In hindsight, Calvert Hall coach Henry Franklin would change a lot about yesterday's 35-33 loss to fifth-ranked Hammond.

How about the facts that Hammond sophomore Ryan Mackin (125) and senior teammate Nick LaSalle each broke ties late in their bouts to win, 6-5 and 6-3, over Cardinals wrestlers Kevin King and Zach Mryncza, respectively?

Or the fact that Hammond junior Rob Osborn (140), a JV champ last year, wound up pinning one of Franklin's wrestlers in the second period after holding only a 2-1 lead after the first period of a pivotal bout?

Or how about the brilliant strategy of Hammond co-coaches Paul Di Rienzo and Scott Farrow in the 171-pound bout?

Tied at 7 with eight seconds left, the coaches did not want to risk overtime -- particularly the possibility that Calvert Hall's more seasoned Mike Brannan could pin first-year starter Kevin Chrpaty -- for six team points. So they instructed Chrpaty to "let him up." As a result, Brannan took only an 8-7 decision, worth three team points.

"One kid doesn't get pinned, gives up the decision, we win, and 125, 130 were both really close matches," said Franklin, whose Cardinals (8-1) won, 47-19, over St. Paul's, which Hammond (5-1) hammered, 45-22.

Calvert Hall overcame an early 6-0 deficit with consecutive pins by top-ranked Chris Knox (112), who improved to 19-0 with 11 pins, and Derek Michaloski (119).

Hammond then reeled off four straight wins for a 23-12 lead, capped by Osborn's pin, but the Cardinals led 24-23 after consecutive first-period pins by top-ranked state champ Tony Russo (145) and Leo Monfredo (152).

Hammond rebounded for a 29-24 lead after Pat Jameson (160) flattened one of two opponents on the night, but Calvert Hall took the next two bouts for a 33-29 lead following Brannan's decision and a pin by Malcolm Blassey (189).

Calvert Hall clinched its fate with a forfeit to Hammond state runner-up Matt Nelson (heavyweight), as the defending 1A-2A state duals and tournament champs won their 23rd of their past 24 matches.

Hammond's state champion Vaymond Dennis (135) set a school record for career victories with two technical falls by identical scores of 20-3. Dennis has 109 career wins, eclipsing the record held by John Motley.

But the host St. Paul Crusaders (1-10) won the night's featured bout as heavyweight Nick Alevrogiannis (16-2, 10 pins) used an overtime escape to edge Nelson, 3-2.

St. Paul's Rob Roose (140) scored two major decisions.

Dons upset Gaels

A first-period pin by Rob Collins (189) clinched a 32-29 victory as unranked Loyola beat Mount St. Joseph, ranked No. 7 in the state, for the first time in school history.

Loyola (2-0) also got pins from Tony DeLauney (171), Matt Hahn (112) and Chris Volger (119), with a technical fall victory by

Danny Natterman (103) and a decision by Billy Rovito (135).

"We gave up one pin," said 15-year Dons coach Dennis Frazier. "We knew what we had to do, and the kids went out and did it."

Pub Date: 12/23/98