St. Charles East wrestling hands Batavia first Upstate Eight River loss

BATAVIA – St. Charles East wrestlers transformed from Batavia antagonists to Bulldogs fans with the subtlety of a first-period fall on Friday night.

“It’s really weird after we just wrestled,” Saints senior 171-pounder Mike Caddy said, “but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”

East downed Batavia, 43-25, in an Upstate Eight Conference River Division dual, finishing its inaugural run through the league with a 5-1 record. Batavia could be 5-1 in the conference with a win at Geneva in two weeks, a result that would give the Vikings the same one-blemish mark and create a three-way tie atop the standings.

Bulldogs sophomore Joey Shump and his teammates know what’s going on, too, and offered the Saints some salve while they wait.

“We haven’t been anywhere Geneva’s been yet, but I think we definitely match up well,” Shump said. “I think we’ll stick right with Geneva.”

East (12-5) fell four points short against the Vikings last week and continued its surge on the heels of that league loss. Hours after their conference title bid took a hit, the Saints rose to compete in the Glenbard West Chris Chappell Invitational last Saturday, producing six champions in the 11 weight classes they entered.

Ryan Rubino (103 pounds), Joe Dede (119), Isaiah Vela (125), Nick Ruffino (130), Peter Bellino (135) and Caddy captured titles then, and all continued their winning ways on Friday.

Batavia (5-10, 4-1 UEC River) bookended the dual with Augie Watson’s major decision at 152 pounds and a Matt Goodin pin at 145. Both teams registered three victories by fall, though the Bulldogs ultimately struggled when other matches got close.

“I think we’re doing a lot of the right things, we’re just getting outwrestled,” Batavia coach Ben Morris said. “I don’t have any easy answers. I just think you get back on the mat and you get your nose back on the grindstone.”

Morris will get his wish soon enough. Mimicking the Saints’ quick turnaround, the Bulldogs carted and unrolled the mats for today’s Batavia Tournament after huddling to discuss Friday’s loss.

Batavia took a 13-9 lead when the Saints forfeited at 215 pounds, but East rallied to close the match by collecting 34 of the next 46 points.

Vela, the Chappell MVP, thought Peter Bellino’s match at 140 typified the run. Wrestling up a class as a fill-in for an ill Brad Kearbey, Bellino overcame a two-point deficit entering the third period to defeat Laren Eustace in overtime.

Bellino earned a 12-10 win with a takedown 38 seconds into the extra period.

“He’s a tough guy,” Vela said. “He pushed himself the last period and ended up taking him down and winning the match.”

Ruffino wrestled up a class to accommodate for the lineup shuffle, as well, shrugging off the switch to get a major decision at 135. In another substitution, assistant Mark Pereda handled the duties of coach Steve Smerz, who missed the dual to attend to a family matter.

The Saints expect to get Smerz back soon as they begin to prepare for the regular-season stretch run. Before crossing their fingers for the Batavia-Geneva dual, the Saints get to grapple with both teams next week at the UEC Tournament at East Aurora.