No. 1 Blair Academy journey of dual meets
This past weekend, Blair Academy (N.J.) hosted a super quad meet in which the host Buccaneers wrestled four teams, two of whom were nationally ranked. The opening dual meet was a 47-9 victory over No. 24 Don Bosco Prep (N.J.), in which Blair Academy took home victories in 12 weight classes. Results In the nightcap, the Buccaneers won ten bouts against No. 27 St. Edward (Ohio) in a 46-12 victory. Results
The other two victories came by the scores of 61-6 over Smyrna, Del., and 47-15 over Tulsa Union, Okla. In the other battle of nationally ranked teams on site, Don Bosco Prep upended St. Edward 31-19, as the Ironman won eight of the weight classes. Results It was an interesting dual meet, as St. Edward went 4-2 in matches decided by two points or less. In addition, the absence of No. 11 L.J. Bentley at 113 pounds was at least a nine-point swing to the detriment of St. Edward; while Don Bosco Prep misplayed strategy in the 170/182 weight classes.
The absence of Bentley also proved costly, as St. Edward was upset 36-27 by Tulsa Union, Okla. In that dual meet, the teams split the bouts seven apiece. An outcome of interest in that dual meet was an unexpected pin for Luke Wolfensberger of the victorious Redskins against Hunter Ladnier at 132.
No. 8 Bergen Catholic on its own gauntlet
This past Saturday, Bergen Catholic -- which is the best team in NJSIAA competition -- took on their sixth nationally ranked foe of the season in the form of fellow state champion No. 20 Bound Brook, N.J. The first nine matches of the dual were back-and-forth, as the lead changed hands three times with three other times where the score was tied. However, a swing match at 170 pounds provided the dual meet's final turn.
A battle of state qualifiers between Kevin Mulligan and Isaiah Soto went in favor of Mulligan by 5-0 decision, which broke a 16-16 tie. No. 1 Johnny Sebastian would secure a pin early in the second period to push the team score out to 25-16. The situation was further exacerbated when Danny DeLorenzi pulled off an upset at 195, when he pinned returning state qualifier Aaron Saavedra early in the third period. Two additional narrow decisions for Bergen Catholic would provide the final margin of 37-16, including a 5-3 upset victory for Conner O'Brien over returning state placer Stephen Johnson. Results
Come this weekend, Bergen Catholic is scheduled to take on their seventh and eighth nationally ranked foes in dual meet competition. Not only have these been ranked teams, but they all reside inside the top 25 at present. Friday night, the Crusaders travel to Don Bosco Prep for their annual rivalry dual meet; then on Saturday, they make the trip to Blair Academy for a 6 p.m. dual meet.
Also this week in the Garden State is a dual meet with Bound Brook traveling to No. 25 St. Peter's Prep. The teams did already wrestle at The Clash XII in Minnesota in early January, a match won by St. Peter's Prep 35-28. However, the matches were split seven apiece, and Bound Brook was without multiple key contributors.
No. 34 Buchanan journeys through its rivals in California's Central Section
A week ago today, Buchanan hosted No. 36 Clovis West for a conference dual meet. Both teams won seven weight classes in the dual meet; however, the home-standing Bears had a 5-2 edge in pins to win by a 37-32 score. Results
Tomorrow, the challenge is stark for Buchanan as they travel to No. 4 Clovis. While the Bears were the last in-state squad to defeat Clovis in a dual meet. However, that was more than 80 matches and seven years ago.
Stillwater gets it all right for Sooner State supremacy in victory over Broken Arrow
Two of the nation's best teams did battle last night in Oklahoma, as Stillwater traveled to take on Broken Arrow for the Tigers' wrestling program alumni night. However, the Pioneers were unkind guests, as two swing bout pins in the first half of the dual meet and a pair of overtime victories in the second half made the difference in a 37-23 victory.
The match started at 138 pounds, as a pair of wrestlers with state championships under their belt took to the mat. Stillwater's Tristan Moran secured the pin over Shea Conley at the 3:09 mark. The Pioneers would stretch the lead to 9-0 with a 5-1 decision victory for No. 5 Joe Smith over Tanner Bailey in a battle of state champions. Broken Arrow would pick up their lone lead of the evening at 10-9 with a 25 second pin from Paden Bailey at 152 and a 9-0 major decision from Braxton Owens at 160.
Consecutive pins for Stillwater would give them back the lead at 21-10. The first was from No. 5 Chandler Rogers at 170, while at 182, Jordan Dieringer earned the fall against state qualifier Isaiah Page. The host Tigers would counter with consecutive victories, a 6-4 decision at 195 from Quintonio Tolon and a pin at 220 from Steven Allen to cut the deficit to 21-19.
With six matches to go, James Brower would catalyze the push to the finish for Stillwater with a 5-2 overtime victory over Trenton Lieurance at 285 pounds. No. 13 Andrew Nieman would further that push with an 11-0 major decision at 106. Broken Arrow would get their lone victory in this stretch at 113 pounds, with a 9-0 major decision from Tejuan Daniels. Stillwater's Jacob Fontanez would score a 9-7 overtime upset victory over No. 17 Markus Simmons at 120 pounds, then Benny Teegarden did the same in a 2-1 victory over two-time state champion Davion Jeffries at 126. To close out the dual meet, No. 13 Kaid Brock upended three-time state placer Zack Edwards 5-2 at 132 pounds.
