Burrell wrestlers throw weight around in resounding victory over Valley
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Wednesday, January 8, 2025 | 10:10 PM
Burrell’s Ben Catullo works on top against Valley’s Jaron Reid on Wednesday night. Catullo won by technical fall in the first period.
Valley’s Juzef Betts struggles to keep his headgear on while attempting to keep control of Burrell’s Jacob Stewart in a 133-pound bout Wednesday night. Stewart earned a 7-6 decision win.
Burrell’s Calio Zanella lunges at Valley’s Antonio Perkins during the second period of their 145-pound match Wednesday night at Valley High School. Zanella won 19-3 by tech fall.
Carter Thomas locks up Valley’s Xavier Ross during the second period of their 121-pound match Wednesday night. Thomas won by pin and the Buccaneers won the match 67-6.
Carter Thomas felt that weight fell off him much easier last year.
But the 121-pound Burrell sophomore wrestler hasn’t let the challenges of staying in his weight class wear on him.
Thomas picked up a second-period win over Valley’s Xavier Ross on Wednesday night at Valley High School to help the Buccaneers roll to a 67-6 Section 9-2A win.
It was a tough turnaround for the Buccaneers (4-0, 3-0), who wrestled Hempfield on Tuesday night. Thomas and his teammates had to stay disciplined to make weight twice in a short timespan.
“Weight’s been harder to lose,” said Thomas, who is 10-3 on the season. “I’m goin’ all I can. It’s trial-and-error.”
This week, the diet plan did well for Thomas. He also picked up a 10-0 major decision win over Hempfield’s Nathan Caracciolo.
Thomas’ pre-match meal consists of three rice cakes, pineapple and Pedialyte.
“After weigh-ins, I have to stay on a very strict diet so I don’t feel sick when I wrestle or make sure I don’t feel like I haven’t had enough,” Carter said. “I have to feel right to wrestle.”
Carter had to battle through a stop-and-start match with the Vikings’ Xavier Ross.
Ross took a bump during the first period that led to him bleeding from his nose. While Carter was working on top, one of the holds started the bleeding again.
“We wanted him to remain calm,” Burrell coach Steve Ansani said. “The blood will be taken care of, and let’s go back to business.”
Carter said he used the extra time on the mat to collect himself.
“You can’t control it,” Carter said. “It happens. The blood time gives you a mental rest. I’ll get in my head sometimes. I’ll take things personally. I just have to stay calm.”
The Buccaneers lineup was all about business against Valley (1-2, 1-2). Burrell picked up bonus points in 10 of the 11 contested matches, including seven pins.
Cadyn Crawford (145 pounds), Isaac Lacinski (172), Logan Shank (189), Luke Boylan (215) and Ayden Kun (285) also won by fall for the Buccaneers. Calio Zanella (152) and Ben Catullo (160) won by tech fall.
“We did a good job,” Ansani said. “We were aggressive like we wanted to be.”
Julian Bertucci opened the match for the Buccaneers with a pin in 38 seconds. Burrell built a 58-0 lead before Radyn Thomas picked up Valley’s lone win with a pin at 114 pounds.
“I thought we could have done a little better,” Vikings coach Dane Johnson said. “I knew we wrestled a great wrestling team. They have a tradition of being great. They fight hard.”
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