Fallon wrestling barely beats Galena

FALLON - Coach Mitch Overlie had a premonition earlier in the week that Galena had the wrestlers to defeat his Greenwave and snap Fallon's 34-match winning streak in the High Desert League.

"I was a little worried about this one," Overlie said after Fallon (4-0) edged the visiting Grizzlies, 36-34, at the Elmo Dericco Gym Wednesday night. "Galena came here to wrestle."

Except for giving up two forfeits, the Grizzlies (1-2) could have been the team that ended Fallon's five-year streak.

"We were ready to wrestle this week," said Galena coach Jade Alvarado. "We did a great job, but I was surprised it was that close."

The last time the Grizzlies defeated the Greenwave in a HDL dual match was in 2000.

Both coaches experienced the unexpected. Some wrestlers who were favored to win didn't, and several pulled out upsets.

Overlie said he was happy with the win, but he said his wrestlers looked sluggish in practice for the past two days.

Trevor de Braga dropped a weight class from 152 pounds to 145. The Fallon junior won an individual championship at last weekend's Las Vegas Classic, and Overlie said de Braga appeared ready to wrestle.

Galena's Kevin Gerow, last year's regional champ, had different ideas. Both grapplers wrestled evenly for the first two rounds, but Gerow took the led in the third round with a reverse. With time expiring, de Braga rolled on top of Gerow for an escape for one point, but he fell short in a 6-5 loss.

"I knew this would be a good match," Alvarado said.

The Galena win cut Fallon's overall lead to 24-22.

Tyler Reibsamen moved up to 152 pounds to wrestle Eric Wilcoxson. Neither wrestler scored any points in the first round, but Wilcoxson took a 5-0 led in the second period on a takedown and near fall. Reibsamen had a reverse.

Reibsamen took the down position to begin the third round and cut Wilcoxson's lead on a reversal. Wilcoxson, though, had his own reverse and a near fall to win by decision, 10-4.

Galena regained the lead, 25-24, but quickly lost it.

Ryan McCormick picked up a win for Fallon at 160 pounds on a forfeit, and Zack Hicks pinned Andy Rampton at 2:26 with a double chicken wing stack.

Fallon led 36-25 with two matches remaining.

Clint Riggins fell behind to Galena's Sean Neely at 189 and lost 6-4. Both wrestlers appeared tired by the third period, and Riggins avoided any costly moves that may have resulted in a pin for Galena.

Nick Williams pinned Fallon's Ronnie Scharmann at 215.

Overlie said he didn't expect a pin from Hicks, which provided some cushion to Fallon's lead.

Williams said he was happy with his match and praised his teammates for "stepping up and wrestling well."

Williams said Galena's conditioning program has helped the team, something echoed by Alvarado.

"They've been working pretty hard. They go on their own for three-mile runs," Alvarado said.

In other bouts, Galena's Jake Gunzel (103) defeated Colin Merkley on a 3-1 decision.

Luke Riley (112) picked up a 12-3 major decision against Fallon's Jon Gregory.

Galena padded its early lead to 19-6 on two pinfalls.

Doug Del Porto (119) pinned Sam Anderson with 10 seconds left in the first period, and Jeremy Wilson took 50 seconds before pinning Fallon's Matt Quist.

Fallon began its comeback when Cody Kapphahn (130) pinned Galena's Mike Wilcoxson, and Trent de Braga (135) pinned Kevin Christopher at 1:22. Fallon took the lead, 24-19, after the Greenwave's Anthony Woller rolled Chris Naut on his back midway through the first period for a pin.

Lyle Gardner (285) gave Fallon a 6-0 led when Galena forfeited the evening's first bout.