The Batesville Bulldog wrestling team hosted the Madison Cubs for the teams 7th dual meet of the year. A week ago today the Bulldogs varsity squad suffered a big loss from the Panthers of Jennings County. This loss helped the Dogs get a little more fired up and lifted them to a win over the Cubs 42-34. The win improved the teams record to 3 wins and 4 losses.
The evening started with four of our 9th grade JV members earning wins over their opponents. Jonah Chase started the night with a third period pin after falling behind early in the match. Ethan Meyer continued the winning after pinning his opponent in the second period. Both Nick Nobbe and Conner Batchelor finished their opponents in the first period with decisive pins. These four wrestlers gave the varsity squad the lift they needed. The varsity match opened in the 138lb class with junior Jackson Wooldridge of Batesville. Wooldridge led the entire match before pinning Steven Lin in the second period giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead. Sophomore Jon Vincent in the 145lb class continued the wins facing off against Dax Youngblood from Madison. Vincent pinned his opponent in the first period adding another 6 points to the Bulldogs lead. Bulldog Chris Schene wrestled Raul DelGotto in the 152lb class like a true senior. Schene fell behind by one point in the first period before reversing his opponent in the second period. This reversal led to a pin for Schene and another 6 points for the team improving the lead to 18-0. Junior Drew McLeod of Batesville started his match with the first takedown of the 160lb class. This takedown led to a quick pin in the first period adding another Batesville win, beating Gage Brewer of Madison. Axel Garcia of Batesville faced off against Peter Kopecy from Madison in the 170lb class. Garcia, a freshman, battled to a 11-11 tie with his opponent before a final mistake by Kopcey of Madison ended the match by disqualification. This disqualification added six more points to the teams score making it 30-0 Batesville. Abram Garcia stepped on the mat against Madison’s Ethan Schafer. Garcia’s sophomore experience helped him fight through a tough opponent but was not enough in the end losing by a major decision of 12-4. This loss gave the Cubs their first four points of the night. Drew Garbarini, a freshman and first year wrestler, fell in the first period by pin to Logan Kent of Madison. This loss moved the team score to 30-10. The Bulldogs were unable to fill the 220lb and 285lb class giving up two six-point forfeits. These forfeits edged the Cubs to just eight points shy of Batesville with a new team score of 30-22. Freshman Caleb Bischoff-Niese faced off against Jacob Skirvin, a strong 106lb opponent from Madison. Niese was shut down in the first period by a pin but came away with experience that will benefit him as he moves to his conference opponents. This loss moved the score to 30-28 Batesville. The Cubs received another forfeit from the the Bulldogs in the 113lb class gaining the lead by four points, 34-30 Madison. Both Madison and Batesville had forfeits in the 120lb class before freshman JT Linkel of Batesville and Dante O’Banion of Madison faced off in the 126lb class. Linkel gave up a quick takedown in the first period before finding a reversal. This reversal led to a huge pin by Linkel and another team score change moving the Bulldogs to a 36-34 lead. The final match of the evening faced off team captain and senior Michael Deal of Batesville and Eli McGillan of Madison. The 132lb bout was the deciding factor on which team would go home with the victory. Deal held up his side of the bargain for the Bulldogs earning a quick takedown before securing the win with another pin for the team. This was Deal’s fifth pin of the season and an individual record of 6-0. This final win of the night moved the Bulldogs to a 42-34 victory over the Cubs.
Courtesy of Bulldogs Coach Chris Deal.