The two teams flip positions in this week's Fab 50, Stillwater is No. 11, while Broken Arrow is No. 12.
No. 14 Lowell upends state champion Shamrocks in Assembly Dual
A week ago today, No. 14 Lowell (Mich.) hosted No. 17 Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.) during an in-school dual meet. The Red Arrows jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a major decision from state champion Bailey Jack (130) and a decision from Jordan Hall (135). However, the Shamrocks pushed back with a 24 point barrage from five consecutive wins: a pin from Myles Amine (140), a technical fall from Malik Amine (145), a major decision from Tyler Morland (152), a decision from No. 12 at 152 Nick Bennett (160), and a pin from No. 12 Andrew Garcia (171).
The next match would serve as the turning point for the dual meet with Max Dean taking on Junior National freestyle All-American Logan Marcicki. Marcicki pinned Dean when the two wrestled last year, and jumped out to an early lead in the bout at 189 pounds. However, Dean would rally back and get the pin at the 5:01 mark to cut the Lowell deficit to 24-13.
That started a six match string of victories for the Red Arrows, which continued with Garrett Stehley's major decision over Nick Giese in a battle of state placers at 215 pounds. It was followed up by a 3-2 decision for No. 13 Josh Colegrove against Jimmy Russell, with both wrestlers bumped up a weight class to 285. Pins from Sam Russell (103) and Lucas Hall (112) would add to the winning streak, which finished state runner-up Zeth Dean's major decision at 119.
Two-time state third placer Trevor Zdebski would close the dual meet with a decision victory over state placer Derek Krajewski at 125, but it was too little and too late for Detroit Catholic Central, who lost by a 36-27 final score.
Southeast Polk flips script at Ed Winger Invitational
Two weeks ago in a dual meet at Hilton Coliseum on the campus of Iowa State University. Bettendorf had won eight weight classes in a 37-27 victory over Southeast Polk. This past weekend in the Ed Winger Invitational hosted by Urbandale, the Rams changed the narrative as they used eleven placers to score a 32 point tournament victory (233.5-to-201.5).
Three Southeast Polk wrestlers won weight class titles: Nolan Hellickson (120), Ethan Andersen (220), and Jake Marnin (285). Another trio finished in second place: Briar Dittmer (145), Brady Buchheit (152), and Deion Mikesell (195)). Rounding out the placing brigade were Keegan Shaw (132) and Aaron Meyer (138) with third place finishes; while Adam Brown (106), Jonah Williams (126), and Mason Kerr (170) finished fourth.
Bettendorf countered with their usual suspects, five winning weight class titles and another placing third. However, only two additional Bulldog wrestlers were able to earn top six placement finishes -- Drew Sass (152) in sixth, and Michael Belanger (160) finishing fourth. Champions were Jack Wagner (106), Jacob Schwarm (113), No. 4 Fredy Stroker (132), No. 10 Logan Ryan (138), and Jacob Woodard (145); with Paul Glynn (120) taking third.
Rounding out the weight class champions were Chris Walters (126) from Iowa City West, Zach Johnston (152) from Adel, Isaiah Patton (160) from Dowling Catholic, Hank Swalla (170) from Ames, Dakota Clausen (182) from Dallas Center-Grimes, and Colin Kreiter (195) from North Scott. Results
Keystone State notes
Cumberland Valley jumps into the Fab 50 at No. 37 after a 29-26 victory at No. 26 Nazareth. The squads split the weight classes at seven apiece. Even though the host Blue Eagles were without Sage Karam, who was competing in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, his impact on this dual meet's outcome would have been rather limited. The most obvious difference in this dual meet was that Cumberland Valley had the meet's only two pins. Results
This weekend marks the district championship dual meet tournaments. Each of the state's districts in Class AAA and Class AA will determine qualifiers for next week's state dual meet championships. The WPIAL (i.e. Pittsburgh area) had a pair of Fab 50 teams in Class AAA, No. 9 Franklin Regional and No. 41 Greater Latrobe. Those two teams happened to meet this past week in the sub-section 1 championship, with Franklin Regional winning nine bouts in a 46-28 victory. The teams are very likely to meet in the WPIAL championship bout on Saturday night.
Couple quick bits
St. Johns beat Davison 36-27 in a dual meet this past Friday held at the University of Michigan. The Redwings won eight of the weight classes, including both matches that placed nationally ranked wrestlers against one another. In the 145 pound bout, it was a pair of nationally ranked 138s, as No. 3 Zac Hall defeated No. 13 Justin Oliver 7-5; while at 189 pounds, it was a pair of nationally ranked 182s, as No. 10 Angus Arthur beat No. 14 Jordan Cooks 6-1. St. Johns moved up eight spots in this week's Fab 50 to No. 28, while Davison dropped two spots to No. 30.
No. 42 Kuna, Idaho won the Red Halverson Memorial Invitational at Minico. They scored 305 points to 212.5 for No. 45 Centennial, Idaho. However, Centennial was without nationally ranked Hayden Tuma and another key contributor in Logan Blackwood. Results
Perry (Okla.) came away with the title at the Jay Hancock Memorial in Yukon over a pair of short-handed nationally ranked teams, as they scored 163.5 points. Runner-up Collinsville, ranked No. 49, was without three-time state champion Will Stelzen (145); while third place Edmond North, ranked No. 15, was without a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers in Paxton Rosen (106) and Joel Dixon (170/182/220). The nationally ranked teams scored 153 and 145.5 points respectively. Results
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