With three important events in eight days, including its own invitational meet, the Cazenovia wrestling team would have its highest profile of the entire season. In the middle of all this was Thursday night’s key showdown at Hannibal, with the winner likely to take second place in the OHSL Liberty division behind Phoenix. Cazenovia would pull through, winning the final match of the night in dramatic style as it toppled the Warriors 31-28, gaining full revenge for the fact that Hannibal beat them five days earlier at the Port Byron Invitational. Through 12 matches, Hannibal led 28-25, having claimed four straight contests late in the meet after Cazenovia controlled things early. Both sides had six wins. Thus, even if Brad Nardella claimed a three-point decision in the 103-pound finale against Dennis Spaulding, Cazenovia would get the extra criteria point and finsh on top. Nardella did not need to wait that long, nor did he make it close. Instead, he took control and didn’t stop until had pinned Spaulding with 10 seconds left in the second period to give the Lakers the team triumph. Way back at the start, Ryan Cook had struck first, at 112 pounds, edging Joe Griffin 9-6. But the Lakers really started to find its rhythm after Jose Wells lost a 6-2 decision to Dan Wyman at 119 pounds. Teddy Kugler (125 pounds) fought past Alex Race 9-4, after which Jake Wilson (130 pounds) piled up points in an 18-6 win over Nick Bortle. Taking little time, Nick Lockwood, at 135 pounds, pinned Shawn Blais in 20 seconds. Dylan Perry (145 pounds) also had a pin, finishing off Brandon Burnett in 1:49 as Noah Shephard (152 pounds) blanked Joel Kinville 9-0. Down 25-9, Hannibal then began its four-match run that set up Nardella’s finishing flourish. Cazenovia and Hannibal first dueled at Port Byron, where they stood out in a 16-team field. Overall, the Lakers had 221 points, second to the Warriors, who won with 252 points. Three times, the Lakers took individual titles. Nick Petroff prevailed at 96 pounds, pinning Greg Hadcock (Hannibal) at the end of the first period, while Nardella held off Jordan-Elbridge’s Mitch Alpha 10-5 to claim that top spot. Lockwood won at 135 when Anthony Davis (Mynderse Academy) had to take an injury default. Overall, Cazenovia reached six finals, settling for a 3-3 split. Cook lost a tight title match to J-E’s Mike Nguyen 3-2, while Perry ran into North Rose-Wolcott’s Corey Youlles and took a 9-0 loss. Shephard stayed close in a 6-3 defeat to Solvay’s Mike Warne. Wells (119 pounds) held off Hannibal’s Dan Wyman 6-5 for third place, with Dylan Holgate (160 pounds) and Cody Foster (189 pounds) also finishing third through pins in consolation finals. Dan Cossitt was fifth at 171 pounds as Clancy Kemp settled for sixth place in the 285-pound division.