By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com
Bishop O’Connell continued its stellar season with a major milestone Wednesday.
Behind wins by Kyle Mason and James Young in the final two matches, the Knights notched a dual win over DeMatha Wednesday night, 33-29.
The Knights are now 15-0 in duals this season and one dual win away from going undefeated on the season.
If O’Connell defeats St. Mary’s Ryken they would win the unofficial WCAC dual meet championship over DeMatha, who has won 23 straight WCAC tournaments.
O’Connell took an early 18-0 lead on four straight wins to begin the dual. DeMatha came storming back behind five straight victories, including a fall by Ben Hatef to take a 26-18 lead.
The Knights came back to take a 27-26 lead on a Curtis Jeney pin in three minutes, 23 seconds. DeMatha again took the lead after a decision win at 112, setting up perhaps the biggest dual of the match.
DeMatha’s Pat Prada bumped up from 112 to 119 to face Mason. The O’Connell 119-pounder notched a 1-0 win behind a single escape to give O’Connell at 30-29 lead. In the final match of the evening, Young defeated the Stags’ Jonathan Simmons, 6-1, to seal O’Connell’s victory.
The WCAC Tournament is Jan. 31 and will give the Knights a chance to end DeMatha’s 23-year streak.
O’Connell has had great success in traditional tournaments this season. The Knights placed fifth of 32 teams at the Northern Region tournament, first in the Sterling Lions Club Invitational, 44th at the Reno Classic, ninth at the McDonogh Duals and first at the St. Stephen’s Invitational.
Bishop O’Connell 33 DeMatha 29
130: Dunbar(DJO) md. Couto(DEM) 21-7 (4-0)
135: Carpenter(DJO) fall. Hayden(DEM) 5:18 (10-0)
140: Curtin(DJO) tf. Fitzpatrick(DEM) 15-0 (15-0)
145: Furey(DJO) dec. Miller(DEM) 10-7 (18-0)
152: Torres(DEM) fall. Nguyen(DJO) :48 (18-6)
160: Clark(DEM) tf. Carrol(DJO) 15-0 (18-11)
171: Peacock(DEM) dec Brown(DJO) 9-3 (18-14)
189: Singh(DEM) fall. Milligan(DJO) :53 (18-20)
215: Hatef(DEM) fall Straubs(DJO) 3:51 (18-26)
285: Nieto(DJO) dec. Devine(DEM) 9-2 (21-26)
103: Jeney(DJO) fall Wallace(DEM) 3:23 (27-26)
112: Turgotte(DEM) dec Ramos(DJO) 15-8 (27-29)
119: Mason(DJO) dec. Prada(DEM) 1-0 (30-29)
125: Young(DJO) dec Simmons(DEM) 6-1 (33-29)
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