Girard’s McCloskey pulls out win in final seconds

March 10, 2017 at 12:07a.m.

COLUMBUS

Girard wrestler Dakota McCloskey was running out of time and chances.

The 120-pounder’s opening match of the state tournament was a stalemate with Beaver Local’s Skyler Lasure. Thursday’s match was tied with 1-1 with the last 20 seconds ticking down. All either wrestler managed was an escape. Somebody had to do something.

“Dakota is at the point in his career where there is no tomorrow. He doesn’t get to come back and try it again next year,” Girard coach Jim Cardiero said of his senior grappler. “Whether there was an opportunity for that shot or not, he knew he had to have it.”

In the final 10 seconds of the match, McCloskey landed the deciding shot on Lasure for a 3-1 victory.

“I saw the clock was coming down, so I knew I had to find a spot to make my shot soon. I didn’t have any time to waste,” McCloskey said. “I saw an opening and took it.”

McCloskey picked up win No. 154 — a program best — and his first at state. He last qualified for the tournament in his freshman season.

“I was a lot more scared my freshman year. I was happy I made it and wasn’t really trying to win it, McCloskey said. This year, I’m trying to place.”

McCloskey’s teammate, Jack DelGarbino (220), won in his state tournament debut. The sophomore pinned Sheffield Brookside’s Greg Packard in the third period.

“I could tell he was nervous,” Cardiero said. “You could tell he was afraid to take chances and once he got the first two points, I think he was feeling it again and he started dominating the match after that.”