The Valley Central wrestling team won its first bout of their season-opening dual meet against the Beacon Bulldogs.

However, the Vikings then lost the next eight bouts as the Bulldogs built a big enough early lead to hold off the Vikings’ charge through the lightweight divisions for a 43-27 season-opening victory at Valley Central High School in Montgomery on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs collected one forfeit during that stretch and pinned the Vikings in five straight bouts to take a 43-3 lead when the match, which began at 132 pounds, turned back over to the lightweight division.

Beacon’s Connor Murphy (152), Avery Davis (172), Alexander Khalil (189), Jayden Calloway (215) and Michael Varian (285) scored pinfall victories for the Bulldogs.

The Vikings’ fortunes changed when the weight classes reset. After Calloway’s win over the Vikings’ Hugh Sonner, Edward Vass made his varsity debut at 102 pounds.

It was a fast debut as he got the Vikings back on the board with a 45-second pinfall victory over Beacon’s William Flynn.

After Olivia Schmidt accepted a forfeit at 110 pounds, defending Section 9 champion Luke Satriano made quick work of the Bulldogs’ Ronan Moran in 20 seconds in a 118-pound bout. The night ended when the Vikings’ other defending champion, Nicholas Weeden accepted a forfeit.
The Vikings got their only other win to start the match when the Vikings’ Michael Giannoni, also making his varsity debut, outlasted Beacon’s Brandon Martinez-Hardy, 8-4. Their bout was tied after the first period, but Giannoni pulled away in the second period.

Valley Central’s Colin Kinsley had a lead over Beacon’s Jude Betancourt in the second period, but Betancourt rebounded to pull out an 18-9 victory and give the Bulldogs a lead they would never relinquish.

Beacon 43, Valley Central 27

132: Michael Giannoni (VC) def. Brandon Martinez-Handy, 8-4
138: Jude Betancourt (B) def. Colin Kinsley, 18-9
145: Jaiere Newton (B) def. Maximus Smith, 10-6
152: Connor Murphy (B) pinned Arica Pearson-Leary, 1:41.
160: Timm Brody (B) won by forfeit.
172: Avery Davis (B) pinned Ryan Calfe, 4:37
189: Alexander Khalil (B) pinned Matthew Bond, 4:28
215: Jayden Calloway (B) pinned Brayden Davies, :45
285: Michael Varian (B) pinned Hugh Sonner, 3:15
102: Edward Vass (VC) pinned William Flynn, :45
110: Olivia Schmidt (VC) won by forfeit
118: Luke Satriano (VC) pinned Ronan Moran, :20
126: Nicholas Weeden (VC) won by forfeit.