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Crusaders' win at Holy Cross removes any doubt - they are the team to beat again

January 17th, 2015 | Written by: Editor


37	20

This match did not need any hype. It was the first meeting this season of wrestlers in the top two programs in the state. That nine of those wrestlers went on to become Louisiana Classic champions three days later was delayed lagniappe. In fact, the wrestlers at 126, 138 and 145 lbs. would meet again in the Louisiana Classic finals.

The Crusaders had the edge going in, for in the few weight classes in which neophytes might consider them "weak," they are still pretty strong. The Tigers, while particularly strong in several weight classes, do not yet have the depth the Crusaders have, and that was the main difference in this match.

Three of the Crusader wins were by three points or less, and had the Tigers won those matches they would have prevailed 29-28. Of course, that logic works both ways, as one Holy Cross win was by only one point, so give the Tigers the first three mentioned and the Crusaders the last one and the Crusaders win 32-25. The bottom line is that the Crusaders won nine of the 14 matches contested.


Brother Martin coaches J.P. Pierre, Robert Dauterive and James Casadaban	Pre-match coin toss	Holy Cross coaches T.J. Miller and Eric Desormeaux

Matches

(Wrestlers in bold won the 2015 Louisiana Classic, as did the Crusaders as a team.)

106 Pounds

Chris Zea (HC) defeated Luke Cotton (BM) 11-1

Brother Martin

Holy Cross

113 Pounds

Steven Shields (BM) defeated Jeff Argrave (HC) 11-3

Brother Martin

Holy Cross

120 Pounds

Stephen Rumney (BM) defeated Beau Bush (HC) 7-4

Brother Martin

Holy Cross

126 Pounds

Taylor Gambill (BM) defeated Collin Guerra (HC) 4-2 SV

[NOTE: A previous account of this match was challenged for accuracy re the intentions of the Holy Cross coaching staff. In deference to the fact that the coaching staff was closer to the match than both the editor and the crowd (in several ways), the editor has redacted that account. In retrospect, the editor should have inquired to the coaches as to what actually occurred between the second and third periods.]

This match was all Guerra for 5:58. Guerra took Gambill down after a minute in the first round and rode Gambill for the remainder of the period. Gambill chose bottom in the second round but Guerra was relentless on top and did not allow the Crusader to score. In the third period Guerra opted to choose the top position again in order to continue riding Gambill. That he did, until two seconds remained when Gambill was able to score a reversal and tie the score. In the Sudden Victory period it was Gambill scoring the takedown for a 4-2 win after 19 seconds passed.

Brother Martin

Holy Cross

132 Pounds

Paul Klein (BM) pinned Dylan Soileau (HC) in 3:02

Soileau gave Klein a match for the first minute or so, shooting fairly deep on Klein and almost pulling off a lateral drop. But one slip-up is all Klein requires, and he got it in the second period.