Jesuit wrestlers top Holy Cross

Pat Mashburn, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, December 14, 2012 9:30 p.m.

Jesuit's Mitch Capella defeats Holy Cross' David Clement in the 113-pound class - (Pat Mashburn, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

They’re already counting down to the next time they meet, but Jesuit took the season series lead against Holy Cross, winning 42-19 at home Friday.

While the score might be slightly lopsided in the Blue Jays’ favor, only four of the 13 matches ended with pins. Regardless, Jesuit Coach Spencer Harris couldn’t help but take satisfaction in the overall performance of the team.

“I was real pleased with the way our kids wrestled against Holy Cross,” said Harris. “They beat us earlier in the season at the Bulldog Invitational at Fontainebleau, so it was good to see us get one back. Holy Cross is an extremely talented team.”

Each squad boasted top-ranked wrestlers in their respective weight classes in the All-New Orleans Area weight class rankings, and in team standings, Holy Cross entered at second while Jesuit was one spot behind, at third.

In the 113-pound class, top-ranked Mitch Capella of Jesuit pinned David Clement, but he had to work hard for it. Early in the second period for Capella to seized his opportunity for the win.

“I came out quick, but Clement was the one pushing the action,” said Capella. “I just had to be patient and wrestle my kind of match.”

Holy Cross’ Michael Yeatman, top rated in the 220-pound class, moved up to 285 and won an epic battle against Zac Creel, getting a pin in the final 15 seconds of the match.

“You have to be able to wrestle the full six minutes,” said Yeatman. “In a match like this with two evenly talented people, the first guy who makes a mistake will probably lose. I had to maintain my concentration and remember my technique.”

Holy Cross Coach Eric Desormeaux had mixed reactions on the match, although he credited the overall competitiveness of the team.

“We wrestled hard against a very strong, fundamentally sound Jesuit team,” said Desormeaux. “One thing we have to work on is to be able to finish the matches. Our conditioning is good, but we have some things we need to work on.”

In each of the three meetings so far, one team or the other has had a somewhat depleted squad due to injuries. Now, both are pointing to the Louisiana Classics tournament in January in Baton Rouge when both are expected to be at full strength.

In another of many hotly contest battles, in the 182-pound class, second ranked Gage Grush of Jesuit edged third ranked Porter Dazet of Holy Cross by decision, 3-2. Second ranked Alex Nicosia of Holy Cross maintained his spot in the ratings with a 7-3 decision against Ben D’Antonio, and the strategy was clear from the beginning.

“Since this was a dual meet, I was working for the pin,” said Nicosia. “He was tough and gave a lot more than I expect, but patience paid off and I got the win.”

Jesuit 42, Holy Cross 19

106 - . Beau Bush, Holy Cross (No. 4) def. Peyton Markey, Jesuit, decision (3-0)
*113 - Mitch Capella, Jesuit (No. 1), def. vs. David Clement, Holy Cross, pin (2:13)
120 - Alex Nicosia, Holy Cross (No. 2) def. Ben D’Antonio, Jesuit, decision (7-3)
126 - Collin Guerra, Holy Cross (No. 4) def. Jake Rivera, Jesuit, decision (6-4, OT)
132 - Will LaFranco, Jesuit,def. Nick Bonck, Holy Cross (No. 4), decision (5-4)
138 - Jackie Robinson, Jesuit, def. Preston Robichaux, Holy Cross, pin (1:39)
145 - Efosa Eboigbe, Jesuit (No. 4), def. David Olivier, Holy Cross, major decision (14-0)
*152 - Gaston Eymard, Jesuit (No. 1), def. Austin Doyle, Holy Cross (No. 6), decision (8-0)
160 - Brice Duhe, Holy Cross (No. 2), def. Christian Queyrouze, Jesuit, decision (13-4)
170 - Jimmy Brown, Jesuit (No. 2), def. Nick Nugen, Holy Cross, pin (4:27)
182 - Gage Grush, Jesuit (No. 2) def. Porter Dazet, Holy Cross (No. 3), decision (3-2)
***195 - Manny Armour, Jesuit (No. 1) won by forfeit
*220 - Dominic Carmella, Jesuit, def. Daniel Relayson, Holy Cross, decision (9-6)
285 - Michael Yeatman, Holy Cross (No. 1 in 220) def. Zac Creel, Jesuit, pin (5:46)