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Ryan Jones wraps up a 42-35 win for Citrus by beating Jesse Navarro.
By CAREY FREEMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 10, 2002
LECANTO -- There is little doubt Ryan Jones will remember his first pin. Especially when one considers the circumstances. Citrus held an 18-point advantage over Lecanto when Jones took the mat against the Panthers' Jesse Navarro. The Hurricanes needed a pin from their 171-pounder to secure a second victory against Lecanto this season.
Jones didn't disappoint.
Holding a slim two-point lead midway through the third period, Jones turned Navarro and scored his first pin with 30 seconds remaining to clinch the 42-35 victory for the Hurricanes (5-29).
"I thought I had to beat him for us to win, but I didn't know until after the match," Jones said. "We've got pretty big rivalries with Crystal River and Lecanto, so this feels good."
With both teams forfeiting a number of weight classes, the match came down to eight contests. Citrus won five, capping its night with Jones' pin.
But it wasn't quite that easy.
Citrus led 36-12 after Jones' win, but gave up 23 points in the next four bouts and needed a last-match forfeit at 112 pounds to finish off the Panthers. "We did good, but the forfeits kind of helped at the end," Hurricanes coach Ed Kilpatrick said. "I knew we had to win (Jones' match) to beat them, but I wasn't sure if he clinched it. I thought if he had gotten beat, they could have tied it."
Of Citrus' five victories, two came by pin. Kevin Larkin pinned Lecanto's Corbin Glantz with 5 seconds left in the 130-pound match.
Evan Branson's 16-3 major decision against Blake Hallowell at 119 started things off for Citrus. Scott Mauller followed with a 13-10 win against Dustin Cummings at 135 and Clark Stillwell won a 13-7 decision against Chris Delapaz at 152.
Lecanto (4-10) got two pins in its three victories. Terence Hollis pinned Marc Mandors in 1 minute, 52 seconds at 160 pounds and Casey Potts pinned Dan Marinelli in 2:47 at heavyweight. Darrel Hornback got Lecanto's final win, a 28-12 major decision at 103 pounds.