Vikings glad to repeat

Northeast takes advantage as Dixie Hollins meets its match in the finals.

By DOUG KATES
Published January 7, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Last season the Northeast Vikings won their first St. Petersburg City championship in 11 years. Saturday night they didn't want to let go of that honor.

With the consolation finals and the championship round still ahead, Northeast and five-time team champion Dixie Hollins were deadlocked at 152.5. The Rebels captured three third-place finishes to move ahead 166.5-157.5, but fell apart in the finals.

The Rebels sent seven to the mat in search of individual titles, but Jake Lawhead (130 pounds) was the only one to have his hand raised.

Northeast qualified eight wrestlers for the finals and six won championships. The Vikings captured the team title over Dixie Hollins 189.5-170.5.

"I knew we had the potential to do well," Northeast's first-year coach Danny Hill said. "It was time for our guys to step it up and push themselves."

After Lawhead's victory, Dixie Hollins had a 7-point lead, but never scored another point.

The Vikings began their comeback at 135 pounds when Ryan Moore scored a first-period pin to pull within one point. At 145 and 152 pounds, Dixie Hollins and Northeast went head-to-head. Josh Delmontagne (145) trailed 3-0, but fought back and was given a free escape with 30 seconds left to win by a 7-6 decision. A.J. Yingling (152) then posted a third-period pin for a 179.5-170.5 lead. The Vikings wrapped up the title when Ambrose Chisholm posted a decision at 171 pounds and Dylan Mundella (16-0) won with a pin at 285 pounds. Ricky Moore was the first Northeast champion at 125 pounds.

Yingling, a three-time city champion, was thinking pin.

"I went out there, got the job done and pinned him for the team," he said. "We wanted to keep the trophy."

St. Petersburg Catholic had three champions to move into third place.

[Last modified January 7, 2007, 00:12:51]