By KEN LIPSHEZ
Staff Writer

BERLIN — The intensity that characterizes every sporting event between Berlin and Plainville had the Redcoats’ old gym shaking.

Neither team is going to emerge from its first campaign in the CCC South with a title — that’s almost surely the property of Bristol Central — but bragging rights between the towns is as big on the mat as it is on the diamond, the gridiron and the hardwood.

So when Plainville’s Matt Tanner and Will Matuszak of Berlin squared off in 140-pound bout with the outcome in doubt, the crowd really raised the roof.

Tanner felt some apprehension but when the whistle sounded, he was all business, scoring a decision over Matuszak that secured Plainville’s 39-26 win.

Berlin trailed 30-26 with two bouts remaining when Tanner and Matuszak faced up. The Redcoats (7-5) needed a win to have any chance of continuing their recent mastery of the Blue Devils (7-3).

“I was nervous,” said Tanner, a state placewinner as a freshman and sophomore. “They bumped up some guys. Matuszak was at 135 but they felt like if they beat me, they had a chance at 145. But I was mentally prepared. I knew if I won, we won the match.”

Tanner, a junior, squeezed out a takedown with 1:25 left in the first period. The lead was cut to 2-1 when Matuszak was awarded a penalty point for an illegal hold.

Matuszak chose the down slot for the second period and escaped halfway through to tie the bout. But Tanner took control with 32 seconds left with another takedown.

With Tanner down for the start of the third, he engineered an escape with 54 seconds left. With Matuszak reduced to desperation, Tanner took him down again for a 5-2 win.

“All during middle school I wrestled him and it was always by two points, one point,” Tanner said. “I knew he was a competitor and I was prepared.”

Plainville coach Doug Fink, relishing his first win over Berlin since he took the Blue Devils’ position four years ago, sensed that Tanner would prevail.

“To see them bump up to Tanner, I have a good amount of confidence in Matt,” he said. “I wasn’t upset about that move at all.”

At 145, Plainville’s Rob Voisine applied the icing with authority by sticking courageous Chad Keyworth in 1:16.

Berlin coach Dave Tremblay, his team wracked by injury, couldn’t jockey the lineup enough to offset Plainville’s strength. The Redcoats ended up yielding six points at 130 and heavyweight. But Tremblay is far from the type to succumb to alibis.

“I thought it would be a close match because we were pretty banged up,” Tremblay said.

Senior captain Andrew Soneson (thumb) and senior 145-pounder Mike Campisi (shoulder) were unavailable. Keyworth, wrestling despite sustaining a gash in his head during practice on Monday, went to the hospital after his bout for an MRI. Speculation was he may have sustained a concussion.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Plainville,” Tremblay said emphatically. “They’re a good team. You wrestle with what you’ve got and this could happen to them just as easily. It’s wrestling. You just go at them one on one.”

The competition began with the bout at 152 pounds where Berlin’s Anthony Squiteri displayed superb technique, scoring seven takedowns en route to a major decision over Dave Oliviera. At 160, Plainville’s Steve Longo trailed Eddie Perez 1-0 going into the third period but scored a takedown and back points before pinning his fading foe at 5:18.

Berlin’s Frank Murphy overcame an early deficit with three third-period takedowns in outpointing Ricky Costa in a 14-12 slugfest at 171. The Redcoats’ unbeaten Jack Banks, pushed up to 189 from his more comfortable 171 slot, beat Jake Pietrowicz by major decision.

Mason Powers gave Berlin a 14-6 lead when he overpowered Kevin Spence, 3-0, at 215 pounds.

The Redcoats’ 103-pounder Dan Cirullo restored the eight-point lead after the forfeit at 285 by pinning Alex Lawson in 40 seconds. Plainville surged into the lead for good with Brian Lister (112) and Vinny Russo (119) making quick work of their Berlin foes.

Berlin’s Shaun Sullivan outlasted Josh Foster in a classic at 125. Foster took the early lead with a takedown but Sullivan escaped late in the period. Sullivan rode Foster for the entire second stanza before a third-period reversal gave him a 3-2 win.

Plainville’s Kyle Pelletier won by forfeit at 130.

Berlin freshman Jordan Zima had a breakout performance with a 5-3 decision over Tim Satalino, a high point for Tremblay.

“Zima’s a freshman who shouldn’t have even been in the lineup and he came through,” Tremblay said.

Plainville 39, Berlin 26

At Berlin

152—Anthony Squiteri (B) dec. Dave Oliviera, 17-5; 160—Steve Longo (P) pin Eddie Perez, 5:18; 171—Frank Murphy (B) dec. Ricky Costa, 14-12; 189—Jack Banks (B) dec. Jake Pietrowicz, 13-5; 215—Mason Powers (B) dec. Kevin Spence, 3-0; 285—Stefano Celli (P) won by forfeit; 103—Dan Cirullo (B) pin Alex Lawson, :40; 112—Brian Lister (P) pin Kevin Pirucci, 1:12; 119—Vinny Russo (P) pin Mike Sapula, :58; 125—Shaun Sullivan (B) dec. Josh Foster, 3-2; 130—Kyle Pelletier (P) won by forfeit; 135—Jordan Zima (B) dec. Tim Satalino, 5-3; 140—Matt Tanner (P) dec. Will Matuszak, 5-2; 145—Rob Voisine (P) pin Chad Keyworth, 1:16.

Records: Plainville 7-3, Berlin 7-5.