OLEAN — The match’s outcome had long since been decided.
Nevertheless, when Coudersport’s Elijah Ayers and Olean’s Patrick Walsh took the mat for their 182-pound bout Thursday evening, the Big 30 football all-stars — and wrestling standouts — stole the show.
The matchup went down to the final second, when Ayers escaped for a 6-5 decision.
Ayers improved to 16-1 on the season, Walsh fell to 25-4, and Olean, as a team, moved to 19-0 with a 62-9 non-league triumph over the Falcons (6-7).
“It was 5-5 with about 17 seconds left, and (Walsh) rode him for 16 of those 17 seconds,” Huskies coach Mike O’Connor said. “Ayers got out in the last second of the match and beat him 6-5.
“Pat was down 5-1 at one point and stormed back in the third period. It was just unfortunate to see him lose in the last second. But it was a great match for him this time of year, and both wrestled hard.”
Olean’s win was highlighted by pins by Nate Gabler (113 pounds), Nick Bierfeldt (132), Kyle Liguori (138), Gavin Kulp (145) and Tanner Hulse (220). Devan Moore recorded a technical fall at 170 pounds.
In addition to the Ayers-Walsh showdown, two other bouts were decided by a point: Olean’s Ike Simon decisioned Thomas Wilson 3-2 at 160 pounds, while Coudy’s Logan Rogers edged Jeremiah Crivelli 6-5 at 152 pounds.
“There were some good matches in there,” O’Connor said. “Tanner Hulse … he had a great match against Cale Ayers. He really went out and got after it tonight and took care of business, getting a fall.”
Johnsonburg 63, Cameron County 6
JOHNSONBURG — The Johnsonburg matmen used two pins and seven forfeits to clinch a 63-6 victory over Cameron County in high school wrestling Wednesday.
Johnsonburg’s Nolan Shaffer won by fall in the 132 weight class in 13 seconds, while Cole Haight claimed a victory at 145 in 4:47.
The sole match claimed by Cameron County was at 220, where Tim Hasselman won by forfeit.
Johnsonburg returns to action today as they travel to Curwensville.
JOHNSONBURG 63, CAMERON COUNTY 6
106 – Derek Peterson (J) won by forfeit
113 – No Match
120 – Cole Norlin (J) won by forfeit
126 – Caden Smiley (J) won by forfeit
132 – Nolan Shaffer (J) pinned Eryn Kreig, 0:13
138 – Camron Marciniak (J) won by forfeit
145 – Cole Haight (J) pinned Ethan Fields, 4:47
152 – Cole Casilio (J) won by forfeit
160 – Isaac Zimmerman (J) won by forfeit
170 – Tyler Watts (J) pinned Caleb Pifer, 5:15
182 – Christian Krug (J) won by forfeit
195 – Matt Berger (J) decisioned Devin Geitner, 5-0
220 – Tim Hasselman (C) won by forfeit
HWT – No Match
