Redskins turn back Rock The gainst visiting Pennsbury (8-0). By TOM WARING Courier Times NEWTOWN - Bob Ireland and the Neshaminy Redskins were in some trouble yesterday. Council Rock led Neshaminy in their annual wrestling showdown and threatened to extend its lead when Dan Bedesem took down Ireland late in the 140-pound bout. Bedesem and Ireland were tied entering overtime, but the Council Rock wrestler had the momentum from his takedown late in regulation. Ireland, though, was up to the challenge. He took down Bedesem to clinch the win, but wasn't finished. He pinned Bedesem 26 seconds into the overtime to give the Redskins six crucial team points. "That was huge," said Neshaminy coach Mike Ortman. Ireland's victory gave Neshaminy the lead for good, and the Redskins went on to beat Council Rock, 34-18. Neshaminy improved to 8-1 (7-0 Suburban One League Patriot Division), setting up Wednesday's showdown with fellow unbeaten Pennsbury (8-0 SOL Patriot). Ireland thinks it will be a close match. "It could go either way," he said. "Every match is pretty much a tossup." Rock fell to 6-2 (5-1 SOL Patriot). Coach Tom Vivacqua agreed with Ortman that Ireland's victory was the turning point. Vivacqua also pointed to 103 pounds, where Neshaminy's Justin Gentile used a third-period escape and overtime takedown to outlast Rock's talented but undersized Rick Rappo. "We had opportunities to win, but we didn't take advantage," Vivacqua said. "The match at 140 was a nine-point swing, and 103 was another six points." Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for Council Rock. Jerry Balasco needed just 1:54 to pin Brad Bullman at 112 pounds. Balasco, who could drop to 103 for the postseason, is 17-3. "Jerry is wrestling absolutely awesome," Vivacqua said. Neshaminy has been wrestling absolutely awesome for most of the year, except for a blowout loss to Phillipsburg (N.J.). Including yesterday's match, the Redskins have beaten their SOL opponents by an average of more than 38 points. The 16-point victory over Council Rock was by far the closest match Neshaminy has had in the league. The Redskins didn't clinch the match until Bill Hunt pinned Pat Tyrol in 2:15 at 171 pounds. Hunt knows the Redskins have to deal with North Penn and Central Bucks West next month, but thinks the Pennsbury match is the big one. "It's basically for the league," he said. Neshaminy stayed close early yesterday thanks to a couple of close wins. Jon Denny earned a takedown with 10 seconds to go to edge Kyle Richardson, 5-4, at 119 pounds. Denny struggled the whole match to catch his breath and went to the hospital for a precautionary check of his lungs. At 103, Gentile edged Rappo with some late scoring. Gentile was a smallish 103-pounder last year. He lost a lot last season and was usually pinned. This year, he's 12-8 and had pinned his last six opponents before needing overtime to beat Rappo. "He's really been the spark. The kids feed off him," Ortman said. "He's finally up to a fighting weight and is by far our most improved wrestler." Now that the Redskins have knocked Council Rock from the ranks of the unbeaten, they'll have the chance to pin the first loss on Pennsbury. How does Ortman see the big match? "I think it will be a war," he said. Sunday, January 27, 2002 victory for Neshaminy (7-0 in the SOL Patriot) sets the stage for Wednesday's big showdown a