The BMS Wrestling team wrapped up their season at the Conference Tournament at Franklin County on Saturday. As a team Batesville finished fifth overall out of the eight teams that participated, missing a fourth place finish by just one and a half points. Sixteen out of the seventeen wrestlers who participated in the Conference Tournament placed in the top six, ten wrestlers placed in the top four, and three of the Bulldogs emerged as Conference Champions!
Tacoma Nicholas had an incredible day and was crowned Conference Champion at the 75 pound weight class. Tacoma started the first round with a fofeit but then faced Payton Cordray (9-3) from Greensburg in the second round. Cordray had defeated Nicholas in a close decision just two days earlier in a dual meet against Greensburg. Tacoma came ready to redeem himself, and that he did, pinning Cordray and advancing his way into the final round. Nicholas would then face undefeated Avery Crouch (17-0) from Franklin County who also defeated Nicholas in a dual meet earlier in the year. This proved to be an exciting match to watch as the two scrambled back and forth for position the majority of the first two periods. Nicholas and Crouch entered the third period with the score tied 2-2 and Nicholas in the bottom position. Nicholas fought to escape and score, but Crouch kept him under control most of the period. It seemed that the match would surely go into sudden death overtime as the clock ran down and the period was about to end, but in a last ditch effort driven by nothing but heart, Tacoma was able to reverse his opponent with only four seconds on the clock and the two tumbled out of bounds. They would be brought to the center of the may with just over three seconds on the clock and Nicholas in the top position. Tacoma kept his opponent at bay for the remaining few seconds earning him the title of Conference Champion.
Joshua Mobley would be the second Bulldog of the day to be named Conference Champion in the 145 pound weight class. Josh’s road to the title was not quite the up hill battle that Tacoma endured but it did not lack flare. Josh was a number one seed in his weight class with an 11-2 record which gave him a first round forfeit. Josh would then face Lincoln Wilhelm of Sunman Dearborn in the Semifinals for a chance to advance to the Championship round. Mobley came out strong and pinned Wilhelm in the first period, earning his way into the finals. Mobley was then aligned to take to the center of the circle against Greensburg’s Jacob Phillips for the Conference Title. Mobley came out strong and there was an immediate delay due to a minor injury to Phillips. After just a few minutes the two regrouped and the match was resumed. Mobley shot a quick double leg and took his opponent to the mat, and then turned Phillips to his back for the pin. All of this took place in and unprecedented NINE seconds. Josh Mobley put on a dominanting performance and won the Conference Championship in the 145 pound weight class in less time than it had taken him to tie his wrestling shoes!
The third and final conference champion for the day was Chase Hamilton at the 180 pound weight class. Chase faced Logan Hill of Connersville in his first bout of the day and advanced to the Semifinals with a pin in the first period. He would then face Alex Dance (15-4) of Greensburg in his next match for a chance to move on to the finals. The two were relatively evenly matched and the bout ended in a 4-2 decision with Hamilton surviving into the Championship round. Hamilton would then meet up with undefeated Sean Sohmer (12-0) whom he had lost to earlier in the year at the team dual. This match would resemble the Nicholas vs Crouch battle at 75 pounds as both faced undefeated opponents who had beaten them earlier in the season. Chase came out strong and the two battled for position but neither would score in the first period. The two wrestlers would resume neutral position and Hamilton scored the first points of the match with a two point takedown. Sohmer would then get a one point escape making the score 2-1 going into the third period. Hamilton then took the bottom position in the third period. Sohmer worked hard to try and turn Hamilton in an effort to take the lead, but he was unsuccessful in his attempts. Chase would get a late escape, making the score 3-1, and sealing the Conference Championship for him.
Alex Murphy had a great tournament going 2-1 on the day and finished second in the conference at 105 pounds. He faced Charlie Euson (15-2) of Sunman Dearborn, coming up just short with a decision loss in the Championship match. Jesus Garcia also went 2-1 on the day and placed second in the conference for the Bulldogs at the 165 pound weight class.
Otto Hund was the only third place finisher for the Bulldogs as he went 2-1 in the 80 pound weight class.
The Bulldogs had four wrestlers finish 4th in the conference. David Maher finished in 4th place at 90 pounds, Bobby Weiler finished 4th at 120 pounds, Vonley Hund finished 4th at 125 pounds, and Aaron Norman finished 4th at 155 pounds.
Fifth place finishers for the Bulldogs were Hunter Laudick at 85 pounds, Kyan Scott at 95 pounds, Mason Neeley at 100 pounds, and Brandon Manning at 195 pounds. Finishing in sixth place were Marcus Niese at 70 pounds and Elijah Stover at 140 pounds.
The BMS Wrestlers worked very hard throughout the season and showed a tremendous amount of improvement not only through the season, but in relation to last season. In the 2016/2017 wrestling season the team was 0-11 in dual meets, placed 7th (out of 8) in the Conference Tournament, and did not have anyone win a Conference Title. The Bulldogs improved in the 2017/2018 season to a 5-6 dual record, placing 5th in the Conference tournament as a team, and having three wrestlers crowned Conference Champions. Great job to everyone involved, your hard work and determination will continue to pay off as you move on to other sports or activities. Congratulations to all on a terrific season!!
Courtesy of Bulldogs Coach Bob Weiler Jr.