Loyalsock wrestled in four bouts against Troy and came away with a victory in each one and wrestled well in all four contests despite a 36-20 loss to Troy in the final home dual of the season for the Lancers.

Braden Vincenzes wrestled outstanding at 160 pounds in his bout with Jacob Hinman. The Lancer had a key takedown in the first period to take a 2-0 lead before going up 3-0 early within the second period. Vincenzes did well not allowing Hinman to get a chance to take him down or wrap him up.

In the third period, Vincenzes worked at Hinman early, wrapping up his leg into a nice takedown and worked him from the top. Hinman would manage a late escape with 30 seconds left, but Vincenzes sealed the win for a 3-1 decision to give him victory No. 99 for his career, one shy of the 100-win club milestone as the postseason looms.

“Vinny wrestled great, that was a pretty tough kid. I felt like he wrestled him well,” Loyalsock teammate Kaden Rodarmel said. “I felt like when he got in he finished and he rode him tough. Vinny’s looking tough for postseason, he’s gonna make a run for sure.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Ivan Baker wrestles against Troy's Wilder Koch at 121 pounds on Thursday. Baker won by decision, 3-2.

Rodarmel’s match with Rylan Breidt was never in doubt. Rodarmel controlled the bout from the beginning and kept racking up points. The Lancer took an early 2-0 lead and then had a monster takedown with 45 seconds remaining for a 5-0 lead before Breidt cut the lead to 5-2. Rodarmel kept working at him, however, and built up a 10-2 lead heading into the second period.

In that second period, Rodarmel got three points early for a 13-3 lead and had a nice shoot low on Breidt and managed to turn him, resulting in another two points and a 15-3 lead.

“On my feet I was taking him down pretty easily. My legs were a little sore, I was a little tired from the last practice, but I felt like on my feet I was pretty good,” Rodarmel said. “I thought I had him pinned in the first period, I turned him once or twice.”

In that third period, Breidt had an escape early to make it 15-4, but with 65 seconds remaining in the third period, Rodarmel sealed a tech fall victory, 19-4.

“Just to open him up, get to my attacks,” Rodarmel said as to what was working. “Coach (Chris) Engler said to be aggressive and to be smart and I felt like I did that pretty OK. I got to tighten some things up before postseason though.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent At 215 pounds, Loyalsock's Ethan French wrestles Troy's Reed Palmer on Thursday. French secured a decision win.

Ethan French secured a tight win at 215 against Reed Palmer. Halfway into the first period, French was able to take a 2-0 lead and worked Palmer from the top position throughout the first period. Neither team had much offense going in the second period as French took a 3-0 lead into the third.

IN that third period, Palmer made things interesting throughout. He cut the deficit to 3-1 but then French countered wtih a huge takedown for a 5-3 lead with 52 seconds left. However, Palmer managed to cut the deficit to 5-4 with 34.5 seconds left to keep French on his feet. Palmer tried shooting low in the closing seconds to get key points, but French was able to read his offense and countered to secure an 8-4 decision victory.

“I feel like French, he’s had a lot of injuries so he’s coming back from them pretty well,” Rodarmel said. “I think he can make a run too.”

Loyalsock’s only other contested bout came at 121 where Ivan Baker competed against Wilder Koch.

Koch led early 2-0 midway through the first period before Baker was able to secure two points late and tie it at 2-all heading into the second period. Baker would take a 3-2 lead with 1:35 remaining in the second period and didn’t allow Koch to counter the rest of the way. Baker was on the defensive through the third period, not giving up any key points or an escape to allow the momentum to shift away.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent At 215 pounds, Loyalsock's Ethan French wrestles Troy's Reed Palmer on Thursday. French secured a decision win.

Fans were packed into Ron ‘CI’ Insinger Gymnasium on Thursday as Loyalsock honored its three seniors in Rodarmel, Vincenzes and French. In addition, Loyalsock also honored longtime coach Ben Hepburn, who after 40 years is stepping down as coach of the Lancers. The school district honored Hepburn on Thursday by announcing it was naming the wrestling room the Ben Hepburn Wrestling Room in his honor.

“It definitely gets you more hyped to have all these people here to come and support you,” Rodarmel said of the atmosphere. “It benefits you for sure.”

Troy 36, Loyalsock 20

107: Jay Cummings (T) by forfeit. 114: Double forfeit. 121: Ivan Baker (L) dec. Wilder Koch, 3-2. 127: Keagan Kerr (T) by forfeit. 133: Connor Phillips (L) by forfeit. 139: Logann Heasley (T) by forfeit. 145: Carter Austin (T) by forfeit. 152: Kenyon Slater (T) by forfeit. 160: Braden Vincenzes (L) dec. Jacob Hinman, 3-1. 189: Kaden Rodarmel (L) tech fall Rylan Breidt, 19-4, 4:55. 215: Ethan French (L) dec. Reed Palmer, 8-4. 285: Double forfeit.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent At 215 pounds, Loyalsock's Ethan French wrestles Troy's Reed Palmer on Thursday. French secured a decision win.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Kaden Rodarmel competes against Troy's Rylan Breidt at 189 pounds on Thursday. Rodarmel won with a tech fall.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Kaden Rodarmel competes against Troy's Rylan Breidt at 189 pounds on Thursday. Rodarmel won with a tech fall.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Kaden Rodarmel competes against Troy's Rylan Breidt at 189 pounds on Thursday. Rodarmel won with a tech fall.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Kaden Rodarmel competes against Troy's Rylan Breidt at 189 pounds on Thursday. Rodarmel won with a tech fall.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Braden Vincenzes wrestles Troy's Jacob hinman at 160 pounds on Thursday. Vincenzes won via decision, 3-1.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Braden Vincenzes wrestles Troy's Jacob hinman at 160 pounds on Thursday. Vincenzes won via decision, 3-1.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Braden Vincenzes wrestles against Troy's during a high school wrestling match at Loyalsock on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2024.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Braden Vincenzes wrestles Troy's Jacob hinman at 160 pounds on Thursday. Vincenzes won via decision, 3-1.