Sunday, December 19, 1999
No. 1 Moeller wrestlers in top form
Crusaders overpower second-ranked Fairfield 36-17
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Moeller Crusaders erased any doubts as to which Division I wrestling team is No.1 in the Cincinnati area.
The No.1-ranked Crusaders won 10 of 14 matches on the way to a 36-17 home victory over No.2 Fairfield.
After falling behind 8-3 after three matches, Moeller won six of the next seven to take a 24-11 lead with four matches remaining.
A key match was at 145 pounds. Joe Zinkan scoring a takedown with 16 seconds remaining to pull out a 3-1 victory over Mike Wahoff in a battle of 1999 state tournament participants.
After that loss and one by another state qualifier, Garrett Padgett at 160 pounds, Fairfield's wrestlers appeared to lose enthusiasm.
“I knew I could take him down,” Zinkan said. “I just didn't want to do it too soon and give him a chance to come back. We're both state qualifiers, and I knew the match would be close.”
Moeller coach Jeff Gaier was all smiles after the victory.
“The big thing tonight is that we didn't make any mis takes that hurt us,” Gaier said. “We had kids come through in the matches that we thought would be close. The victories by David (Blanks) and Joe (Zinkan) were also big.”
A look at the matches:
• 103 pounds: David Candy, Moeller d. Jose Ocasio, Fairfield 5-1 — Candy scored a takedown and near-pin within a 30-second span late in the first period to take control. Score: Moeller 3-0.
• 112 pounds: Carl Leugers, Fairfield, technical fall over Joel Cottone, Moeller — This was the only mismatch of the night with Leugers, a state qualifier in '99, taking an 8-1 lead in the first period. Score: Fairfield 5-3.
• 119 pounds: Brent Wilkens, Fairfield d. Ryan Meyer, 7-3 — Following a scoreless first period, Wilkens scored a takedown and near-fall to take control of the match. Score: Fairfield 8-3.
• 125 pounds: Danny Hill, Moeller d. Mike Wisor, Fairfield 9-3 — A takedown by Hill in the first two periods and two more in the third were the difference. Score: Fairfield 8-6.
• 130 pounds: Brian Zinkan, Moeller d. Jeremy Salyers, Fairfield 12-7 — Trailing 5-4 late in the second period, Zinkan had five takedowns in the final three minutes. Score: Moeller 9-8.
• 135 pounds: Mike Baria, Moeller d. Doug Stehlin, Fairfield 5-3 — After a near takedown late in the third period, Baria held on in a defensive struggle. Score: Moel ler 12-8.
• 140 pounds: Andy Reuter, Fairfield d. John McCormick, Moeller 0-0 — In a match delayed five times due to injury (McCormick's head cut), Reuter scored three takedowns in the third period. Score: Moeller 12-11.
• 145 pounds: Joe Zinkan, Moeller d. Mike Wahoff, Fairfield 3-1 — After battling to a 1-1 tie for 5:34, Zinkan scored a takedown with 16 seconds remaining in a battle of state participants. Score: Moeller 15-11.
• 152 pounds: Bobby Lyons, Moeller p. Caleb Lawson, Fairfield 5:35 — Lyons took a 9-1 lead in the first period and scored the pin with 25 seconds left. Score: Moeller 21-11.
• 160 pounds: David Blanks, Moeller d. Garrett Padgett, Fairfield 5-3 (OT) — Blanks got a takedown 51 seconds into overtime in another battle of state qualifiers. Score: Moeller 24-11.
• 171 pounds: Jeff Ostholthoff, Moeller d. John Elsen, Fairfield 3-2 — Ostholthoff took a 3-0 lead in the first period. Score: Moeller 27-11.
• 189 pounds: Kelly Cronin, Moeller p. Chris Doxsey, Fairfield 2:52 — After taking a 5-0 lead in the first period, Cronin scored the
pin 52 seconds into the second period. Score: Moeller 33-11.
• 215 pounds: Brad Findley, Moeller d. Brandon Rowland, Fairfield 7-4 — Findley took a 6-3 lead in the first period to take command. Score: Moeller 36-11.
• Heavyweight: Jeff Ramsey, Fairfield p. Alexi Pappas, Moeller 1:07 — The Indians salvaged the final match with Ramsey dominating from the outset. Score: Moeller 36-17.
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