At 165 pounds, JA’s Nick Finke (left) attempts to take down Marysville’s Alton Dobyns (right). Dobyns defeated the Pioneer by pin in the second period.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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In a late schedule change, Jonathan Alder went up against Marysville for the Pioneers’ senior wrestling night.
Alder defeated the Monarchs 46-24.
“We were supposed to face Marion Pleasant, which is ranked number one in the Division III district,” JA head coach Tony Watson said.
Watson said he was notified five days prior that the Spartans would be unable to compete due to injuries and sickness.
After discovering the Pioneers had no match for senior night, Marysville head coach Shawn Andrews offered the chance for his varsity back-ups to fill the void.
“We had to replace senior night with something,” said Watson. “Shawn is a great guy and I really appreciate him bringing his guys over.”
The varsity dual match began at 175 pounds.
Marysville opted to forfeit to Jonathan Alder’s AJ Delong, giving the Pioneers an early six-point lead.
Marysville’s James Lowe (190) suffered a first-period pin against JA’s Will Heisler, adding another six team points to Alder.
The Pioneers tallied 12 more points to their ledger after 215-pounder Owen Braithwaite pinned Marysville’s Gage Counts in the first period and heavy weight Damon Hay put Andrew Bentz to the mat in the second period.
That sent the Pioneers on a 24-point run.
Both teams chose to commit double forfeits in the 106 and 113-pound weight classes.
Marysville then forfeited the 120-pound weight class to JA’s Trenton Moodispaugh.
The next matchup occurred at 126 pounds.
JA’s Xavier Pierce went a full three periods against Marysville’s Boston Burkhardt.
Pierce won by an 8-2 major decision.
At 132 pounds, Marysville’s Joseph Bates claimed the Monarchs’ first six points of the night. He pinned JA’s Ethan Kuhns in the first period.
The Pioneers got back on track at 138 pounds. Eli Trbovich put Marysville’s Eric Nelson down to the mat during the first period.
Alder’s Owen Crabtree (144) pinned Marysville’s Carson Overbey in the second period.
The Monarchs started an 18-point run when Blaze Hall (150) pinned JA’s Jake Nueimeic in the first period.
Marysville added another pin at 157 pounds as Erryl Will toppled Pryce Watson in the third period.
Marysville’s 165-pounder Alton Dobyns claimed the final six points for the Monarchs after pinning JA’s Nick Finke in the second period.
As the post season starts to creep up, both coaches are looking forward for what is to come.
“Today was more about getting senior night in and recognizing those guys,” Watson said. “Here we go… We are getting toward the end of the regular season and we definitely have some big duals left.”
Battling through sicknesses and injuries, Watson noted the season has been “very trying” for his crew.
“It’s been tough,” the coach said. “I don’t think we’ve been able to show how good we are.
“Hopefully that starts this weekend.”
JA will host the Ron Thomas Senior Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
Andrews said the message to the team at the end was the guys who aren’t seniors now will be in the starting lineup in the future.
The Monarch coach added he told his young team to seek out the challenges because that will give them valuable experience.
“It’s all about learning,” said Andrews. “Yes, you want to win, but for some of those guys it’s their first or second varsity experience.”