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WILKES-BARRE — One of the more successful wrestling coaches over the last 15 years has been Ron Swingle.

He piled up countless division titles, district championships and state medals in a 14-year stint with Meyers before taking over at Berwick this season, where he hopes to instill the same kind of winning attitude.

Swingle returned to his old stomping grounds on Wednesday without his weigh-in sheets 30 miles away at Berwick. He had to use the computer he used so many times before to print out his current sheet.

After that, it was down to business with his dad, Ron Sr. as his assistant coach once again. The Swingles were greeted with numerous handshakes and hugs from wrestlers of the past like former heavyweight Anthony Gipson from the 2008 state-qualifying team, and recent state qualifier Colin Pasone. And when Swingle left the gym, he walked out like he did so many times in the past, as victor.

The up-and-coming Bulldogs knocked off the reigning Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 champion Mohawks 48-21 on the strength of six pins.

“It was fun. It was awkward being in the other warm-up room and on the other side of the gym,” Swingle said. “Big A (Gipson) was here. Colin is here. It’s nice to see those kids come back out. We keep in touch, but I haven’t seen them in a long time.”

The Bulldogs coach said no wrestlers on his team mentioned the homecoming for Swingle, and he didn’t tell his team anything about that either. While he admitted that it was special returning, Swingle also said that it was just another meet to try to improve.

“It wasn’t a grudge match or that we have to wrestle differently. We have to wrestle hard because that’s the way we want to wrestle all the time,” Swingle said. “We have to have consistency, and the only way to create it is to do the same thing each and every match.”

Berwick improves to 2-0 in Division 2 now with wins over the defending division champion, and the reigning District 2 team champion (Hanover Area). The team faces divisional favorite Lake-Lehman tonight at home. The Black Knights won their division opener on Wednesday over Wyoming Area, 45-25.

“They’re big wins, but there’s a lot of wrestling left,” the Berwick coach said. “They’re great wins for us, but we still have to show up and work everyday. It doesn’t make our road any easier. It gives us a chance for district duals, and that’s all we can ask.”

The dual started at 145 pounds and Berwick’s David Pace got his team off to a strong beginning with a pin in 1 —34 for a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs never trailed in the dual. The closest Meyers (0-1 Division 2) got was within 6-3 when Susu Burroughs won by decision in the second match of the night at 152 pounds.

The Berwick lead kept growing. The only other contested win for Meyers came in the 120-pound bout when Josh Makowski won by fall as the team pulled within 33-21 with three weights left.

A 2-0 win by Berwick’s state-ranked wrestler Nick Yule in the next match, at 126 over Caleb Burns sealed the team win for the Bulldogs.

“Nick Yule is a very good wrestler. I wish (Burns) would have shot more,” Meyers coach Anthony Mercadante said. “I think if he shot more, he would have given himself a better chance at winning. He just doesn’t have the confidence in his shot right now. But we’re working on that.”

Despite the loss, the rebuilding Mohawks looked better on Wednesday than three days prior at the Wyoming Valley Conference Tournament when they finished in last place with just one medalist.

“The way we wrestled Sunday we looked flat. Our guys looked like a deer in headlights,” Mercadante added. “Today, even though we lost, they were aggressive and trying to do some stuff.”

Austin DeWald (160 pounds), Brandon Spezialetti (170), Alex Beck (113), Mike McCracken (132) and Maurice Smith (138) all picked up pins for Berwick, while J.J. Snyder added a win via decision at 195.

Tunkhannock 57, Dallas 24

The Tigers improved to 2-0 in Division 1 thanks to pins from Matt Rosentel (106), David Evans (113), David Gavek (120), Brian Christ (152) and Connor Munley (182).

For Dallas, Kade Kravits (145), John Betzko (160), Steven Newell (170) and Taylor Bolesta (220) all won by fall.

Coughlin 53, Wyoming Valley West 14

The Coughlin wrestling team rallied from an opening bout loss at the hands of 145-pound grappler Landon Stanislow, who defeated Josh Brown 12-9, to take down Wyoming Valley West 53-14 on Thursday.

Joe Pahler and Jake Brown eached pinned their opponent, while Tino Marrow and Jake Cole won their bouts by major decisions.

Spartans 126-pound wrestler won his match against Jamie Pahler with a tech fall of 17-2.

Lake-Lehman 45, Wyoming Area 25

Lake-Lehman used a pair of forfeits and a pin by Bob Long (132) in the final three bouts to defeat Wyoming Area.

Hunter Burke (145), Jake Trumbower (152) and Chase Button (160) recorded consecutive pins for Lehman. Kaleb Knoigus won by fall at 285.

Kyle Emsley (106) and Adam Sigman (113) had pins for Wyoming Area.

Crestwood 61, Pittston Area 6

Ryan Black’s pinned at the 182-pound weight class set the tone for Crestwood. Black was one of five Comets to win their bout via pin.

Jordan Miale, Tyler Shaud, Ron Grevera and Shane O’Rourke also registered pins for the Comets.

Brandon Lopez and C.J. Demar each won their matches via decisions to pace Pittston Area.

