SUNBURY--After posting a sixth-place finish at the Manheim tournament and a perfect 3-0 start in dual meets, Shikellamy finally returned to its house for its initial home match of the season against Williamsport on Wednesday night.
The HAC-I match put Shikellamy's perfect record on the line against a hot Williamsport team which returned nine starters and six seniors from last season's squad and was also unbeaten in the league.
Shikellamy's (4-0, 3-0 HAC-I) shot at perfection wasn't even close to being challenged as it rolled over Williamsport (6-4, 2-1) 70-0 in blowout fashion.
"We have to be leery of complacency," Shikellamy coach Brett Michaels said. "We have some tough matches coming up this month. We have to keep the hammer down and keep pushing. We usually kick it up a notch in January before team duals."
Michaels felt like the Millionaires actually got a good draw with the dual starting at 215, pitting Williamsport's Tim Maeshack (7-8) against Nick Bennick (10-8).
"Starting at 215 was ideal for them," said Michaels. "They thought they had a real good shot at winning 215 I'm sure, It was a gritty performance because Bennick isn't feeling well. Bennick really gutted it out for us tonight."
Bennick's sickness showed in the first period after Maeshack scored four quick points to open the match. After Bennick was able to get a reversal, Maeshack took some momentum into the second period scoring a quick two points with 10 seconds left to take a 6-2 lead.
"There is always pressure to get the team on the right track to open," said Bennick of the match. "I wanted to do my best and take shots when I could. I wanted to do well on top."
Bennick turned his fortunes around in the second period scoring on a reversal and then getting a takedown to knot the score. Meashack again was able to score two points as the period ended to take a slim lead into the third.
Bennick finished his opponent off in the third when his opponent started to run out of steam toward the end of the match. Bennick scored seven points in the final period to take a 13-12 victory and get momentum on the Braves side to open the match.
"That match was huge because of momentum there," said Michaels. "This is one of the best teams they (Williamsport) have had in a while and the kids were aware of this."
Nolan Blackwell started slow in his 285-pound match, much like Bennick, and was forced to fight back to get a 4-3 decision.
Along with Bennick and Blackwell, Jake Witmer (103) and Landry Badman (112) also won their matches to get rid of Williamsport's top wrestlers early. Witmer scored a pin just three seconds into the final period of his bout and Badman won a 5-3 decision.
"Credit goes to the first four guys in the match," said Michaels. "Those were the best matchups for Williamsport and it was big for us to win those matches. Our heavyweight and 103-pounder have never beat those guys and I'm sure Williamsport was expecting to win those matches."
Following a forfeit at 119, the Braves scored two consecutive 15-2 major decisions at 125 and 130 to push their lead to 29-0.
The match took another dive for the Millionaires as Benton Ross (135), Mike Barnhart (140), Noah Nowell (145), Miles Wolfe (152), and Cody McCollum (160) all scored pins moving the match to blowout status at 59-0.
After another 21-6 technical fall at 171 by Eric Winters, Ron Schreffler (189) stamped an exclamation point on the victory with a pin 30 seconds into the second period.
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Shikellamy wrestlers roll past Millionaires
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