Dramatic flair

by Centre Daily Times

Posted on February 2, 2009

Dramatic flair

BELLEFONTE — Boring? No way.

Shane Alterio doesn't like it when that word creeps into wrestling vernacular, which made Thursday the perfect night for the Bellefonte senior.

In a match where all 11 contested bouts featured at least one wrestler's back exposed to the mat, Alterio reached a milestone while helping his team escape with a victory.

Alterio joined five teammates, including fellow seniors Josh Fisburn and Christian Oberle, with falls as the Red Raiders edged a spirited group from State College 41-37 in their final home match.

"At least it wasn't boring for my last match home," Alterio said.

By pinning Zack Wagner, Alterio gave the Red Raiders (7-4) six needed points. He also became the sixth wrestler in Bellefonte history to record 100 career victories. Alterio, a two-time PIAA Class AAA placewinner and third generation Red Raider, was joined on the mat by all of his coaches, including his father, Tom, after the victory.

Bellefonte's situation added to the luster surrounding Alterio's milestone victory. The Red Raiders forfeited three weights, making bonus points essential. A bout earlier, Alterio's younger brother, Nate, recovered from a 5-0 deficit to pin Shane Dodson in 3:54. Shane Alterio's pin also came during the second period as he reversed Wagner before slipping in a half-nelson.

"I knew I needed a pin when I went out," Shane Alterio said. "It was just fun. I like it better when it's fun."

The start was anything but enjoyable for Bellefonte.

State College (3-9) won six of the first eight bouts, and the Little Lions received a boost when Erik Galloway made his season debut at 125 pounds and pinned Dan Dreibelbis in an exciting bout between juniors who could meet again in the postseason.

Neither wrestler scored during the first period. Dreibelbis selected bottom to begin the second and created a stir when he grabbed Galloway's head and reversed the PIAA placewinner to his back. Dreibelbis took a 6-0 lead on the move as Galloway signaled for injury time while on his back.

Dreibelbis, admirably, remained aggressive in the third period. But Galloway countered a double-leg attempt with an underhook and hit his signature move — a cement mixer — to record a fall with 58 seconds remaining.

"It's big for him because when something goes bad he gets frustrated and gets down on himself," State College coach Jeff Stover said. "When something goes bad, he just needs to keep wrestling. Coach (Matt) Kocher keeps telling him you are one cement mixer away from winning."

The Little Lions, who dropped their fifth dual by 10 or fewer points, were once again one move from winning. This loss might hurt more than the others because they held a 34-17 with five bouts remaining when Scott Bosak pinned Brandon Grau at 135.

"Tonight we were one match away and that's how it has been all season except against Shikellamy, Clearfield and Central Mountain," Stover said, referring to a trio of teams with one combined loss.

Dodson nearly sealed a victory for the Little Lions as he caught Nate Alterio in a big move to take an early 5-0 lead. The younger Alterio fought off his back before scrambling in the second period to put Dodson in a headlock.

"There was a lot of pressure, especially because it was here at home," Nate Alterio said.

Nate's pin failed to deflate the Little Lions as junior Ben Sills rallied from a 4-1 deficit to defeat Kyle Phillips 10-5 at 152 to give State College a 37-29 lead with two bouts left. Sills' victory, coincidentally, represented the match's only decision.

Things turned hectic again at 160 as State College senior Chad Dreibelbis appeared on his way to riding sophomore Brad Grieb out during the second period. Grieb then reversed Dreibelbis and took him to his back with four seconds remaining. Referee Aaron Gutskey slapped the mat, prompting a meeting between Stover and Bellefonte coach Mike Maney at the scorer's table. Gutskey ruled a fall had occurred before the period ended.

"We stress wrestling every second of every match, and it basically came down to one second," Maney said.

The match then ended with Oberle pinning Tanner Smith in 1:26. The fall gave Bellefonte its first lead.

The Red Raiders also received a pin from 112-pounder Tom Traxler and a technical fall from Mitchell Port at 119. The match started with State College senior Allen Dreibelbis majoring Jake Perryman 10-0 at 189.

The victory marked Bellefonte's third straight since a 31-29 loss to Shikellamy. The Red Raiders also needed multiple falls to defeat Bald Eagle Area on Tuesday and Altoona last week.

"We have been clawing and scratching," Maney said. "That's just the way it has been going. When you give any team, no matter who it is, 18 points, it's not just points on the scoreboard. It's morale. They are fired up coming in, knowing they have a chance to beat you, especially in a rivalry match like this."

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