ROCK HILL – The Catawba Ridge Copperheads wrestling team split a tri-match at Rock Hill High School Thursday night.
Catawba Ridge opened the tri-match facing Ashbrook High School, out of Gaston County, edging them out 39-38 for the win.
Cole Stukitz (138) got a third period pin to start things off for the Copperheads.
Ashbrook then won four consecutive matches to take a 21-6 lead, before Jarrett Eubanks (175) picked up a second period pin for the Copperheads.
Ashbrook kept widening the deficit, but Catawba Ridge did get a 1-0 decision by Alex Johnson (215) and then won three of the next four weight classes by forfeit to tie the match at 33 with two weight classes left.
The two teams split the last two matches with Ashbrook picking up a tech fall and then Catawba Ridge got a forfeit win by Antonio Kutas at 132-pounds to get the one-point win.
“I think we are where we need to be,” said Copperheads head coach Nick Hansen. “We are just trying to get everyone back healthy from some holiday sickness.”
After Rock Hill beat Ashbrook, the Bearcats and Copperheads squared off with Rock Hill winning 47-21.
Rock Hill continued their momentum from one match to the next as they went up 15-0 winning the first three matches before forfeiting to Eubanks (175).
Catawba Ridge cut the Bearcats lead in half with an 8-3 win by Johnson (190) to make it 15-9.
Rock Hill then regained control winning the next three to go up 32-9 before a 3-0 decision by Angel Acosta (113).
The Bearcats would win the next three locking up the dual, before forfeiting to Stukitz. Levi Jones (144) would finish the dual for the Copperheads getting a 4-1 decision.
Catawba Ridge is now 15-10 on the season and returns eight wrestlers to Bearcat country this weekend to participate in the Bearcat Invitational individual tournament.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
