded by perhaps the most anticipated match of the night at 170 pounds featuring Akete Kindle for the Hubbers and Jacob Kallenborn for the Gators.
“I thought we had two really good matches that got everyone excited,” Gators coach Brad Greenman said. “At 106, Reese and Bryent, that was a good match and we came out with a win there. Then at 170 was a really good match between two really good kids that might be at states this year.”
Kallenborn earned a hard-earned 3-0 victory in an extremely well-fought match.
“Jake [Kallenborn] bumped up from 160 to 170 to wrestle Akete, and it’s kind of a clash of styles there,” Shunk said. “I think we should’ve gotten a stall call at the end there. But I’m not making excuses. Jake’s a tough kid. Akete probably wasn’t at his best, but it was a good match.”
With defeats in the first four individual matches – as well as the numerous forfeits – the outcome of the overall match was left in no doubt, something Shunk has become accustomed to this year. Fortunately, he is able to find a bit of humor in his team’s circumstance.
“The rest of my kids wrestled well, we just don’t have numbers,” Shunk said, adding with a smile, “Gotta do some more recruiting I guess.”
Both coaches saw Thursday’s finale as good preparation for the district matches that will take place next week.
“It’s good to get kids with good matchups going into districts next week, get them ready for close matches and tough kids,” Greenman said.
For Shunk, having fewer wrestlers provides the chance for more personal attention heading into the final portion of the season.
“Next week we’ve got districts and hopefully we can get one or two on to regionals,” he said.
Greenman in particular feels good about where his team as at, both in preparation for district matches as well as their outlook for next season.
“I think we’re prepared,” he said. “It’s been a long season. We’re kind of ready for the postseason to start. We’ve got a really young team. We’ll see how that affects them. Sometimes the young kids can get a little bright-eyed and don’t really know what’s going on. Hopefully we get those kids settled and ready to go and ready to wrestle. We’ve only got one senior so it’s a good outlook for the next few years.”
It was a bittersweet night for Shunk and his three seniors, as Thursday represented the final time they will take to the mat on their home court together.
“I wish them success for the rest of their lives,” Shunk said. “I was sure glad to have them.”
Port Allegany 51, Smethport 18
106 – Reese Vollmer (P) decisioned Bryent Johnson (S) 1-0
113 – Payton Caden (P) won by forfeit
120 – Montgomery Tanner (P) won by forfeit
126 – Treyton Stiles (P) won by forfeit
132 – Elijah Petruzzi (P) won by forfeit
138 – Issac Smoker (P) decisioned Alex Sanderson (S) 8-5
145 – Joshua Rees (P) pinned Zachary Gamet (S) in 2:30
152 – no match
160 – Wayne Shelley (P) won by forfeit
170 – Jacob Kallenborn (P) decisioned Akete Kindle (S) 3-0
182 – Shayne Westfall (S) won by forfeit
195 – Matt Stratton (S) won by forfeit
220 – no match
HWT – Brendan Dickinson (S) pinned Brock Veilleux (P) in 0:48
