At least in the initial stages of the 2016-17 campaign, the Liverpool wrestling team could not get stopped.
The Warriors had opened with a tough 39-37 win at East Syracuse Minoa and then got a clean sweep of the Dec. 3 APW/Pulaski Duals. In order, Liverpool beat Institute of Technology Central 66-18, routed Jordan-Elbridge 79-6, handled Skaneateles 48-27, topped host APW/Pulaski 62-21 and finished with a 56-27 romp over Fayetteville-Manlius.
So began a stretch through the first three weeks of the season where Liverpool would not have a single home contest. That included last Wednesday’s trip to Oswego, another one-sided affair where the Warriors bashed the Buccaneers 66-15.
What made it odd was that Oswego won the first three bouts, with Mohammed Zahran (182 pounds) falling to Aaron LaTulip 5-4 and Zach Eason (220 pounds) dropping a 4-1 decision to Brian Lebron, with John Sturtz (220 pounds) pinned in between.
But after Brady Depan took just 20 seconds to pin 285-pound opponent Sultan Ahmed, a string of 10 forfeits followed.
Hayley Delia (99 pounds), Corey Okun (106 pounds), Jacob Ianno (113 pounds), Steve Pascarella (120 pounds), Evan Burns (126 pounds), Aiden Connor (132 pounds), Jerry Nash (138 pounds), Dylan Wallace (145 pounds), Anthony Piscatelli (152 pounds) and Josh Hemingway (160 pounds) did not have to wrestle.
Will Ronan (170 pounds) did wrestle, but lost a close 7-5 decision to Stephen Demong. Among the 10 contested junior varsity bouts, Nate Roberts (126), Kenny Haugabook (132), Isiah Cordova (138), Nate Merril (152), David Dancil (160), Ron Cyr (182) and Lochlan Fegley (285) prevailed for Liverpool, five of them by pins.
Liverpool would face Fayetteville-Manlius on Wednesday before competing Saturday in Phoenix’s Round Robin Tournament. Meanwhile, Cicero-North Syracuse, after hosting the Blindman’s JV Tournament last weekend, resumes action Wednesday against Institute of Technology Central and then heads up to Indian River on Friday and Saturday for the North Country Invitational.