Albion tops rival Medina in N-O mat opener

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Jaxon Lynch works toward a technical fall win over Medina’s Roaman Maksimchuk during the Purple Eagles league opening win over the host Mustangs this evening.

Putting last year’s 0-5 league record in the rear view mirror, Albion opened Niagara-Orleans wrestling competition on a high note with a 41-30 victory over rival Medina this evening at Medina.

Pins by Justin Mengs (101), Jayeden Whitney (138), Kaiser Allport (145) and a technical fall win by Jaxon Lynch (152) highlighted the victory for the Purple Eagles.

Brody Fry (285), Reece Senske (124), Luke Duffina (131) and Austin Seefeldt (160) all notched pins for the Mustangs in the sea-saw contest which saw three ties and as many lead changes.

Medina grabbed a 12-0 lead at the outset on a forfeit win and a first period pin by Fry.

Albion though answered back with a first period pin by Mengs and a pair of forfeit wins to take an 18-12 lead.

Medina countered with back-to-back pins by Senske, in 3:16, and Duffina, in 17 seconds, to regain the lead for what proved to be the last time at 24-18.

The Purple Eagles again answered back this time by taking five of the final six bouts to rally for the victory.

Back-to-back pins by Whitney, in 25 seconds, and Allport, in 5:06, put Albion back on top to stay at 30-24.

Lynch’s technical fall win then gave Albion a little breathing room at 35-24 and one point decision wins by Noah Marat (170) and David Rosario (190) then closed out the Purple Eagles victory.

A first period pin by Seefeldt (160) was Medina’s lone win over the final six bouts.

Albion and Medina will next both be competing in the Byron-Bergen Tournament on Saturday.

Albion’s Kaiser Allport in route to scoring a pin over Medina’s Nolan Stanton.

Medina’s Reece Senske works toward a pin over Albion’s Corbin Piccirilli.

Medina’s Austin Seefeldt in route to earning a pin over Albion’s Cencere Lowe.