Berwick 48, Meyers 21

106 — Jason Carver (Mey) won by forfeit; 113 — Alex Beck (Ber) pinned Brandon Abreu 2:31; 120 — Josh Makowski (Mey) pinned Fidel Mince 1:24; 126 — Nick Yule (Ber) dec Caleb Burns 2-0; 132 — Mark McCracken (Ber) pinned Josh Johnson 1:07; 138 — Maurice Smith (Ber) pinned Keyontey Suyden 1:00; 145 — David Pace (Ber) pinned Jason Millan 1:54; 152 — Susu Burroughs (Mey) dec Oscar Perla 8-4; 160 — Austin DeWald (Ber) pinned Rafael Olmeda 3:34; 170 — Brandon Spezialetti (Ber) pinned Greg Ambers 0:40; 182 — Colin Browne (Mey) won by forfeit; 195 — J.J. Snyder (Ber) dec Michael Gavin 8-2; 220 — Devon Rodzon (Ber) won by forfeit; 285 —No match.

Note: Match started at 145 pounds

Tunkhannock 57, Dallas 24

106 — Matt Rosentel (Tun) pinned Nathan Savignano 0:21; 113 — David Evans (Tun) pinned Liam Farrell 2:48; 120 — David Gavek (Tun) pinned Ben Yanchick 4:11; 126 — Ethan Munley (Tun) maj dec Eric Kriner 11-3; 132 — Gavin D`Amato (Tun) won by forfeit; 138 — Tommy Traver (Tun) tech fall Thaddeus Mead 17-2, 2:20; 145 — Kade Kravits (Dal) pinned Luke Carpenter 4:44; 152 — Brian Christ (Tun) pinned Nick Solinsky 3:34; 160 — John Betzko (Dal) pinned Carl Anthony 1:36; 170 — Steven Newell (Dal) pinned Shane Sherwood 0:45; 182 — Connor Munley (Tun) pinned Len Kelley 1:38; 195 — Jake Stephens (Tun) won by forfeit; 220 — Taylor Bolesta (Dal) pinned Logan Hegedty 1:37; 285 — Sam Rice (Tun) over Shawn Henniger (Inj. [time]).

Coughlin 53, Wyoming Valley West 14

106 — Caddon Kucek (WVW) dec Nino Cinti 6-5; 113 — Tino Marrow (COU) maj dec Matt Giza 12-4; 120 — JJ White (WVW) dec Darren Clarke 3-0; 126 — David Krokowski (WVW) tech fall Jamie Pahler 17-2; 132 — Jared Kline (COU) won by forfeit; 138 — Jake Brown (COU) pinned Ethan Scott 0:56; 145 — Landon Stanislow (WVW) dec Josh Brown 12-9; 152 — Joe Pahler (COU) pinned Robert Napersky 1:52; 160 — Tashawn Qualls (COU) won by forfeit; 170 — Tanner Smith (COU) dec David White 2-0; 182 — Joe Davis (COU) won by forfeit; 195 — Jake Cole (COU) maj dec Seth Decker 18-7; 220 — Conner Lee (COU) won by forfeit; 285 — C0rey Harris (COU) won by forfeit.

Note: Match started at 145 pounds

Lake-Lehman 45, Wyoming Area 25

106 — Gavin Ruger (LL) pinned Kyle Emsley 1:09; 113 — Adam Sigman (WA) pinned Brenden Boston 0:20; 120 — Zach Stuart (LL) won by forfeit; 126 — Josh Bonomo (LL) won by forfeit; 132 — Bob Long (LL) pinned Sydni Johnson 0:40; 138 — Robin Wrobleski (WA) dec. Garrett Kolb 8-3; 145 — Hunter Burke (LL) pinned Charles Banashefski 0:46; 152 — Jake Trumbower (LL) pinned Alex Pierce 1:50; 160 — Chase Button (LL) pinned Skylar Santacroce 1:24; 170 — Corey Mruk (WA) dec. Nick Zaboski 6-0; 182 — Jaryn Polit-Moran (WA) dec. Thomas Nalbone 4-0; 195 — Justin Joseph (WA) maj. dec. TJ Meehan 12-2; 220 — Chuck Harry (LL) dec. Aiden Dolak 10-4; 285 — Kaleb Konigus (LL) pinned Damon Barhight 4:37.

Note: Match started at 138 pounds

Crestwood 61, Pittston Area 6

106 — Brandon Lopez (PIT) dec Hunter Greenberg 14-7; 113 — Trey Zabroski (CRE) won by forfeit; 120 — Justin Sterling (CRE) maj dec Keith Romanczuk 15-3; 126 — Jordan Miale (CRE) pinned Crystal Smith 0:11; 132 — Garrett Swank (CRE) dec Ryan Lombardo 1-0; 138 — Tyler Shaud (CRE) pinned Tyler Santee 3:08; 145 — C.J. Demar (WVW) dec Liam Stone 5-2; 152 — Noah Peznowski (CRE) won by forfeit; 160 — Ron Grevera (CRE) pinned Alex Anastasia 4:36; 170 — No match; 182 — Ryan Black (CRE) pinned A.J. Gordo 3:47; 195 — Jeremy Buzak (CRE) won by forfeit; 220 — Jeffrey Schmude (CRE) won by forfeit; 285 — Shane O’Rourke (CRE) pinned Jake Rutkowski 1:23.

Note: Match started at 182 pounds

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By Dave Rosengrant

For Times Leader

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