In one way it was their biggest win in their short three-year history, as the Catawba Ridge wrestling program beat both Andrew Jackson and Nation Ford to open the season.
The Copperheads had no trouble with Andrew Jackson, but it was the Nation Ford match-up that everyone was looking towards. Catawba Ridge never trailed and cruised to a 46-24 win over the Falcons. Catawba Ridge opened the season ranked 15th in the state in the 4A rankings.
“I thought it was going to be tighter,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Allen Runyon. “We pulled matches out when we needed to. I thought we had some pretty quality guys in great places (in the lineup).”
Despite keeping it close in the early going, the Copperheads were able to get a key victory at 132-pounds as Connor Stukitz got a first period pin to put the score at 36-24 for Catawba Ridge. The win pretty much secured the victory for the Copperheads as it was followed up by a second period pin by Jakob Kees at 138-pounds.
Catawba Ridge opened the match getting a forfeit win at 152-pounds for Ben Huntoon and then got a first period pin from Jarrett Eubanks at 160-pounds to go up 12-0. Nation Ford bounced back at 170-pounds as Caden Brandenburg got a first period pin for the Falcons to get them on the board.
The Copperheads put together back-to-back wins to extend their lead as Nate Teel (182) got a 13-7 decision and Beau Nicholl (195) got a first period pin. The Falcons got a forfeit win at 220 with Clayton Rygol getting his hand raised and then Catawba Ridge’s Alex Bunz got a 9-3 decision at heavyweight to give the Copperheads a 24-12 lead.
Neither team had a wrestler at 106 pounds and the Falcons’ Danny Gilstorf got a forfeit win at 113-pounds.
Catawba Ridge’s Alex Teel picked up a third period pin despite trailing 11-9 when he got the win at 120-pounds. The Falcons bounced back at 126-pounds getting a first period pin from Mitchell Ladamus to again pull within striking distance. Nation Ford continuously closed ground, but they were never able to catch up and tie the match.
After the Ladamus win for Nation Ford, Stukitz and Kees won to put the match out of reach for Catawba Ridge as Levi Jones closed things out with a 14-2 major decision at 145-pounds.
Nation Ford head coach Tony Forte was “embarrassed” by his team’s performance against the Copperheads, he said.
“I have been too nice to them in practice,” he said. “The kids have to get tougher. Catawba Ridge was tougher than us. I told them to be ready for a fight. They fought, we didn’t.”
Catawba Ridge is 2-0 on the season and Nation Ford is 1-1. Both local teams had no trouble against Andrew Jackson who was the third team in the tri-match.
The Copperheads won easily 65-6 over Andrew Jackson with Kees (138), Jones (145), Eubanks (152), Forrest Rozelle (160), Alex Buxton (170), Nate Teel (182), Nicholl (195), Bunz (hwt.), Alex Teel (120), Clark Ostendorf (126) and Stukitz (132) all getting wins.
Nation Ford powered through Andrew Jackson winning 66-9 with Amron Neely (145), Andrew Brewer (160), Brandenburg (170), Michael Kay (195), Rygol (220), Alan Minarro (hwt.), Gilstorf (113), Hanson Nguyen (120), Ladamus (126), Dalton Curtsinger (132) and Jace Smith (138) all getting wins.
Up next for Catawba Ridge is a dual tournament at Metrolina Christian Saturday, while Nation Ford heads to the Southern Slam at Eastside High Friday and Saturday for an individual tournament.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
