Ross’ deciding pin helps Latrobe take down Derry

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, December 10, 2018 | 10:27 PM

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It was everything you’d want from a rivalry. The outcome came down to the very end.

Tyler Ross’ quick-strike pin in just 44 seconds at 195 pounds handed Latrobe a gritty 36-30 victory over arch-rival Derry in a WPIAL nonsection wrestling match Monday night at Latrobe.

The teams entered the evening’s final bout deadlocked at 30 points apiece.

“I’ve never been in that situation before,” said Ross, a junior, who used a half-nelson hold to pin Derry’s Emmitt Anderson and send the home crowd and Wildcats bench into a frenzy. “It’s amazing, something you couldn’t believe just happened.”

Class AAA Latrobe (1-0), coming off a grueling weekend tournament at Hickory High School, of District 10, successfully kicked off its dual meet schedule by edging longtime nemesis Derry, ranked No. 3 in the Trib Total Media Class AA poll.

The Trojans returned eight starters from a team last season that placed second in the WPIAL to qualify for the PIAA tournament.

“This is huge for our program. We’re excited for the future,” Latrobe coach Mike Ciotti said. “This match is like Pitt vs. West Virginia or Pitt vs. Penn State, only it’s here, locally. We came up big after a tough weekend of wrestling and no rest day Sunday.”

The match originally was scheduled for Friday, but conflicts at both schools forced it to be moved up to Monday night.

“We didn’t think it would come down to the final match,” Ciotti said. “But Derry is a great program. They got us the last couple of years, so we’re pleased with the outcome.”

Derry (4-2) jumped to a 13-0 advantage with victories in the first three bouts, including a scintillating 17-second fall by Dom DeLuca over Hayden Piper to open the match at 220.

DeLuca, a senior, is coming off a 48-5 season in which he won a WPIAL championship and placed second at the PIAA tournament. He entered the season with 116 career victories.

Latrobe stormed back to take a 19-16 lead on a forfeit victory by Gabe Willochell at 138.

Latrobe led 30-20 with three matches remaining after Logan Zitterbart pinned Derry’s Eric Catone at 1:56 of the 160-pound bout, setting the stage for the furious finish.

Derry’s Trey Weinell scored a 12-3 major decision over Mitch Tryon at 170, and Trojans freshman Brayden Mickinac needed 5:15 to pin AJ Rock at 182 to knot the score at 30-30 heading into the final bout.

“We did the best we could. We made it close,” Derry coach Mike Weinell said. “We did a great job. I’m pleased with their effort.”

Ciotti credited his team’s ability to score bonus points as perhaps the biggest contributor to the victory. Of Latrobe’s victories, just one came by way of a standard decision.

The early-season rivalry match, which usually is held closer to Christmas Day, drew a sizable crowd to Latrobe, where fans chanted pleasantries toward their own and at the opponents, sometimes with great enthusiasm.

“It was a great atmosphere,” Mike Weinell said. “We gave it a good battle and kept the rivalry strong.”

Dave Mackall is a freelance writer.

Tags: Derry Area, Latrobe