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By GENE PADDEN
Times Leader Sports Correspondent
Wednesday, February 09, 2000 Page: 1B
For the second season in a row, both Wyoming Valley Conference divisional
titles have come down to the final night of wrestling. In the East, it’s
Meyers at Hanover Area. Each team is 6-0. In the West, it’s Lake-Lehman
hosting Wyoming Valley West, with a share of the division title at stake.
Lehman is 5-0 and has claimed at least a tie for the title. Valley West is 4-1
and with a win, can tie Lehman for the championship. Tonight’s matches will
determine division winners and seedings in the District 2 dual meets,
scheduled for Saturday. Last year, Meyers beat Hanover to win the East, and
Valley West beat Lehman to force a three-way co-championship with Berwick in
the West. Wrestling starts at 7 p.m. The Hanover meet begins at 6:30 p.m.,
with a ceremony for legendary coach and wrestler John Carr, who died in May.
The first John Carr Memorial Award will be presented to the Hanover Area
wrestler who exemplifies leadership, academic and athletic skills. Meyers
puts its 17-0 overall record on the line against Hanover. Both teams are
relatively thin at each weight class, and each coach has said the possibility
of strategical lineup changes is simply not an option. “We’re putting the
same lineup out there we’ve used all season,” said Mohawk coach Dave Kuhl.
“It got us this far so we’re going with it. “If they (Hanover) make some
changes then I think we’ll be OK to adjust if we need to.” The
Meyers-Hanover rivalry has always been a good one, but it has lost some steam
during the years. The teams have been involved in off-season freestyle clubs
that require them to work out with each other. Although the squads are on
friendly terms, that all changes when the whistle blows. “I’m just hoping
they understand what’s on the line here,” said Kuhl. “A lot of our kids our
pretty friendly with each other and that’s fine, but we all have to understand
that when the 103s hit, it’s all business then.” Meyers was the preseason
favorite to win the division, but Hanover has a legitimate chance at pulling
off the upset. “It’s just a matter of us catching a break somewhere,” said
Hawkeye coach Paul Martinez. “There’s a deep respect for each program and
it’s always good to have a match like this at the end of the year.” Over the
river and through the woods, Lake-Lehman hosts Valley West and is looking to
avenge the two-point loss it suffered to Valley West last season. Lake-Lehman
coach Phil Lipski wrote his team off before the season, saying: “It’s not
your traditional Lehman team, we are in a rebuilding year for sure.” Now he
says his Knights have “come together, something I really didn’t think was
going to happen.” Since Lehman has already earned a piece of the division
title, the pressure is on the Spartans. “We’re just looking to win seven
bouts,” said Spartan coach Steve Gavrish. “The teams are very equal and I
think it’s really hard to predict what will happen.” Lipski said the
upperweight bouts are where the contest will be decided and that some guys
have to step up. “You’re not a real wrestler until you beat someone you’re
not supposed to,” he said. WVC East Division championship Meyers (6-0) at
Hanover Area (6-0), 7 p.m. KEY BOUTS 130 – Carlo Mercadante (M) vs. Mike
Griffith (H). Griffith beat Mercadante by decision in the preseason. 160 –
Luke Iseman or Ken Kwarcinski (M) vs. Aaron Coleman (H). The match will be won
or lost at this weight. 275 – Kevin Doyle (M) vs. Mike Mergo (H). The meet
will come down to the wire. But the Hawkeyes have lost at 275 all season and
Doyle’s a state qualifier. WVC West Division championship Wyoming Valley
West (4-1) at Lake-Lehman (5-0), 7 p.m. KEY BOUTS 145 – Sean Matello (WVW)
vs. Rich Maciejczak (LL). Each coach is certain his wrestler will win. 160 –
Brian Parry (WVW) vs. Dave DeLong (LL). Neither man is dominant and this will
likely be a conservative match. 275 – Drew Feldman (WVW) vs. Matt Kehler
(LL). Feldman pinned Kehler earlier, but this one will be a close one and a
nice finish to the meet. Match-by-match analysis by Gene Padden, Page 5B.