Lincoln Witt of Marysville has Delaware Hayes’ Ethan Rupp in a difficult situation Friday evening. Witt went on to win the match by a pin. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
There was a different type of atmosphere Friday evening when the Marysville High School wrestlers hosted Delaware Hayes.
While the Lady Monarch basketball team played Westland in the school’s main gym, the MHS grapplers contended with the Pacers on the stage in the nearby auditorium.
The spotlight was on each wrestler as his or her name was called prior to each match.
Athletes ran down the aisles of the auditorium to the cheers of a nice crowd of fans.
The stage is elevated behind the orchestra pit.
The Monarchs positioned three mats and a couple of wrestlers down in the pit in case any wrestler would happen to roll off the stage.
Coaches from both schools were also positioned to help prevent an accident.
Fortunately, no mishaps were recorded.
“We just wanted to do something different and special for our wrestlers,” said MHS head coach Shawn Andrews. “It’s all about the kids.”
The Monarchs came out on the short end of the varsity match by a score of 42-36.
“Delaware Hayes has three wrestlers in the upper weight classes who competed in the state tournament a year ago,” said Andrews. “We were stronger at some lower weights and that’s how we expected it to go.”
Match results by weight class were as follows:
-106: Zachary Pfarr (M) pinned Maurice Avant (D), 2:54;
-113: Tamas Eder (D) pinned Ethan Skiles (M), 1:44;
-120: Thomas Ross (D) pinned Lucas Miller (M), 1:17;
-126: Lincoln Witt (M) pinned Ethan Rupp (D), 2:30;
-132: Nathan Thompson (M) maj. dec. (18-4) over Ryan Chupko (D);
-138: Harley Crouso (M) dec. Zach Raquepaw (D), 6-1;
-145: Jack Golla (M) defeated Tristan Burton (D), 2-0 in overtime;
-152: Erryl Will (M) scored a 20-5 technical fall over Wilson Zembo (D);
-160: Emmett Cain (D) pinned Jakob Crouso (M), 1:03;
-170: Corbin May (D) pinned Garrett Seger (M), 3:26;
-182: Mason Sutandar (D) pinned Parker Reese (M), 1:06;
-195: Clay Ours (D) pinned Benjamin Bickerstaff (M), 2:07;
-220: Nate Robinson (D) won by forfeit;
-Hwt.: Zach McMinn (M) dec. Marshall Klingel (D), 6-3.
Marysville also hosted Delaware Hayes for four girls matches.
The Lady Monarchs won three of those to take the team competition by a score of 18-6.
Those matches were as follows:
-106: Emma Swart (M) pinned Jordan Rutherford (D), :56;
-126: Ari Avant (D) pinned Cali Leng (M), 5:55;
-126: Laila Oribello (M) pinned Avant (D), 2:15;
-132: Shelby Downey (M) pinned Chloe Diehl (D), 1:03.
“It was great to finally have the chance to get on the mat against someone other than ourselves in an actual match setting,” said Andrews. “We knew it was going to be a challenge against Delaware as some of our guys’ weight-loss plans wouldn’t allow them to compete at their ideal weights.
“That being said, we split 14 matches with the team currently ranked number two in the Central District,” he said. “The final score came down to what we always talk about in duals which is bonus points.
“Delaware maxed out with seven, six-point decisions with six pins and a forfeit at 220,” said the coach. “With a young team, it is obvious we need to fight a little harder in some of those situations to avoid the bonus.”
The Monarchs will get right back into action by hosting their annual duals tournament today.
MHS will go up against Grove City, Teays Valley, Graham and Delta.
Teams that Marysville will not wrestle today include Parkersburg South (West Virginia), Delaware Hayes, and Springboro.
The varsity and JV tournaments will begin at 10 a.m.
Lady Monarch grappler Laila Oribello is about to pin Ari Avant of Delaware Hayes during a match that was contested on the stage of the Marysville High School auditorium. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Monarch wrestler Tracen Cooper (front) was one of the workers in the Marysville auditorium orchestra pit Friday evening. Cooper kept watch on the matches and was ready to push mats close to the stage should a wrestler get too close to the edge. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)