Rodriguez records pin in final match to seal win
The Laurel varsity wrestling team hosted Lake Forest last Wednesday in the Bulldogs’ first dual meet of the season. The Bulldogs won, 42-33, in the annual meet which is usually held at the end of the season and determines the Henlopen South champion.
“We knew it was going to be close. It always comes down to us and them for the South,” said Laurel head coach Zach Toadvine.
Laurel senior Stanley Pete looks for the pin in the 165 pound match. Pete won by fall with 39.5 seconds left in the first period during his team’s home win over Lake Forest. Photo by Mike McClure
Laurel opened with a win by forfeit by Reginald Ferdinand (103) and eighth grader Nathan Moore (113) held a 3-2 lead before recording a pin with 32.8 seconds left in the first for a 12-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs’ Kade Wootten (120) was up 6-1 after one and 15-9 after two but Lake Forest’s Mason Ferrell won by fall with 1:46 remaining in the third. Laurel’s Jaheem Limehouse (126) held a 6-1 lead after one, led 9-5 after two, and won by decision, 11-5. Ezekiel O’Hara (132) rallied from a 3-0 deficit for a 6-5 lead after one period and held off DeMarion Russ, 18-16, and Connor Smith (138) was up 9-0 before recording a pin with 2.6 seconds remaining in the second for a 24-6 Laurel lead.
Lake Forest recorded a pin in the 144 pound match before the Bulldogs’ Kenyen Littleton (150) won by fall at the buzzer in the second period. Littleton defeated his opponent by one point earlier in the season. The Spartans came back with a pin at 157.
Laurel senior Stanley Pete (165) took a 9-0 lead and won by fall with 39.6 seconds remaining in the first. Lake Forest moved within six (36-30) following pins in the 175 and 190 pound matches.
The Bulldogs’ Maxx Bryan (215) avoided the pin, falling to Ayden Young by decision, 10-3, to make the score 36-33 going into the final match. Cordai Rodriguez (285) held a 4-0 lead before recording a pin with 1:19 left in the second period for the 42-33 Laurel win.
“It feels like a dream. I went through that match like a hundred times in my mind. Everyone was telling me I have to find something and that’s what I did,” Rodriguez said. “We’re still climbing, that’s the first step.”
Toadvine credited newcomers like Moore as well as wrestlers like Limehouse who are with the team after missing last season.
“They’re just giving it their all. It’s a whole team process,” he said.