Wrestlers fall on final bout
Evan Pellegrine nearly registered a fall in the final bout of the night.
February 9, 2018
It was all there for the Blue Devil wrestlers last night at home against Penns Valley. After falling behind early from forfeits in the first three weight classes, B-A came back to tie the match and had a chance to get the win when it came down to the final bout between heavyweight Evan Pellegrine and Dillon Covalt.
Pellegrine came out strong and worked Covalt onto his back early in the first period, but Covalt was able to reverse and get Pellegrine’s shoulder’s to the mat. After holding on for 45 seconds and nearly escaping to the second period, Pellegrine fell to Covalt by pin, and B-A lost 44-35 on Senior Night (see related photo story from last night).
I know I sound like a broken record, but if we had even half of the guys who wrestled in the past on the team, we would have easily won the match and most of the others.
— Coach Andrekovich
Coach Tim Andrekovich wouldn’t put the loss on Pellegrine’s match.
“It’s disappointing losing any match. I hate losing,” he said. “I know I sound like a broken record, but if we had even half of the guys who wrestled in the past on the team, we would have easily won the match and most of the others. We would be 10 and 2 right now not the other way around.”
It was a rough way to go out for the Devils, who had already gotten some big wins from several seniors to get back in the match.
Malacki Harper had a big one at 152, where he got the pin in the final 40 seconds of the match after trailing the entire way and nearly getting pinned himself. That made it 23-23.
Bailey Kudlawiec got B-A on the board early with a 16-1 technical fall at 120.
Junior Trenton Whaley got another pin at 182, and then senior Colin Younker worked a pin one match later at 195, getting the fall at the 2:57 mark of the first period. That made it 35-33 in favor of Penns Valley, and it set up the climactic match at heavyweight.
“It was a very exciting match. It was the way a gym should be every wrestling match,” said Coach Andrekovich. “I was really happy for Bailey, Malacki and Collin for getting wins on senior night. Malacki got a rare defensive pin. Bailey got the tech fall. Collin kept it simple, broke the guy down, shot a half and got the pin. Trentin took care of business again. All of the guys wrestled well, and I was pleased with the effort.”
