In most sports, simply getting the win (i.e. the most points) is enough, but in others - like wrestling, for instance - you can do more than just win.
You can win big.
In fact, during individual bouts of the world's oldest sport, one can earn a bonus depending upon the degree to which he dominates his foe. Thus a pin - complete domination - is worth six points to a team's overall score (and does much to affect an opposing team's confidence the rest of the way) while solely outpointing an opponent is worth merely three.
Article Photos
Clockwise, from the top, Nick D’Angelo (106), Mark Conklin (126) and Sky Somerton (285) recorded falls in the Jamestown Red Raiders’ 66-19 Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division 1 wrestling match on Wednesday. D’Angelo pinned Frank Dumond in 55 seconds, Conklin flattened Steve Perchaluk in 1:25, and Somerton pinned Matt McCarthy in 2:53. See additional photos at cu.post-journal.com.
P-J photos by Rob Tucker
With that in mind, the Red Raiders kept their perfect Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division 1 record intact on Wednesday evening, recording wins in eight of 11 contested matches on the way to capturing a commanding 66-19 victory over visiting Orchard Park.
Most crucial about those eight individual victories?
All came by fall.
Yes, Jamestown has shown this season that it excels at dominating opponents and winning big, and that's just the way Coach Craig Swanson likes it.
"They did a little better than I had expected tonight," Swanson admitted. "They wrestled well, and they know the importance of getting those six points, not just the win. They went out and did it, they got a lot of pins and it showed on the scoreboard."
The victory was Jamestown's fifth in as many tries in ECIC Division 1 action, and it kept the squad tied atop the standings with Lancaster and defending league champion Clarence.
What's more, it was career win No. 199 for Swanson, who was been at the helm of the Red Raiders' wrestling program for the past 24 years.
"Hopefully we can get to (200)," Swanson said with a smile. "We've got three more (league meets with Lancaster, Clarence and West Seneca West) and they're all going to be tough. It's not going to be easy, that's for sure."
If his Red Raiders keep wrestling like they did on Wednesday, however, it might be a little easier to reach that milestone than Swanson thinks.
Jacis Blake, at 220 pounds, Sky Somerton, at 285 pounds, and Nick D'Angelo, at 106 pounds, along with a pair of victories by forfeit, gained Jamestown an early, and solid, advantage, 30-0, with a third of the meet in the books.
Blake took care of Mitch McGovern in 3:34, Somerton flattened Matt McCarthy in an even quicker 2:53 and then D'Angelo thoroughly handled fellow 106-pounder Frank Dumond with a 55-second fall.
A minor setback followed - Dan Gacek won by major decision at 113 pounds - cutting the deficit to 30-4, but from there the Red Raiders got right back on track, picking up wins by fall in each of the next three matches to extend the lead to an insurmountable 48-4.
Kyle Liuzzo took a 2-0 lead into the second period before spinning his opponent to the mat with 35 seconds left and then Mark Conklin followed by aggressively shooting on Orchard Park's Steve Perchaluk a minute into the battle and then holding him down for the match-clinching victory.
"Kyle got into a situation where he was very aggressive, got the position he wanted and then finished it," Swanson said. "Mark did the same thing. He can mix it up with what he's trying to do, and has been very good at getting pins this year."
That aggression didn't slow one bit the rest of the way as Nolan Margaglio (132 pounds), Mike Southwick (152) and Brandon Whitacre (160) attacked and, soon enough, pinned, their opponents in three of the final five matches to reach the winning margin.
"Orchard Park is a strong team," Swanson said, "but we didn't hesitate. We went out there, got some big pins and just took control."
195: Zach Eklum (J) by forfeit.
220: Jacis Blake (J) p. Mitch McGovern, 3:34.
285: Sky Somerton (J) p. Matt McCarthy, 2:53.
99: Dakota Lewis (J) by forfeit.
106: Nick D'Angelo (J) p. Frank Dumond, :55.
113: Dan Gacek (O) md. Cody Risley, 12-4.
120: Kyle Liuzzo (J) p. Aaron Cassiano, 3:25.
126: Mark Conklin (J) p. Steve Perchaluk, 1:25.
132: Nolan Margaglio (J) p. Chauncey Bateman, 4:20.
138: Adam Gullo (J) by forfeit.
145: Seamus Bermingham (O) p. Lorenzo Rodriguez, 2:42.
152: Mike Southwick (J) p. Travis McNichol, 2:25
160: Brandon Whitacre (J) p. Billy Myers, 4:38.
170: Joe Payne (O) d. Justice Miller, 5-3.
182: Brian Beaver by forfeit.