Drury dominates annual invitational
Posted in Press by Jeff on 12/22/2009 6:33:45 PM - EST
The Spartans amassed 90 points — on 12 medals and 20 top-five finishers — to upstage runners-up Heart Lake and Sandlewood — during this year’s event, which drew a record 400-plus competitors.
Becoming the first-ever five-time Drury Invitational champ, Bobby Fillman went 4-0 for his fourth medal of the year.
It was secured in thrilling fashion, as Halton rival Zach Falcioni — who’d been edged by Fillman at the St. Catharines tournament final just a week earlier — pulled out a 1-0 decision in round one and led the second round 1-0 until the dying seconds.
That’s when Fillman, who looks to have regained his old form after struggling with injuries earlier this year, rallied to put Falcioni on his back for a 2-1 win.
The Spartans veteran had to battle back again in the tiebreaker to prevail 4-1.
Claiming his third medal in as many meets, Duncan Moffat turned back three opponents for his third straight Drury Invitational title.
Facing Heart Lake’s Travis Farrell for the gold after convincing wins over grapplers from Newtonbrook and St. Francis Xavier, Moffat took the opening round 4-0 and then clinched top spot with a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
The hosts collected four silvers, including three in the novice ranks. Doing the honours were Zach Brady, Justin Carter and Curt Barter, while Devon Whyte finished second in the open division.
Rounding out the medal haul with bronze were Arie Moldvan, James Ponton, Marcus Green, Max Michaellis, Hussam Hussien and rookie Junior Lopez.
It was Green’s first medal since taking last year off, and the first of Lopez’s career.
Alex Burnham had his best showing of the season, going 4-1 for fourth.
Blair Norland matched that finish, while fifth-place efforts were delivered by Luke Campbell, Brendon Mendoza, Nigel Whitman and rookies Thomas McKenny, Rory Payton and Bien Nguyen.