Article by Phoenix writer Britney Guevara ’21:
Yesterday the Firebird Wrestling team defended league rival Chaminade by a score of 44 to 36 and clinched a share of the league dual meet title. Down 12 to 0 early the Firebird lightweights of Anthony Ladevaio and Ryan Paladino both earned a pair of major decisions to get the team back into the match. Unfortunately, the visiting Flyers would go on to take the next 4 bouts to build their lead to 30 to 8. In the 152 pound match senior caption Joe Muratore would swing the momentum of the dual meet pinning his opponent with a headlock. From there the Firebirds were soaring winning the final 5 matches of the dual meet by pin. Junior Marco Psyllos led off the pin parade threw off his opponent to his back multiple times before locking up the pin in the second period. Still needing two more wins Junior Hector Ketant bumped up two weight classes giving up 30 pounds and dominated his opponent before putting the Firebirds on top in the team score for the first time with his pin, finally Tim McGrath would close out the dual with a pin of his own assuring victory for the Firebirds. The teams record now stands at 11 wins and 3 losses and will compete next in the CHSAA Duals this weekend before heading to St. Anthony’s next week where a win will secure an outright league title for the team.