WESTFIELD – Revenge sure is sweet.
Just 10 days before the two teams met for the second time this season, Ludlow manhandled Westfield 45-27. The Bombers, who co-op with Westfield Technical Academy, flipped the script on the Lions, downing the host school 48-27 Tuesday night.
“It took a courageous effort from Westfield to turn the tide and exact some revenge on Ludlow,” Westfield wrestling coach Chris Malinowski said. “It took our best performance of the year.”
Westfield junior wrestler Cam Foster pulled out a sudden death victory at 160 pounds, junior Mike Durkee lost a hard-fought 170-pound bout 5-2, senior Doug Rodgers (220 pounds) rallied against Ludlow’s Antwan Webb, freshman Colby Clauson (113) earned a pin in 1:26, senior captain Ed Borodin (126) recorded a 59 second pin, senior captain Ed Towers (138) earned a key victory, and senior captain Vitaliy Borodin (145) pinned down a win in 55 seconds.
Westfield’s Cam flips Ludlow’s Jayden Giza and the 160-pound match upside down, rallying from a 2-0 deficit en route to a 6-4 overtime win. (Photo by Chris Putz)
“It was an improbable turnaround victory,” coach Malinowski said.
Rodgers was taken down in the first period, put his back to the mat in the second, and just when it looked like the match was over, rolled through to get off his back. Shortly after, he was able to reverse Webb and put him on his back only to have Webb roll through on him.
Rodgers trailed 9-4 early in the third period, but returned Webb to the mat, rotating his hips and putting his opponent to his back, keeping him there for the pin and a 12-point swing.
In their previous meeting, Christian McKenzie pinned Towers in 59 seconds. This time around, McKenzie started strong, nearly putting Towers on his back. Towers fought through and earned a reversal to tie the match. Towers took the lead in the second with a reversal. McKenzie reclaimed the lead in the third, but Towers would not be denied.
Towers scored a takedown in the final seconds, putting McKenzie on his back for a narrow 8-6 win.
Westfield returns to action Saturday at the Chicopee Comprehensive dual meet tournament before squaring off against Longmeadow for the league championship Wednesday.
GIRLS SWIMMING
Fraser, Bombers excel
Westfield 115.5, Northampton 69.5
Lizzie Fraser won the 200 individual medley (2:23.90), 100 freestyle (58.76), and teamed up with Emilie Pease, Emily Mihalek, and Emily Langlois to win the medley relay (2:02.70) and Langlois, Catherine O’Connor, and Alexa Richter to win the 200 free relay (1:49.19).
O’Connor (500 free, 5:46.04), Pease (100 backstroke, 1:10.43), and the 400 free relay team of Allie Russell, Elizabeth Dion, O’Connor, and Richter (4:05.00) also won.
BOYS SWIMMING
Lurgio, Beaulieu boost Bombers
Westfield 106, Northampton 67
Patrick Lurgio and Jack Beaulieu won two events apiece to lead Westfield. Lurgio finished first in the 200 IM (2:15.61) and 100 breaststroke (1:12.75); Beaulieu won gold in the 100 fly (58.59) and 100 backstroke (1:01.72).
Tommy Russell (50 free, 22.28), Kevin Hayes (diving, 227.75), the medley relay team of Russell, Lurgio, Beaulieu, and Matt Morash (1:46.66), and the 200 free relay team of Morash, Lurgio, Cole Viamari, and Russell (1:37.65) also won.
“It was a nice senior night,” Westfield swim coach Tom Lewis said.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Tigers roar back to life
Westfield Technical Academy 73, Pathfinder 42
Westfield Tech dominated Pathfinder for a key victory in the postseason chase.
“There was no self-pity,” said Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball head coach Kyle Dulude, whose team suffered a brutal double overtime loss last week. “We just turned the page and made it our mission to just play better and learn from our mistakes.
The win created a two-way tie with Pathfinder in league play. Teams qualify for the postseason by posting a .500 or better record, or by finishing first or second in their respective leagues.
Westfield Tech’s David Tikhonchuk had an outstanding game, leading all scorers with 28 points. Josh Bush netted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Nine other Tigers scored, including Dakota Noel, who drained a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Noel, a four-year student at Westfield Tech, has been a party of the varsity program in some capacity during his time with the team.
“This year we put him on the roster, did not guarantee him any playing time, but told him if the time was right, he would get his moment,” coach Dulude said. “Dakota comes to practice every day and is a very vocal leader who tries extremely hard,” Dulude said. “Today he made the most of his opportunity in his first varsity minute for the basketball program.”
Noel found his way to the corner and on a cross court pass from Tikhonchuk, squared himself up and knocked down the three. He received a standing ovation.?“It was something special,” coach Dulude said.
Spartans hold off Bombers
East Longmeadow 52, Westfield 50
Westfield nearly came away with a stunning road victory in a hard fought battle, just missing in the waning seconds as East Longmeadow held on.
Jason Ayala (18 points) and Sebastian O’Neal (12) led the East Longmeadow attack – both players converted four 3-pointers apiece.
Will Cameron (16 points), Tony Torres (11), and Riley Coughlin (11) led Westfield.
Rams get even
Southwick 53, Hampshire 45
Southwick opened with a 17-6 run and closed out a victory with a solid fourth quarter. Dan Scharmann and Cade Billings led the Rams with 15 and 10 points, respectively,
“We played 16 good minutes and 16 poor minutes,” Southwick coach Peter Fiorentino said. “We’re walking out of there with a win so that’s nice.”
With the win, Southwick improved to 6-6.
“It’s very important to get back to .500,” said Fiorentino, whose team is now four wins away from earning a tournament berth. “It’s going to be a battle to get in.”
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pedolzky nets 22 in loss
Chicopee 64, Westfield 59
Nicole Rodriguez scored a game-high 23 points to lead visiting Chicopee past Westfield.
Chandler Pedolzky tallied a team-best 22 points for Westfield. Bombers’ Kaela Mochak had 14.
Rams win thriller
Southwick 45, Frontier 44
Emily Martin and Hannah Burke each scored 12 in Southwick’s narrow victory.
In JV action, Michelle St. Jacques recorded 20 points in leading the Rams to a 37-27 victory.
Gators turn back Tigers
Gateway 34, Westfield Technical Academy 10
Becca Herman made 9-of-16 from the free throw line, and finished with a game-high 11 points for Gateway. Gators’ Grace Van Buren scored 10, and Angela Wright and Lily Waters each had four.
Jeika Rios led Westfield Tech with four points.
