Eagles soar in showdown

by Todd Hummel

Posted on December 19, 2008

MANDATA -- With Line Mountain forfeiting at 112 pounds, Tim Botkin and Ryan Burns knew Thursday night's key Tri-Valley League dual meet with Juniata would come down to their matches.


"I had no doubt (that the meet) was coming down to my match," Botkin said.

"We knew it was going to be a tight meet," Burns said.

The six points earned by the forfeit gave the Indians a 31-27 advantage heading into the final two matches of the meet that started at 130 pounds.

Both Botkin's and Burns' matches came down to the final seconds, but both wrestlers pulled out last-second decision victories to lead the Eagles to a 33-31 victory over Juniata.

"I'm never been more proud of a group of kids," Line Mountain coach Mike Martz said. "We were pleasantly surprised in a lot of matches. We got some unexpected wins and fought off some bonus points that would have given (Juniata) the win."

After Jon Fausey moved to 6-0 on the season with a 29-second fall at heavyweight, Juniata got a decision win at 103 pounds and the forfeit at 112 pounds to take the four-point advantage with two bouts remaining.

That put the pressure on Botkin to win the match to give Burns a shot a winning the dual meet. Botkin's match with freshman Zach Beitz was scoreless heading into the final period.

Botkin was on top to start the final period and worked the Juniata wrestler into a tilt near the edge of the mat. He was able to earn two back points before Beitz escaped for a 2-1 advantage with 30 seconds left in the bout.

"I was looking for the tilt from the start of the period," Botkin said. "I just wanted to ride it out with the tilt near the edge, but I don't know how he got the escape."

The two wrestlers started from the neutral position and Botkin left no doubt to the winner of the match, when he connected with a takedown at the buzzer to notch a 4-1 victory.

"I was trying for the takedown (at the end) so it would be a close match," Botkin said.

"We thought Timmy would have the strength advantage because the Juniata kid was certified for 103 pounds," Martz said. "Tim's in good shape and he wrestled a smart match."

With Burns watching the end of the match pacing behind the Line Mountain bench, it came down to his match with junior Seth Beitz.

"I wasn't any more nervous before this match that I would be before any other," said Burns, who missed last season in a transfer dispute. "I worked all last winter for night like this."

The 125-pound match also was scoreless until the third period until the Juniata wrestler was able to escape from the bottom midway through the third.

"Ryan is one of the most mentally tough kids we have," Martz said.

"If I was confident anybody was going to win a match trailing 1-0 late in the third, it was Ryan."

Burns came through, shooting in on Seth Beitz's leg and eventually working his around the junior to gain control for the takedown with 25 seconds left in the match. He was able to ride him out to give the Eagles the victory.

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