Bears barely keep their unblemished MVC record intact

by Mike Kuhns

Posted on January 17, 2008

POCONO SUMMIT — Pleasant Valley's run at a sixth consecutive Mountain Valley Conference wrestling championship was arguably under 10 seconds away from over.

And then the Bears got a gift.

Needing 10 team points to tie with two bouts to go, PM West freshman Josh Gonzalez was well on his way of doing his part with a 9-1 lead over PV's Jordan Tittle at 215.

But on a restart with under 10 seconds to wrestle, Gonzalez inexplicably let Tittle escape, losing the bonus team point and securing PV's 33-32 victory over the host Panthers Wednesday night.

"It was ours for about 5 minutes and 45 seconds," PM West coach Greg Theony said of victory and a possible title. "I could taste it. I wouldn't want to look at criteria, but I don't know."

PV hasn't lost a MVC dual match since the conference had a Mountain and a Valley Division six years ago. The Bears have won every MVC dual meet since and swept four conference tournaments (2003-06) the league used to decide the conference champion.

This was the closest any team has come to knocking off the Bears since East Stroudsburg South finished 24 team points behind PV in the 2006 MVC Tournament.

Matt Arenas brought the home crowd to its feet at 189 pounds when he pinned Mark Bumbulsky in 4:33. Bumbulsky led 6-3 at one point.

Arenas' pin made it a 10-point meet, the Bears leading 33-23, and PV coach Mark Getz knew his team was in trouble.

"Everything felt bad," Getz said after the 189-pound bout. "I actually just thought we lost ."Š."Š. I was like, 'Man, we just lost our conference championship.' I couldn't believe it."

Gonzalez looked sharp against Tittle, a junior. He built a 9-1 lead in the third period. But on the restart in the closing seconds, Gonzalez made what Theony called a, "freshman mistake."

"We knew we needed those points to tie it up," Theony said. "We needed 10 and we only got three out of that match. That made the difference. I hate to use the term, but it's a freshman mistake."

PV forfeited at heavyweight, but Paul Audette was ready to wrestle if needed.

PV got a big lift from its newest member, Alex Mansour at 103. After wrestling the season without a 103-pounder, Mansour just joined the team last week.

Mansour went toe-to-toe with PM West's Joe Christopher — most of the bout was within a point or two — before Mansour earned a fall in 5:48.

"We've had him for a little over a week now and we've been working with him," Getz said. "Thank God he came out."

Pleasant Valley 33, PM West 32

103 — Alex Mansour (PV) pin Joe Christopher 5:48

112 — Matt Yanovich (PV) forfeit

119 — Jordan Toledo (PV) maj. dec. Sean Phauh 20-7

125 — Brendan Kennelly (PMW) pin Nathan Zarzycki 1:19

130 — Mike Pokrinchak (PV) tech. fall Nick Toro 15-0

135 — Jacob Chamberlain (PV) pin Charles Gonzalez 1:25

140 — Chris Lopez (PMW) maj. dec. Ethan Brewer 14-4

145 — Matt Suter (PMW) dec. Andre Reyes 8-7

152 — Chris Servian (PV) dec. Travis Gearhart 7-0

160 — Matt Perez (PMW) maj. dec. Cameron Kroemelbien 19-7

171 — Buddy Gouger (PV) dec. Bobby Yocum 8-3

189 — Matt Arenas (PMW) pin Mark Bumbulsky 4:33

215 — Josh Gonzalez (PMW) dec. Jordan Tittle 9-2

285 — Tim Mauceri (PMW) forfeit

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