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Donahue's pin lifts Redskins Sophomore heavyweight Geoff Donahue came up with the biggest win of his career to give Neshaminy its thrilling victory and end Council Rock's Suburban One League National Conference winning streak at 40. By TOM WARING
Donahue is a sophomore heavyweight for the Redskins, who were facing longtime rival Council Rock. The match promised to be close, with the heavyweight bout likely to decide the outcome.
"I was thinking about it all week," Donahue said. "It feels good when it comes down to you."
As it turned out, Neshaminy needed a clutch effort from Donahue. The Redskins trailed by three points entering the final bout. Donahue needed at least a major decision to give his team the victory and end Rock's 40-match Suburban One League National Conference winning streak.
Donahue built a lead on Steve Kukowski, then turned the Council Rock wrestler on his back early in the third period. He pinned Kukowski in 4:20, clinching Neshaminy's thrilling 28-25 victory.
"We've been planning on doing this the whole year," said Donahue, who credited the fans with pumping him up by chanting his name. "One of our goals was to beat Council Rock."
Neshaminy improved to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in the SOL Patriot.
The Redskins cannot savor their victory for too long. They visit Pennsbury on Saturday and welcome North Penn on Wednesday.
Still, Neshaminy rookie coach Mike Ortman Jr. had a big smile on his face last night. He was a Neshaminy assistant for two years when the Redskins suffered heartbreaking losses to Rock.
A 1992 graduate of Council Rock, he's developed a young team to the point that it beat a program that has won the last four SOL Patriot titles.
The fact that the Redskins ended Rock's 40-match winning streak made the victory even sweeter.
"It was motivation for us coming in," he said.
Rock fell to 8-2 and 7-1.
First-year coach Tom Vivacqua said his team's goal, as always, remains winning the division title. Vivacqua was an assistant during Rock's long winning streak.
"It was fun while it lasted," he said.
Vivacqua will take his team to the District One Dual Meet Tournament. Also, the Council Rock program always points to the individual postseason tournaments as the most important part of the year.
To have a chance at the SOL Patriot crown, Rock must beat North Penn on Saturday and hope Neshaminy stumbles.
The winning streak is over, but Council Rock remain a force, Vivacqua said.
"We'll be back," he said.
Council Rock lost despite winning seven of the 13 bouts. Jerry Balasco (103 pounds), Dave Bartley (130), Dan Bedesem (135) and Joe Ziemba (145) all won close bouts for the Indians.
But, only Dave Curry (major decision at 119) and Rocky Mantella (pin at 160) earned bonus points. Ken Mergenthaler almost clinched the victory for Rock at 171, but Neshaminy's Frank Guld fought off a near pin.
Neshaminy collected three pins. Besides Donahue, Jon Denny (112) and Jack Fleming (189) decked their opponents. Freshman star Brian Rowan (125) and Rich Palmer (140) kept Neshaminy close early with decisions, while Ben Miles (152) earned a key major decision.
Ortman loves having Fleming and Donahue in the final two bouts of close matches.
"They're both hammers," he said. "They're pinning everybody."
Despite the big victory, Ortman isn't ready to hang a championship banner just yet, as long as rival Pennsbury and unbeaten, state-ranked North Penn remain on the schedule.
"This is far from over," he said.
Thursday, January 25, 2001 |
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