First Posted: 2/12/2015
YATESVILLE – Matt Romanoski scored Pittston Area’s points Thursday night.
They may have been the most important.
Romanoski pulled out the closest bout and gave the Patriots an early boost on the way to a 39-33, non-league wrestling victory over visiting Wyoming Area.
“All the matches are key, but that got the momentum early,” Pittston Area coach James Woodall said. “We needed that win there.”
The rivals got together in Pittston Area’s regular-season finale with more than wrestling on the schedule.
Both teams were dressed in pink T-shirts before taking the mat and the two teams’ booster clubs joined forces to turn the match into a breast cancer awareness night and fundraiser.
“It was a really nice event,” Woodall said. “It worked out well. I’m happy we got the win.”
Pittston Area came into the night with a 4-13 record while Wyoming Area was 14-6, but the Patriots had faced a much more demanding schedule, including competing in the higher division of the Wyoming Valley Conference.
The disparity in records showed that Wyoming Area was ready to make a more competitive battle out of a series that Pittston Area has dominated in recent years.
The Patriots needed the 24 points they picked up from four forfeits to pull out the victory.
“The fundraiser was a good thing,” Woodall said. “It was a team effort of both teams.
“And, I thought it was going to be a good match and that’s what I like. Wyoming Area and Pittston Area, hopefully every year they’re good battles. I think we make each other better if we keep fighting for that.”
The tightest of the battles came at 195 pounds after Jude Polit-Moran had given Wyoming Area the lead with a major decision in the opening 182-pound bout.
Romanoski and Wyoming Area’s Justin Joseph were locked in a low-scoring tie for half of their bout.
Romanoski countered a shot by Joseph to break a 2-2 tie and score the winning takedown with 19 seconds left.
“I knew he was going to shoot,” Romanoski said. “When he did, I got behind him and got the points at the end. There was no way I was going to let him take me down.
“I just grabbed his ankle and twisted until I got around.”
Wyoming Area coach Steve Mytych Sr. unsuccessfully debated with the referee that Romanoski had never actually been in control of Joseph enough to have earned the two points.
Six seconds after the takedown was scored, Joseph escaped, but the late exchange gave Romanoski a 4-3 victory.
When Mytych bumped away from Pittston Area’s top wrestler and gave Jake Vaxmonsky a forfeit at 220, Pittston Area moved in front to stay.
Brandon Goodlavage took a bout that was scoreless after one period and pinned Frank Yurek at the midway point at 285 to extend the lead.
Tyler Vince used a double bar arm to post a pin in 2:36 at 106 pounds to pull Wyoming Area within five points.
That changed quickly.
Pittston Area picked up its next forfeit and Jonathan Williams used a headlock to end the 120-pound bout in 16 seconds for a 27-10 Pittston Area lead.
The Warriors won the five remaining bouts that were decided on the mat, but the Patriots used two more forfeits to stay in front.
“We knew it was going to be a close match,” Romanoski said. “They’re good.
“This is the best team they’ve had in a few years so we figured it could come down to the end.”
Charles Johnson (126) and Kendrick Beyer (145) had first-period pins for the Warriors while Patrick Heck (132) and Zachary Briggs (152) earned major decisions. Adam Buczynski won a decision in the final bout.
Pittston Area’s Tony DeMark never scored a point in his bout, but the potential team points he saved locked up the win for the Patriots. When DeMark avoided a fall in a 9-0 loss to Heck, Wyoming Area no longer had enough wrestlers remaining to erase Pittston Area’s lead.
