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Every wrestling season consists of ups and downs. This season is no different for former Buckeye Local graduate David Bertolino.
The current Iowa State 197-pounder, who bumped up two weight classes from last season, took nationally ranked T.J. Morrison of Rider University (N.J.) down to the wire and claimed a 5-4 victory.
"It was a close match," Bertolino said to the Iowa State sports information department. "I knew that my conditioning was better than his and that he would break before I would."
The Mount Pleasant native struck first with a takedown midway through the first period and added an escape at the start of the second period for a early 3-0 lead.
Morrison retaliated with a takedown of his own, 3-2. Choosing to go down in the third, Morrison took a 4-3 advantage with a reversal. With 17 ticks on the clock remaining, Bertolino escaped from the Bronc to make the match, 4-4.
"I wanted to push the pace and I knew he was hurting more. I've been waiting to wrestle someone tough and to have the chance to prove myself at this weight. I knew that it was a matter of time before someone tough came along. This is definitely a confidence-builder for me," Bertolino said about Morrison, who is currently ranked No.14 nationally.
Instead of going into overtime, Bertolino's riding time of 1:15 was the difference in the match, giving him a point and a 5-4 victory.
Fueled by the big victory, Bertolino's trip was far from over as the Cyclones still had the Binghamton (N.Y.) Duals left on this east coast trip.
The high-octane Cyclones swept Clarion (40-0), Binghamton (30-15) and West Virginia (24-9).
"Today was a tough day with how this tournament was set up," associate head wrestling coach Cody Sanderson said. "Wrestling three, back-to-back-to-back matches forced our wrestlers to go hard each time and they responded well."
Bertolino was more than able to handle his opening two matches, pinning Clarion's Dixon Jordan and handing out a technical fall to Corey Waite of Binghamton.
The Ohioan's last match wasn't quite as easy as the senior Cyclone hit the Mountaineers' Jared Villers - currently ranked 16th in nation.
Villers struck first with the opening takedown. Bertolino responded in under 30 seconds with an escape, 1-2. However, an illegal move cost the Cyclone a cheap point giving Villers a two-point advantage, 1-3.
Choosing down in the second frame, Bertolino was quick off his feat for another escape, 2-3. The Akron native didn't let Bertolino's escape bother him, nailing another takedown in the period and continued to rack up riding time before Bertolino could add on another escape, 3-5.
In the third period, Villers would add two more marks on the score sheet with an escape and with his riding time for a 6-4 final.
The strong weekend showing bumped Bertolino into the national spotlight in the 197-pound weight class with a 17th place ranking while his Cyclones continue to sit at No. 2 behind Minnesota.
The Cyclones earn a chance to change that ranking as they trek north Dec. 2 to take on the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis.
OVERTIME
FORMER WHEELING PARK standout Abbie Rush has taken a jump in weight this season moving to the 133-pound weight class.
The true sophomore dropped an early season 6-3 decision to Wagner's Mike Tutunjian at 141-pounds while trying to help the Terriers earn a dual victory, but has decided that 131-pounds is where he wants to be the remainder of the season.
On the mat this weekend in Philadelphia, Rush was blanked 3-0 by No. 17 nationally ranked Zac Cunliffe of Rider University. The former OVAC standout was able to bounce back in the consolation bracket picking up a 3-1 decision over Brown's Eli Harris and a cut-throat 5-4 decision over Virginia Military Institute's Tyler Anthony.
One match away from placing, the show-stopper came in the form of Appalachian State's Terreyl WIlliams. The senior grappler worked Rush around the circle with 14-6 major decision.
Rush and the Terriers will be back in action again on Saturday, Dec. 2 as they travel to the Penn State Open.
DOUBLE OVERTIME
MAKING HIS collegiate debut in the 144-pound weight class this past weekend was another Buckeye Local product in Willie Saxton.
The redshirt freshman leaped up one weight class this season for the University of Missouri as he placed fourth in the Open Division of the Missouri Open in Columbia.
Saxton trail to placing went through Northwestern's James Kohlberg (3-1), Indiana's Caleb Lockyer (8-7) and Indiana's Alex Warren (14-7) in the winner's bracket. After dropping a 2-0 nail-biter to Ryan Williams of Old Dominion, Saxton defeated teammate Vince Hannon.
In his medal round bout, Saxton wasn't as lucky, falling to Tigers' teammate Marcus Hoehn 8-4.
TRIPLE OVERTIME
STEUBENVILLE'S David DiCicco (285) will be working into the starting rotation for Muskingum College this season.
In the Muskies' opening show at the 14th Annual Harris Auto Center Open hosted by Ashland University, DiCicco dropped in the second round to Rashard Goff of Cleveland State, who was the runner-up for the weight class. In the consolation bracket, DiCicco was defeated by Cody Ruffur of Findlay.
Along with DiCicco, Barnesville's Paul Jefferis is listed on the Muskie's wrestling roster. Probably playing a back-up roll mostly this season, Jefferis was an Ohio high school state runner-up last season at the 215-pound class for Shamrock coach Luke Johnson. His work ethic and high standards of athleticism will make him an asset in the year's to come for Muskingum mat mentor Joe Montgomery.
Cook can be reached at bcook@timesleaderonline.com