On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the wrestling team traveled to West Mifflin to engage in an early and important Section 2 matchup. The two teams were pretty even in ability, and it was a very heart pounding, on the edge of your seat type of match. In the end, the Hawks picked up the 36-35 victory.

The night began with an exhibition match that featured Bethel Park’s own Devin Andres in a bout against one of West Mifflin’s 160 pounders. Andres controlled most of the match and started the night off right for the Hawks with pin via near-side cradle. Although it didn’t count on the scoreboard, it gave Bethel a little pre-match boost of excitement.

The first match of this section clash began at 120 pounds where Mike Smith took on the Titan’s Jeff Martinez. Smith wrestled a hard fought match and managed to keep it to a major decision at 15-2, saving the Hawks a few important points in a very close dual match. (4-0 West Mifflin)

We then moved to the 126-pound weight class, there rookie Brandon Drusbasky was set to scrap against Jasean Maclin. Drusbasky ended up surrendering a pin in 1:19 to Maclin, but it was only Drusbasky’s fourth ever match so he has much brighter days ahead of him as a wrestler. (10-0 West Mifflin)

The 132-pound and 138-pound matches were both forfeits for West Mifflin running the score all the way up to 22-0 Titans going in to the 145-pound weight class.

For your Bethel Park Hawks, Tom Kolodziej weighed in at 145 pounds set to take on his rival Randal Wilson. These two wrestled the weekend prior at the Eastern Area Tournament where Kolodziej retired Wilson by one point in a very close match. However, it was Wilson’s night, and he ended up defeating Kolodziej in a highly contested battle by a score of 6-5. (25-0 West Mifflin)

At 152 pounds, Paul Dunn took on the Titan’s Tyler Sacco in a rematch of the quarter-finals at the Eastern Area Tournament. Dunn scored a fall for the Hawks in 1:56 in the first period and got the Hawks on the board. (25-6 West Mifflin)

One of the toughest matches of the night took place at the 160-pound weight class where Sam Polen waged war against Michael Congdon. This battle was very tight throughout, and with 21 seconds left in the third period, it looked like Sam was going to hold on for a 3-2 victory, but that was not the case.

Polen ended up getting banged for stalling twice in the last 21 seconds with the second one coming right at the buzzer. This was an extremely controversial call as most wrestling fans never see two stall calls on a wrestler within 30 seconds let alone 21 seconds. Polen and Congdon went on to grind out a few overtimes before Congdon ended up catching Sam in a bad spot and pinning him at 7:40 of the 3rd overtime. (31-6 West Mifflin)

After the rough loss at 170, the Hawks sent Jeremy Huwe out to wrestle against Vincent Williams. This was another Eastern Area Tournament rematch where Huwe lost by fall to Williams. This match, though, Huwe took the upper hand and wore out Williams and eventually scored a huge pin for the Hawks at 2:38 of the second period. (31-12 West Mifflin)

The 182-pound match featured Bethel Park’s Adam Montgomery set to take on Titan 182 pounder Daniel Howard. Howard controlled the majority of the matchup, although Montgomery nearly caught and pinned him a couple times. Howard defeated Montgomery with a major decision by a score of 18-8. (35-12 West Mifflin)

The Hawks then looked to Matt Nolan at the 195-pound weight class to spark a late match rally for Bethel Park. That’s exactly what Nolan did when he dominated Brian Ziegler of West Mifflin pinning him in 2:42 seconds. This proved to be the spark the Hawks needed. (35-18 West Mifflin)

The pressure then was on Sam Gercak who weighed in at 220 pounds for Bethel Park as they desperately needed a pin from one of their big men to stay alive in the dual meet. Gercak rose to the occasion and won by fall in the first period over Maryce Johnson of West Mifflin. (35-24 West Mifflin)

At heavyweight, sophomore Chris Pauley went out to accept the forfeit which pulled the Hawks within five points of West Mifflin going into the final two weight classes! (35-30 West Mifflin)

Neither team weighed in a 106-pound wrestler, so that meant it was all going to come down to the two 113-pound wrestlers, Theodore Gates for Bethel Park and Jerald Berger for West Mifflin.

Everyone in the gym held their breath as the two wrestlers took the mat to decide the dual meet. Teddy Gates, who seemed to not feel the pressure at all, would need a pin to secure the victory for Bethel Park.

Then before you could bat an eyelash Theodore wasted no time putting his opponent on his back. 38 seconds in to the matchup Gates pinned Berger via crossface cradle. The team bubbling with excitement on the bench smothered Teddy with their joy. Making the final score 36-35 Bethel Park over West Mifflin.

This was a huge section win for the playoff hopeful Hawks.

In more recent section matches, the Hawks defeated Baldwin 60-18 on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and lost to Upper St. Clair 37-30 on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Their next opponent is Peters Township.  The match will be at Peters on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 PM. All proceeds from the event will benefit Marine Sgt. Doug Vitale, a former Kiski wrestler, who was seriously injured while on patrol in Afghanistan.

For the latest on Hawks wrestling, visit bethelparkwrestling.org or follow the team on Twitter @wrestlingbphs.