BY JEFF FALK
SOUTH LEBANON – Lebanon-Cedar Crest is the most moving rivalry in all of local sports. But not even the intensity which exists between the Falcons and Cedars has the power to overcome dwindling numbers, apathy and an alarming trend of decreasing participation in our society.
On Thursday night, within the cozy confines of CCHS’ alumni gymnasium, the Falcons and Cedars renewed their rivalry on the wrestling mat – sort of. Amid a host of forfeits, it was Lebanon which shaded Cedar Crest 39-18, in a tidy 40-minute, Lancaster-Lebanon Section Two dual meet.
And while each side wanted to emerge victorious as badly as the other, there was something unmistakably – yet inexplicably – missing.
Lebanon currently sports 14 student-athletes on its wrestling roster, while Cedar Crest’s features 12. Yet while, Lebanon County’s bigger schools continue to struggle getting kids to come out, the locale’s smaller schools – Northern Lebanon, Elco and Annville-Cleona – seem to be flourishing, or at least holding their own.
And all this on the heels of last year’s discontinuation of the annual Lebanon County Wrestling Tournament.
Last night’s outcome left the Cedars 2-1 in the section and 2-2 in dual meets, while the Falcons dropped to 0-3 in the circuit and 1-6 overall.
“It’s always important to face your rivals,” said Lebanon head coach Vaughn Black. “Both coaches have been trying to make the rivalry more competitive. We can support each other and bring the community back into it. In today’s wrestling, it seems like we’ve gotten away from dual meets.
“This is always a big one for our team,” continued Black. “It’s nice to go around with bragging rights. It’s kind of like the Cedar Bowl in that way.”
“I’d like to say it’s going to turn around,” said Cedar Crest head coach Barry Spohn. “I think a lot of coaches are concerned. ‘Where is this going?’
“You can’t see these kids do other things, year-round,” continued Spohn. “But it’s funny. You see small schools put full teams on the mats. I don’t know if wrestling goes with today’s youth any more.”
Lebanon scored 30 of its 39 team points thanks to a 5-1 advantage in forfeits received. Of the five weight classes decided on the mat, the Cedars won three and the Falcons won two. But both Cedar Crest triumphs were pins.
There were no contests at 113, 145 or 152.
“We’re expecting to go out there and wrestle hard,” said Black. “With a lot of forfeits, it’s not about our team. It’s about what goes on, on the mat. We don’t always have the numbers and Cedar Crest doesn’t always have the numbers. It was nice to see both of us have a nice amount of fans.
“I thought overall we did well,” Black added. “The kids did moves we told them to do. They’re sticking to the basics and what works.”
“It would be nice to beat Lebanon,” said Spohn. “But being out manned tonight, we would’ve had to wrestle the perfect match. It was nice to see the kids out there wrestling hard. But I have no control over the kids who aren’t here.
“Somebody asked me, ‘Do we have a chance?’,” Spohn added. “I didn’t even do the math. I thought there was going to be more matches wrestled. Some of our guys are definitely making progress, and the team score will fall where it does.”
With the match square at 18 apiece, Lebanon captured the final four bouts. Cedar Luis Torres-Orta was awarded a forfeit at 138 pounds, teammate Dallin Ocasio registered an 8-4 decision after opening a 5-0 lead on Austin Bohr at 160, Nick Bradley was unopposed at 170, as was Josh Kauffman at 180.
“I think right now with a .500 record, we’re on track,” said Black. “Our goal is to win some of the ones we should’ve won last year. When I first started, I can’t remember a match over 20 or 30 minutes because of all the pins. Now our guys are in more bouts.
“I think a goal for the team is to build on last year’s record,” continued Black. “I feel like we’re more in matches than we were last year.”
“I thought all the matches were competitive, which is what you hope for,” said Spohn. “It’s a shame there’s so many forfeits in wrestling right now. I’d complain about it, but I’m not the only one.
“I think it’s a concern in the sport right now,” continued Spohn. “I see teams who I never would’ve expected to have forfeits. The problem is we don’t have any extra guys and it makes it worse.”
After Cedar 195-pounder Jacob Marderness opened the match with a high-scoring 12-8 triumph over Derrick Via, the Falcons captured the next two weights with falls. Cedar Crest 220-pounder Austin Olan-Torres decked Lebanon’s Angel Borges with five seconds remaining on the second-period clock and Falcon Ross Fisher pinned Eddie Torres in the opening period at heavyweight.
“With some of our more talented kids, we want to challenge district qualifiers and make them earn it,” said Black. “There’s a couple of kids who are moving along. If we can get them over some of the mental stuff, they’ll thrive.”
“We have a lot of dual meets this year,” said Spohn. “I knew we were going to be inexperienced. I was expecting to have 20 come out, and I got 12. But I think we’re going to see other scenarios similar to ours.
“It would be a nice accomplishment to get two or three kids to medal at the league tournament,” added Spohn. “That would be good for us. To get someone through to districts, our sectional is very tough. It’ll be tough to advance some guys. Somewhere along the line, we’d like to get a dual-meet win or two. If everyone’s here and healthy, we can field ten weight classes.”
The Cedars got a forfeit and six team points from Nick Gilbert at 106.
At 126 pounds, Lebanon’s Carlos Cruz edged Cedar Crest’s Chris Byler 5-4. Byler used an escape to grab a 3-2 edge, before Cruz took the lead for good with a second-period take down.
“Our youth program struggles to get above 40 (participants),” said Spohn. “It’s tough to even get coaches for that. If you can get them started in seventh or eighth grade, and keep them interested, they can be competitive. We hope to get better athletes. We want to get kids started with it in junior high.”
To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com.
2016-17 Cedar Crest Wrestling Schedule
| DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
RESULT |
|
|
| 12/09 |
@Newport
|
9:00 AM |
L 3-73 |
|
|
| 12/09 |
@Halifax
|
10:00 AM |
L 21-48 |
|
|
| 12/13 |
York Suburban
|
7:00 PM |
L 18-39 |
|
|
| 12/14 |
@Ephrata
|
7:00 PM |
L 22-49 |
|
|
| 12/20 |
Lampeter-Strasburg
|
7:00 PM |
L 9-63 |
|
|
| DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
LOCATION |
|
| 12/22 |
Lebanon
|
7:00 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
| 01/04 |
@Garden Spot
|
7:00 PM |
Garden Spot High School |
|
| 01/11 |
Manheim Central
|
7:00 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
| 01/18 |
@Elizabethtown
|
7:00 PM |
Elizabethtown High School |
|
| 01/31 |
Hershey
|
7:00 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
| 02/07 |
@Northeastern
|
7:00 PM |
Northeastern High School |
|
| 02/09 |
Milton Hershey
|
7:00 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
2016-17 Lebanon Wrestling Schedule
| DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
LOCATION |
|
| 12/22 |
@Cedar Crest
|
7:00 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
| 01/04 * |
@Elizabethtown
|
7:00 PM |
Elizabethtown High School |
|
| 01/11 |
Columbia
|
7:00 PM |
Lebanon High School |
|
| 01/18 * |
Garden Spot
|
6:00 PM |
Lebanon High School |
|
| 01/25 * |
@Manheim Central
|
7:00 PM |
Manheim Central High School |
|
| 02/09 |
Manheim Twp.
|
7:00 PM |
Lebanon High School |
|
Lancaster-Lebanon League
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