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                                                                                                                       The Crusaders rallied from a 25-12 defecit to win their wrestling match against hated rival Don Bosco Prep 39-25 in a packed Hoel Gymnasium in Oradell on a cold Friday night.  The Red & Gold captured the final 5 matches of the night, and won their last 4 matches by pinfall to seal their victory.

                                                                                                                            It was not hard to single out the match of the night, as BC sophomore Lukas Iorio was heroic in his last-second miracle takedown and back points that allowed him to tie his match at 8-8 at the end of regulation.  Iorio would go on to win 9-8 in OT.  BC needed all the points it could get early on as the Ironmen dominated the in the upper weight classes, while BC then simply took over starting in the lower weights.

                                                                                                                      With BC trailing by 13 points, Trevor Albrecht got BC back in the win column with a 6-1 decision at 103 lbs.  Captain Tommy Casper then pinned at 112 lbs to really start to give BC the momentum they needed to get back into the match at 25-21.  Charlie Mitchell didn't take long to dominate in his 119 lbs match and pinned again for BC and gave the Red & Gold the lead back at 27-25.  That's when Coach Dave Bell showed his genius in his lineup.

                                                                                                                 Instead of putting out star wrestler Connor Melde at his normal 125 lbs spot, he instead turned to sophomore Mike Maye who had only match under his belt during the season and a 1-0 record.  With Maye trailing early on, you began to hear the rumblings from some of the BC faithful who wondered aloud why Coach Bell was not going in for the kill with his stud Melde.  But soon enough Bell would prove to be correct in his gameplan when Maye pinned his opponent and clinched the night for the home Crusaders of Bergen Catholic.  Melde would come to the mat in the last match at 130, but without the possibility of facing Bosco's best Joe Orecchio.  Melde took advantage and completed the night with a BC pin to give the Crusaders another solid victory over their rivals from Ramsey.

                                                                                                                       The buzz was electric in the gym with fans from both sides passionately behind their teams.  BC flexed its muscles on this evening and understand they may have not seen the last of the Ironmen this season, but for Friday night BC relished coming from behind and convincingly beating Bosco.  Now it's on to Paramus on Monday night, where BC hopes to finally give an answer to the immortal question of who is the best in Bergen County.

                                                                                                                        DL