St. Charles East throttles Batavia
St. Charles East used a dominant run against Batavia in the schools' Upstate Eight River Conference wrestling dual meet to remain alive for the division crown.
But the Saints will need help from the Bulldogs after posting a 43-25 victory Friday night in Batavia.
Geneva is undefeated in its five duals after a 4-point win over the Saints (12-5, 5-1) a week ago Friday.
Batavia (5-10, 4-1) and Geneva will square off the Friday after the individual conference tournament next weekend at East Aurora.
“We don't match up well against Batavia,” Geneva coach Tom Chernich said in the aftermath of the Vikings' win at St. Charles East.
The Saints, however, sure enjoyed the pairings between 103 and 140 pounds against Batavia.
After the teams traded forfeit wins at 215 pounds and heavyweight, talented St. Charles East sophomore Ryan Rubino needed a minute and 25 seconds to secure a fall at 103 pounds.
The Bulldogs' equally gifted Joey Shump, a sophomore 112-pounder, promptly returned the favor to draw Batavia within two at 21-19.
“I went out there and did what I wanted to do,” said Shump.
Batavia would not taste victory again, though, until Matt Goodin had a first-period fall in the match-concluding class of 145 pounds.
Joe Dede began the Saints' 22-point unanswered run with a 4-1 tightly contested match against the Bulldogs' Charlie Smorczewski.
Isaiah Vela needed only 25 seconds of the second period to end his match; the prized freshman extended the Saints' lead to 30-19 with his fall.
Batavia was then forced to forfeit its second weight class at 130 pounds, and Nick Ruffino authored a flawless third-period performance at 135 for St. Charles East.
Engaged against Batavia three-year varsity starter Steve Cherry at 140 pounds, Ruffino scored all 7 of the final-period points to earn the 13-3 major decision.
It proved the set the stage for the most entertaining match of the night at 140 pounds.
St. Charles East junior Peter Bellino was seemingly poised for victory against Batavia upstart Laren Eustace.
Bellino had a takedown and 2-point near fall in the final period, but Eustace forced overtime with an escape and takedown at the buzzer.
In the extra session, Bellino secured the 12-10 victory with a takedown 38 seconds later.
“It was pretty cool to beat him,” Bellino said. “I think the key was I was a little stronger and better conditioned. I knew I could shoot on him in overtime. He was pretty vulnerable.”
“We're real happy with the way the results came out,” said St. Charles East assistant coach Joel Crawford, filling in for Steve Smerz. “We have to get ready for the state series.”
“I think we're doing the right things,” said Batavia coach Ben Morris. “Match after match, we're just getting out-wrestled.”
In the first four contested matches, Batavia senior Augie Watson (152 pounds) and sophomore Cullin Rokos (189) were victorious for the Bulldogs; Jerry Fialka (fall at 160) and Tyler Sullivan (171) were likewise for St. Charles East.