AMSTERDAM – One night after posting a 64-12 win over Fonda-Fultonville, the Amsterdam wrestling team was back in action Wednesday against another area rival at Lynch Literacy Academy.
Though the opponent was different, the outcome was nearly the same as the Rams rolled to a 62-12 non-league win over Johnstown.
As they did on Tuesday against the Braves, Amsterdam won 12 of 15 weight classes against the Sir Bills.
“We stepped it up a little better tonight,” Amsterdam coach Ken Benton said. “I’m really happy to get the matchups we got by facing Fonda-Fultonville and Johnstown. Between the two matches, our whole lineup was tested.”
Romeo Jones (113 pounds), Ian Alejandro (120), Brandon Lapi (132), Dan Banewicz (152) and James Marquez (160) all won by pin for Amsterdam, while Dal Orengo (138) and Josh Gonzalez (145) won by major decision. Rob Santiago (170) and Ken Garcia (195) won by decision for the Rams, while Jorge Rivera (99), Adam Tatun (106) and Marty Carmona (126) all won by forfeit.
“When you wrestle Amsterdam, you know it’s going to be a fight and it’s going to be tough,” Johnstown coach Joe Morrison said.
Joe Nellis (220) won by pinfall for Johnstown, while Austen Manchester (182) and Ethan Hale (285) won by decision for the Sir Bills.
The wins were the first for Johnstown in the last three meetings for the Sir Bills against Amsterdam. The Rams posted a 78-0 win last season and a 90-0 win two seasons ago over Johnstown.
This year’s meeting began in similar fashion as Amsterdam won the first six matches on its way to a 29-0 lead.
Lapi opened the match by pinned Danny Nellis in 40 seconds at 132 pounds.
Orengo posted a 16-5 victory over Anthony Mowrey at 138 pounds and Gonzalez added a 10-0 win over Josh LaLonde at 145 pounds to give the Rams a 14-0 victory.
Banewicz and Marquez posted back-to-back pins over Joe Salatel and Anthony Schiavo at 152 and 160 pounds, respectively, to push the Amsterdam lead to 26-0.
Santiago outlasted Austin Brand at 170 pounds, 5-4, to make it six straight wins for the Rams.
“We had a couple of close matches,” coach Morrison said. “Our guys fought well and gave it a good effort.”
The Sir Bills’ effort was rewarded at 182 pounds when Manchester posted a 5-2 win over Amsterdam’s Chris Garrison.
Garcia answered with a 9-3 win over Johnstown’s Patrick Morrison at 195 pounds to make it 32-3.
“There weren’t a lot of pins. There were a lot of six-minute matches,” coach Morrison said.
The Sir Bills posted their second win of the night at 220 pounds when Nellis pinned Christian Lopez in 29 seconds.
Hale made it two in a row for Johnstown, scoring an 11-5 win over the Rams’ Joe Kelly in a back-and-forth match that brought the crowd to its feet.
“The heavyweight match was pretty exciting,” Benton said.
Rivera and Tatun picked up forfeit wins at 99 and 106 pounds for Amsterdam, extending the Rams’ advantage to 44-12 and sealing the win.
The Rams went on to win the final five bouts of the night as Jones and Alejandro followed the back-to-back forfeit wins with back-to-back pins at 113 and 120 pounds, respectively.
Carmona closed out the match, picking up a forfeit win for the Rams at 126 pounds.
“I’m very happy with my team,” Benton said. “I tip my hat to Fonda-Fultonville and Johnstown. I’m very grateful to both teams for coming to our place and giving us good competition. Both teams are well coached.”
Amsterdam (19-7 overall) will compete in the Lansingburgh Duals on Friday and Saturday.
Though it lost the match, Johnstown viewed the stiff competition as postseason preparation.
“These kind of matches are good for us because it prepares us for what we’ll be seeing in a few weeks at the class tournament and sectionals,” coach Morrison said.
Johnstown (3-7 overall) will travel to Fonda-Fultonville on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. match.
Amsterdam 62, Johnstown 12
132: Brandon Lapi (A) pinned Danny Nellis, :40
138: Dal Orengo (A) major dec. Anthony Mowrey, 16-5
145: Josh Gonzalez (A) major dec. Josh LaLonde, 10-0
152: Dan Banewicz (A) pinned Joe Salatel, 2:32
160: James Marquez (A) pinned Anthony Schiavo, 1:20
170: Rob Santiago (A) dec. Austin Brand, 5-4
182: Austen Manchester (J) dec. Chris Garrison, 5-2
195: Ken Garcia (A) dec. Pat Morrison, 9-3
220: Joe Nellis (J) pinned Christian Lopez, :29
285: Ethan Hale (J) dec. Joe Kelly, 11-5
99: Jorge Rivera (A) won by forfeit
106: Adam Tatun (A) won by forfeit
113: Romeo Jones (A) pinned Nate Dutcher, 4:44
120: Ian Alejandro (A) pinned Jeremy Meher
126: Marty Carmona (A) won by forfeit
