Hayes, Sangare guide Clippers to second-place finish at Conn. Challenge
SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — Cumberland’s Jack Hayes won his second tournament in as many opportunities and senior captain Moulaye Sangare claimed the 152pound title at Saturday’s Connecticut Challenge to lead the Clippers to a second-place finish.
Senior 195-pound Nate Skawinski went into Saturday’s title match against top-ranked Massachusetts grappler Benton Whitley undefeated, but Skawinski fell into a five-point hole in the first period and suffered his first defeat of the season, as Whitley earned 92 victory.
Cumberland placed seven wrestlers on the podium to secure second place with 134.5 points, while Trumbull, Conn. sent six wrestlers to the final to win the tournament.
Sangare, who was the No. 1 seed, had no trouble in any of his matches. He pinned his first two opponents in less than a minute and then he secured an 8-2 victory over Simsbury’s Keith Penney in the 152-pound final. The senior will face his toughest regular-season test Thursday against South Kingstown’s Mason Duran, who won the South County and Hurricane Invitational titles.
Hayes, who only started his season in the middle of January because of an injury, cruised into the final and then beat Simsbury’s Luke Salis in sudden victory. Hayes earned the only takedown in the opening period, but Salis grabbed a takedown in the second. Hayes sent the match into overtime with a third-period escape before the junior secured a 6-4 sudden victory.
Junior Noah Tougas finished off an impressive week with three victories in the 138-pound weight class to finish third. Tougas lost 8-6 in the semifinals and then teched Kyle Solomon and pinned Ryan Durkin in his two consolation bouts.
Batista also suffered a semifinal defeat, but he responded with a 6-1 victory over Caleb Chesanov of Southington in the semifinals and then he pinned Trumbull’s Alex Greco 1:15 into the second period.
Junior Jake Drezek continues to win matches since replacing Sangare at 160 pounds. The Clipper won three matches Saturday, including two by pin, to finish fourth. Freshman Kareem Sangare didn’t go to a decision in any of his four matches, as the 182-poudner went 2-2 to finish fourth.
Senior captain Kylie Creamer dominated his quarterfinal opponent in 2:31, but then the 132pounder was upset in his next two matches. Andrew Walters (220) also won a match.
The undefeated Clippers are back in dual-meet action Tuesday in North Kingstown with matches against the Skippers and talented North Providence. The Rebels come to town Thursday night.