When a Northampton–Nazareth dual meet comes down to the final period of the final bout of the night, you expect a gym full of wrestling fans of both schools generating palpable energy.

However, COVID denied last Wednesday’s event the atmosphere the 32-29 contest deserved.

The match came down to the Kids’ Patrick Snoke and the Blue Eagles’ Jake Doone at 126. Snoke escaped with 1:57 left in the bout to even the score at 1-1. Doone scored a takedown with 1:43 remaining and held off Snoke to win 3-2.

Assistant coach Mike Sommer (Seth Lisa was in contact tracing and did not attend) spoke of Snoke,

“He was wrestling hard,” said Sommer, “battling to win one for his team. It’s not on him. It was a good, solid effort.”

Nazareth, ranked second in the state but wrestling their first dual meet of the season, got the first team points of the night with a major decision at 132.

The next 17 points went to Northampton.

C.J. Fritz scored a quality win over Vinny Hebel 10-4. Dagan Condomitti moved to 3-0 on the season with a fall in 45 seconds. Noah Reichelderfer rode out Nick Foster in the 2nd and 3rd periods, including a near-fall in the second, to win 3-0. Jagger Condomitti scored a tech fall, 20-5, in 4:38 at 160 pounds.

Nazareth turned the tide with three-straight falls at weights 172, 189, and 215. Sonny Sasso pinned Blaise Wagner in 4:23. Landon Roland and Carson Czarnecki suffered first period pins to Joe Capobianco and Drew Clearie respectively.

“We knew that was going to be very, very tough for us, going through the grinder,” Sommer said. “Roland and Czarnecki are a freshman and a sophomore going against some big, older men. That’s a good learning experience for guys that are going to be with us a few more years.”

Kyle Perl dropped a 13-9 decision at heavyweight to Chase Levey. That made the score 25-17 Nazareth with 4 bouts to go.

Carson Wagner moved to 3-0 on the season with a first period fall in 1:15.

Austin Noe received a forfeit at 113. Nazareth’s Charlie Bunting was in contact tracing. The Kids led 29-25.

Aidan Micheli suffered a 10-1 major decision to 2020 state qualifier Andreo Ferraina at 120 pounds to tie the meet at 29-29.

A dual meet with Bethlehem Catholic was scheduled for last Friday but was canceled due to COVID concerns at Beca.

The wrestlers were supposed to close out their regular season on Wednesday with a Senior Night dual against Parkland, who substituted for Freedom. But that match has been postponed. The next action could be at team districts next weekend, although it is possible that the school will opt out. Individual districts are Feb. 19 and 20.