Catawba Ridge’s Clark Ostendorf wrestles his Indian Land opponent during their dual Thursday night.

INDIAN LAND – When it was all said and done, the Region 3-4A wrestling title may have come down to one match.

Catawba Ridge fell to the Northwestern Trojans 35-30 and beat the Indian Land Warriors 76-3 in a tri-match at Indian Land High Thursday night. The loss to the Trojans means that the Copperheads can finish no worse than second in the region, but could also share a region title with them, if Northwestern loses to South Pointe Friday night.

The match against Northwestern came down to the last weight class, where the Copperheads lost after leading the dual 30-29. Catawba Ridge finished their region duals with a 4-1 record and are 17-7 overall on the season. Despite the loss, Catawba Ridge head coach Nick Hansen was happy with the Copperheads performances.

“My team wrestled fantastic,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier or more proud of them.”

Northwestern jumped out to a 16-0 lead and went up 22-18 before Catawba Ridge was able to take the lead. Jackson Rozelle (145) got the Copperheads on the board with a third period pin.

Sean Barstad would come back two matches later to get a third period pin as well at 160-pounds for Catawba Ridge and Alexander Buxton (170) won to bring the Copperheads within one point at 19-18.

Zach Webster (195) put Catawba Ridge ahead with a first period pin to make it 24-22, but Northwestern regained the lead in the next match. Tony Atkins would give the Copperheads the lead back at heavyweight with a first period pin, but Northwestern won the last two matches to take the dual.

Against Indian Land, it was all Catawba Ridge for the most part leading from the opening match. The Copperheads went up 24-0 as Indian Land had five forfeits scattered throughout the dual.

Getting wins by forfeit for the Copperheads were Rozelle (145), Brock Owens (152), Zach Webster (195), Jacob Webster (220), and Atkins (hwt.). Winning by pins were Levi Jones (132), Jakob Kees (138), Jarrett Eubanks (170), Buxton (182), Brooklyn Stanley (106), Alex Teel (113), and Joshua Gets (120).

There were only two matches with decisions in them as Indian Land won their only match with a decision by Lowdan Kersey and Catawba Ridge’s Clark Ostendorf (126) won the other one with a 13-3 score.

The Copperheads will open the playoffs Feb. 4, but will now turn their attention to the region tournament this weekend back at Indian Land, where the top four finishers head to the Upper State tournament Feb. 17 and 18 at Eastside High School.

Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep

The Copperheads’ Alexander Buxton looks to turn his Indian Land opponent during Thursday’s match.