Mark Twain may not have been referring to the Bellaire wrestling program when he said "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog," but it fits quite well as the Big Reds knocked off a pair of Division I juggernauts to place third at the Wheeling Park Duals Tuesday.

Coach Shane Shaffer showcased a wrecking ball of middle weights which managed to create two big leads over Solon and Cuyahoga Falls. Building those leads and staying off their back allowed the Big Reds to edge the two squads, 38-29 and 33-31, respectively, in the championship pool.

"Today proves our kids can step up to the challenge. We were facing teams that have more kids they can choose from to produce adequate programs," Shaffer explained as the Big Reds defeated five programs that would be considered Division I in Ohio during the two-day dual tournament. "We are very capable of getting athletes out at Bellaire and having them perform at high levels. I am just fortunate that they came together in the same year."

After being dismantled by Parkersburg South, who went on to defeat Southern Garrett (Md.) in the finals, Shaffer and crew needed to shake off a 39 point stumble.

"We had a chance to watch Solon and South before we wrestled Solon," Shaffer said. "After watching South doing their number on Solon, like they did to us, I felt comfortable if we stepped up and wrestled the way we are capable we could win this dual meet."

In a 9-9 deadlock after four matches, Bellaire's wrecking ball crew came alive posting six consecutive wins three pins, one major decision and two decision before giving up 20 points in their four upper weights against Solon.

"We know we struggle with the upper part of our lineup. We know we need to build a big enough lead to slave off our opponents," Shaffer said.

As the Big Reds moved onto Cuyahoga Falls the scenario was very similar as Bellaire won six-of-seven matches before giving up 21 points in the last four matches of the dual. Tight on points, the Big Reds could not afford to give up pins in all of the final bouts knowing a forfeit was coming at heavyweight.

Bellaire finished the two-day iron man like event with duals wins over John Marshall, Plum Area, Cabell Midland, Elkins (W.Va.), Steubenville, Solon and Cuyahoga Falls.

TOURNAMENT NOTES

RIVALS Wheeling Park and John Marshall, who were one and two in last year's dual championship, were nowhere in sight come finals time. However, Park finished 6-2 while the Monarchs were 5-3. In head-to-head competition, John Marshall managed to take the upperhand in the friendly rivalry in a 30-29 win.

WHEELING PARK had Danny Doyle and Aaron Majectich join teammates Nick Taylor and Dirk Bauer with 100 career wins during the duals.

VOTED OUTSTANDING wrestler of the Wheeling Park Duals was Kody Young of Punxsutawney (Pa.) with an 8-0 record and seven pins in the tournament.

BELLAIRE'S ROBBIE Chilson managed to wrestle flawless through the two-day event recording eight pins.

NOTABLE AREA teams included Buckeye Local at 1-7, Martins Ferry at 4-3 giving up two weight classes and Steubenville at 5-3