SOMERS, N.Y. - When Derek Kuchinsky’s pin put Somers up 26–9, the Dec. 4 match seemed well in hand. So when Joe Simoncini fell behind 8–1, the deficit didn’t appear all that urgent. The 157-pounder wasn’t watching the scoreboard, though.
“He was on top, I rolled him though and pinned him,” said the Tusker. The nine-point swing proved pivotal in Somers’ 37–33 home victory.
After a double forfeit to open the match, Somers fell behind 3–0 with Samuel Kern’s 13–7 win over John Jackson. And while still early in the lineup, the 118-pound matchup featured a pair of heavy hitters: David Corrales and Ethan Steuber, both state qualifiers whose paths finally crossed.
But for Steuber, more than bragging rights were on the line. \
“I knew what was on the line,” said the senior, “my 100th win at home.”
Corrales’ deep double-leg attempt in the first period didn’t bode well, but Steuber recovered and began dictating the match.
“I like to fight all my matches like that,” he said, “never give anything up.”
That proved to be an understatement. The John Jay standout was soon back-pedaling as Steuber scored a takedown for a 3–0 lead after one period.
The score held through the second, and to start the third, Corrales chose to rely on his strength. He cut Steuber loose, then executed a takedown to pull within one. But with no turn from the top, he again released Steuber. Unable to finish another takedown, Corrales was left with high praise from his opponent.
“Great competition,” said the Tusker. “There’s no one else I’d want to get my hundred wins against.”
At 126, the drama was short-lived. Loghan Dwyer scored an early takedown and cruised to a 14–0 major decision.
John Jay answered at 132, where Emerson Flamm earned a fall with nine seconds left in the second period to give the Wolves a 9–8 lead.
It didn’t last. Ryan Ball received a forfeit at 138, and at 144, Cal Ehrmann needed just 35 seconds.
“A takedown with a double leg, taken to a half and that was it,” he said of his first-period pin.
Kuchinsky kept the momentum going. After building a 12–1 lead in the second period, he wasn’t content with a major decision.
“We’re looking for pins here,” said the 150-pounder. With 57 seconds left in the period, he delivered six more team points.
Down 26–9, Hunter Carini aimed to halt the onslaught. The John Jay wrestler took Simoncini down twice and racked up near-fall points. But the Somers freshman battled back, cutting the lead in half with a double-leg takedown and refusing to stay down in the third.
He secured a reversal and ran a half-nelson to the pin with 50 seconds remaining. “I feel very proud of how I performed,” he said. “My third ever varsity match, it’s very good to win.”
Somers’ cushion proved enough to withstand a pair of John Jay pins. After swapping forfeits late, Joe Ferrer’s second-period pin at 285 sealed the night.
“I’m pretty stoked to get the victory,” concluded Kuchinsky.
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