The Amsterdam Rams varsity wrestling team got pins in five matches to help defeat the Scotia-Glenville Tartans 75-12 on Wednesday night in their Foothills Council home opener at “The Pit” at Lynch Literacy Academy.
The Rams picked up first period pins from Jose Fernandez (145 lbs.) over Caleb Walean, Adam Tatun (126 lbs.) over Liam Burke, and Monty Carmona (138 lbs.) over Trevor Cooper, a second period pin from Chris Garrison (285 lbs.) against Chris Hillier, and a third period pin from Jake Rodecker (195 lbs.) over Eli Dixon, in five of the seven matches wrestled.
“They looked really good tonight,” Amsterdam head coach Ken Pfeiffer said. “They went after it and went for their take downs.”
Scotia-Glenville rested several players who were nursing injuries from a recent tournament and took forfeits in seven weight classes. The Tartans best showing was in the 113 pound class where Kyle Holland grappled with Amsterdam’s Nick Rodecker. The match was scoreless through the first two of the two minute periods with both wrestlers working on signature moves to gain an advantage. It was Rodecker who finally broke through with 1:38 left in regulation.
“For Nick (Rodecker) it was his stamina,” Coach Pfeiffer said. “He has a good duck under move and that’s what got him his two points.”
Both Rodecker and Holland benefited from escape moves in the third period to score points, denying the other a chance for a pin. Rodecker came through with the 6-2 decision against an opponent who has proved a formidable one for the Rams in the past.
“They were evenly matched,” Coach Pfeiffer said of Rodecker and Holland. “Holland is pretty good. Danny (Montalvo) wrestled him last year and won by technical fall. He’s a tough kid.”
Nick Rodecker’s win along with the five pins gave the Rams 33 of their point total scored on the mat. Amsterdam got forfeit wins with Daniel Montalvo (106 lbs.), Evelio Homs (120 lbs.), John Companion (132 lbs.), Randy Faria (152 lbs.), Kyle Taylor (170 lbs.), Mike Rieken (182 lbs.), and Nelson Quinones (220 lbs.). Scotia-Glenville got a second period pin from Jake Hershberger over Javier Estrada at the 160 pound class. The Tartans also picked up a forfeit at 99 pounds with Eli Wilson.
The match also saw the return to the mat of Amsterdam’s Jake Rodecker, who missed all of last season due to injury. Rodecker faced off against the Tartans’ Eli Dixon and came through with a pin at the 1:38 mark of the third period.
“Jake wanted to wrestle so bad,” Coach Pfeiffer said. “He took him down right away and his confidence went up. After the match Jake said the third period was the toughest. He was honest.”
Jake Rodecker was also a part of this year’s Section 2 Class A champion Amsterdam Rugged Rams football team. The senior wasn’t about to miss out on his final season on the mat for AHS.
“It felt great to be out there and healthy,” Rodecker said. “I just couldn’t be sidelined again.”
Rodecker’s return to the lineup will certainly give the Rams a boost as they head into a 2015-2016 schedule loaded with talented teams. The Rams head to South Glens Falls on Wednesday, December 16 to challenge the Bulldogs in a Foothills Council match, and then will host the Montgomery County Duals at Amsterdam High School on Saturday, December 19th. Teams from Ballston Spa High School, Albany Academy for Boys, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, and Hadley-Luzurne High School will join the Rams at the duals for an all day event that begins at 9am. Following Wednesday’s match with Scotia-Glenville, the Rams looked well prepared for the season ahead.
“They all have take down moves,” Coach Pfeiffer said of his team. “They were on a mission tonight and they used those moves. They all did really well.”
2015- 2016 Amsterdam varsity wrestling schedule (remaining matches)
All home matches at Lynch Literacy Academy unless otherwise noted
Wednesday, December 16 – at South Glens Falls (6pm)
Saturday, December 19 – Montgomery County Duals (at Amsterdam High School (9am)
Tuesday, December 22 – vs. Rennselear (6pm)
Tuesday, December 29 – at Mountain Duals (A team) at Dolgeville (9am)
Wednesday, December 30 – at Mountain Duals (9am)
Wednesday, January 6 – vs. Hudson Falls (6pm)
Saturday, January 9 – at Greg Rockwood Memorial (B team) at Galway (9:30am)
Wednesday, January 13 – at Glens Falls (6pm)
Friday, January 15 – at Ichabod Crane Duals (A team) (4:30pm)
Saturday, January 16 – at Ichabod Crane Duals (A team) (9:30am)
Wednesday, January 20 – at Schuylerville (4:15pm)
Friday, January 22 – Wrangle on the Plains at Shenendehowa (3pm)
Saturday, January 23 – Wrangle on the Plains at Shenendehowa (10am)
Thursday, January 28 – vs. Queensbury (6pm)
Saturday, January 30 – Big 10 Invitational at Albany (9am)
Saturday, February, 6 – Class B Sectionals at Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake (TBA)
Sat.- Sun. February 13-14 – Section 2 Championships at Glens Falls Civic Center (TBA)
Fri- Sat. February 26-27 – NYSPHSAA Championships at Times Union Center, Albany (TBA)
Scheduling note: Amsterdam’s home match with Queensbury that was postponed last week has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Lynch Literacy Academy. A date for the match at Johnstown has yet to be announced.
(Photos by Scott Mulford)
