BLUE DEVIL DISPATCH 12-23-09

After season-opening tournaments the Greencastle-Antrim High School hoops teams had a hiatus last week, however the wrestling team got into plenty of action.

WRESTLING

The Blue Devil grapplers had a case of job complete, job almost complete and no chance to finish the job last week. Most satisfying was a 49-24 Mid-Penn Conference Capital Division match victory over rival James Buchanan in the Rocket gymnasium.

Todd DeWalt (189), Dustin Maynard (215), Robert Patton (285) and Rusty Pine (103) got the Devils (1-2, 1-2 MPC-Capital) off to a great start with four straight bout wins. DeWalt got a forfeit. Maynard secured a third-period fall. Patton and Pine added pins in the first and second periods, respectively. G-A needed the 24-0 advantage as James Buchanan fought back to take the next five bouts and even the team score. But it was all blue and gold after that. Chris Kinzey (140), Jordan Ladzinski (145), Tyler Ezolt (152), Dylan Schaeffer (160) and Devin Schaeffer (171) racked up five straight for the victory. Pins were recorded by Kinzey, Ezolt and Dylan Schaeffer.

Capital Division foe Palmyra came to town and the Blue Devils looked like they were ready to stage a full comeback from a 33-0 deficit before the Cougars clawed in for a 40-33 team decision. Palmyra used two forfeits, three pins and a decision to build the 33-0 team score before G-A went on the march with five wins of their own. Kinzey, Ezolt and Dylan Schaeffer delivered pins and DeWalt won by forfeit. Devin Schaeffer had a 5-3 decision.

The run had put the Blue Devils within six of the Cougars and despite a forfeit win by Pine a couple of decisions in between sealed the win for Palmyra.

G-A was only able to compete one day in the Carlisle Tournament. Snow prevented the Devils from returning Saturday and left them in 13th place of the team competition. Pine, Ezolt, Devin Schaeffer and Patton had advanced to the quarterfinals on Friday. Opening round wins came from Bobby McPherson, Brandon Miller, Kinzey, Dylan Schafferer and DeWalt.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

 WRESTLING

The Blue Devils put out a solid effort on the mat for a 63-30 win over Palmyra. Eugene Byers (90), Cody Carbaugh (100), Wade Rider (105) and Jared Starliper (155) each had pins. A decision was clinched by Devin Statler. Forfeits were picked up by Wyatt Binkley (85), Nic Fusco (110), Ryan Wolf (115), Dexter Miller (138), Walker Kinzey (165) and Hunter Heuer (75).

In the opening match of the season, G-A dropped a 66-28 match to Boiling Springs.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

The ninth-grade squad went 1-1 to open the season, knocking off Camp Hill 41-14 before being edged by Boiling Springs 35-32.

In the Camp Hill contest, Zach Faulkner netted 11 points to lead the way for eight scoring players. Holden Baker also added double figures with 10. “We did a good job with defense and rebounding and we shot the ball well,” said head coach Jerry Englehart.

In a nail biter the Devils came up just short to the Bubblers. Baker scored 11 points and Austin Scott put in eight. Gabe Fridgen added seven. Englehart said, “The kids gave a great effort.”

The eighth-grade team posted two wins, 37-24 over Camp Hill and 29-21 over Boiling. The seventh-grade Devils are also 2-0 with a 30-24 verdict over Camp Hill and a 30-23 win over the Bubblers.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

G-A’s freshmen girls’ team also went 1-1 to start the season, claiming a 46-31 victory over Camp Hill and falling 30-15 to Boiling Springs.

Against Camp Hill the Devils were dominant, especially in the 12-2 first quarter and the 14-4 third. Four players, Katie Gelsinger, Chloe Hoover, Lauren Koontz and Mary Ward, shared the lead with eight points each.

In the Boiling Springs game, G-A was shut out in the opening frame and couldn’t cover the ground. Ward, Sharon Juarez and Lauren Koontz each had four points.

The eighth-grade team used solid defense to stage a 29-13 win over Camp Hill, limiting the Lions to four points in the first half. Moriah Woods netted 12 points. Lauren Powers had six and Abbey Pool had five.

In seventh-grade action, G-A rose above Camp Hill with a 28-9 win, paced by Jane Herman with 12 points. Brooke Zeger added six. The Devils staged a 20-17 win over Boiling despite trailing at halftime. G-A produced an 11-2 run in the third. Herman put in 11 for the Devils.