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Monday, February 4, 2013

Previewing Chestnut Ridge’s PIAA Duals match with Benton


Benton is 15-5 with losses to Central Columbia (2), Springfield Central, Don Bosco Prep and Lewisburg. The Tigers were No. 20 in Class AA according to last week’s Off the Mat rankings.
Chestnut Ridge, which was No. 2 according to Off the Mat, is 20-1.
The teams have no common opponents, so it’s a bit hard to compare them, but one of Benton’s losses is to Lewisburg, which beat North Star 40-35. Chestnut Ridge beat North Star 60-11.
This is really a case of a strong dual meet team vs. a very good tournament team. Odds are Benton will blow Chestnut Ridge out of the water when it comes to the PIAA individual tournament next month because of studs like Zain Retherford, Colt Cotten, Jeric Kasunic and Matthew Welliver. All could be up high on the podium in Hershey.
But Benton doesn’t have anything close to the depth that Chestnut Ridge does. In addition to giving up a forfeit at 113, the Tigers can’t bump around like Ridge can. Greg Lazor’s lineup gives him the flexibility to put his top guys against Benton’s in certain situations if the dual dictates it, but he also can move around them and put a backup against a top-ranked guy if he doesn’t need to squeeze out points wherever he can. With that much bumping possible, the scores could change.
And, finally, I very rarely do predictions. This is not my forte at all, so don’t be too hard on me if it doesn’t come anywhere close to this or if I made a pick you don’t agree with. Hopefully, I’ve given you enough info to make your own picks. Feel fee to leave them in the comments section.

Benton’s lineup
106-Alan Diltz, Fr., 11-13. (11 losses by fall, 9 in 1:02 or less)
113-
120-Matthew Welliver, Sr., 24-8 (No. 2 in OTM; much of season at 126; 10 falls)
126-Ronald Flick, Fr., 11-13 (Much of season at 132; 7 losses by fall; 6 falls)
132-Joseph Smith, So., 0-6 (5 losses by fall; all matches since Jan. 17)
138-Zain Retherford, Sr., 31-0 (No. 1 in OTM; 20 falls, 5 forfeits)
145-Colt Cotten, Sr., 28-5 (No. 3 in OTM; 18 falls)/Russell Ramsey, Jr., 7-3 (3 falls, 2 losses by fall)
152-Dominic Vitale, So., 16-7 (7 falls)
160-Jeric Kasunic, Jr., 22-6 (No. 6 in OTM; 13 falls, 2 forfeits; hasn’t wrestled 160 since Dec. 28, wrestling 182 past two) /Brandon Lontz, Sr., 13-2 (10 falls, 1 forfeit)
170-Bradley Miccio, Jr., 12-10 (3 falls; 4 losses by fall; at 182 since Jan. 3)
182-Logan Womelsdorf, So., 17-10 (9 falls; 0 losses by fall; at 195 since Jan. 3)
195-Luke Bogart, Sr., 5-15 (3 of 5 wins by forfeit; 2 falls; 15 losses by fall. All matches at 220 or 285 since Jan. 3)
220-Marcus Welliver, So., 6-10 (3 falls; 5 losses by fall; 11 matches at 285)
285-Anthony Davis, Sr., 2-0 (2 forfeits, both in December)

Chestnut Ridge’s lineup
106-Aaron Burkett, Fr., 21-5 (6 falls; 4 forfeits)/Luke Hobson, So., 4-0 (3 falls)
113-Sam Shank, Jr., 19-10 (10 falls; 6 forfeits; 3 losses by fall)/Blake Dunlap, Fr., 8-2 (3 falls)
120-Derrick Claar, So., 26-6 (No. 13 in OTM; 16 falls; 2 forfeits)
126-Trent Crouse, So., 26-4 (No. 9 in OTM; 13 falls; 5 forfeits)
132-Colby Hillegass, So., 18-11 (6 falls; 2 forfeits; 2 losses by fall)
138-Jerimiah Zimmerman, Sr., 11-7 (6 falls; 2 forfeits)/Dustin Bence, Sr., 9-9 (4 falls; 7 losses by fall)
145-Ben Clark, Jr., 4-6 (3 falls; 4 falls allowed)
152-Kyle Winegardner, Jr., 18-12 (7 falls; 2 forfeits; 3 falls allowed)/Conner Buttry, Fr., 14-10 (6 falls; 1 fall allowed)
160-Bradie Bollman, Sr., 23-4 (18 falls; 2 forfeits; 1 fall allowed)/Teddy Albright, Sr., 3-2 (3 falls)
170-Tyler Dibert, Sr., 26-3 (No. 3 in OTM; 18 falls; 4 forfeits)
182-
195-Dan Albright, Sr., 25-2 (No. 10 in OTM; 13 falls; 6 forfeits)/Brad Winegardner, Sr., 25-3 (9 falls, 6 forfeits)
220-
285-Austin Butty, Jr., 27-1 (No. 11 in OTM; 16 falls; 6 forfeits)

Projected matchups
106-Diltz (11-13) vs. Burkett (21-5) CR 6-0
113- Forfeit to Shank (19-10) CR 12-0
120-Welliver (24-8) vs. Claar (26-6) CR 12-4
126-Flick (11-13) vs. Crouse (26-4) CR 16-4
132-Smith (0-6) vs. Hillegass (18-11) CR 22-4
138-Retherford (31-0) vs. Bence (9-9) CR 22-10
145-Ramsey (7-3) vs. Zimmerman (11-7) CR 22-13
152-Cotten (28-5) vs. Winegardner (18-12) CR 22-19
160-Vitale (16-7) vs. Bollman (23-4) T 22-22
170-Kasunic (22-6) vs. Albright (3-2) B 28-22
182-Miccio (12-10) vs. Dibert (26-3) T 28-28
195-Womelsdorf (17-10) vs. Albright (25-2) B 31-28
220-Bogart (5-15) vs. Winegardner (25-3) CR 34-31
285-Welliver (6-10) vs. Buttry (27-1) CR 40-31

Final score: Chestnut Ridge 40, Benton 31

Honestly, it might not be this close. I’m giving Ridge the opportunity to play it safe in some spots because the Lions should have that luxury, as they could be favored in eight or nine weights. I gave Benton victories at 160 and 195 that would qualify as upsets, but the Tigers wrestle a tough schedule early in the season, meaning some of their guys are better than their records.
Also, I’m writing this as if Bradie Bollman is down to 160. I’m not sure if he will be or not, which could affect the outcome. 

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