Seniors deliver but Pirates nicked by Parma, 42-40

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – Rocky River Wrestling honored three graybeard grapplers as part of the program’s Senior Night on Thursday.

First-year member of the program Ergi Sulce and two four-year lettermen – Mahdi Salti and Matt Williams – were recognized in a ceremony prior to Rocky River’s Great Lakes Conference match against the Parma Redmen. All three seniors would log wins on a night that, despite their efforts, ended as a 42-40 victory for Parma.

Williams – a 2019 GLC runner-up and a two-time district qualifier – got things going for the Pirates with the 77^th victory of his stellar career. Williams pinned Parma’s Logan Oravec in the opening period of the bout at 106 pounds, giving River a 6-0 lead. The son of James and Kelly Williams is now 23-7 this season.

Sophomore 113-pounder Diego Norena extended Rocky River’s lead to 12-0 with another first-period pin. Norena is now 11-6 on the season. After an exchange of six-point wins for each side, sophomore Omar Abazied lifted the Sons of Blackbeard to a 24-6 lead with a win by fall at 132. 

A two-for-one exchange of forfeits and a Daniel Devara pin of junior Obaida Abazied at 152 brough the visiting Redmen within six (30-24). Parma then earned wins at 170 (by fall) and 182 (by forfeit) to leapfrog into a 36-30.

Senior Mahdi Salti stemmed the tide of Parma momentum with an impressive battle at 195 pounds. The son of Nigmeh and Issa Salti wore down Maven Samalot in an 11-2 major decision to run his season record to 11-8. With the victory by the two-time district qualifier and 2019 GLC runner-up, River cut its deficit to two (36-34).

But the last two bouts were a 6-for-6 trade – a win by fall for Parma’s Aiden Leslie at 220 and a win by forfeit by senior Ergi Sulce in the heavyweight class.

Buoyed by their senior leadership, the Pirates will continue their season next Thursday when they compete in a GLC tri-match hosted by the Bay Rockets.