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Pequannock gave wrestling coach Lenny Smith an early Christmas present with a 42-30 win over Passaic Valley. The victory was the 300th of the Smith's career. The Hornets took an early lead in the match, but Pequannock rallied to post pins in five of the last eight bouts to come away victorious in its first dual of the season.
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The early matches gave Passaic Valley a 14-12 lead which included technical fall at 145 pounds, a decision at 160 and a pin at 215. Freshman Mike Spencer delivered the critical six points with a third-period pin at heavyweight. Not only did he help change the momentum of the wrestling match but he started a stretch of four pins in a row by Pequannock. By now the match was 36-14 and the Panthers appeared to be on cruise control.
Passaic Valley wouldn't quit and was able to stay in the match with a major decision and a pin. With Ryan Dunphy, the Hornets' best wrestler, waiting at 140, Pequannock needed to avoid a pin at 135. Tyler Van Dyke did better than that, recording a pin himself to clinch the victory.
Passaic Valley knew they were coming to a hostile environment to face a tough team, according to coach Joseph Benvenuti. He said the bonus points were the deciding factor. Nevertheless, coach Benvenuti is optimistic about his team and expects improvement throughout the season.
Despite losing ten seniors to graduation, Pequannock doesn’t seem to be rebuilding this New Jersey wrestling season. The team wears T-shirts that read “Tradition Never Graduates” and they proved just that tonight.
Coach Smith minimized his 300th win. "It just means that I'm old," he joked. He also said he and the team are more interested in the school's 500th wrestling win in its sports history, which will happen with three more victories. Smith added that he is proud of the constant support he receives from the community, and hopes to deliver another successful season despite all the youth on the roster. -- Emir Liguori for Jersey Sports Now
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