DECEMBER 9, 2008 – COVINGTON
The Covington High School and Jr. High wrestling teams wrestled their first duals of the season as they hosted the Oakwood Lumberjacks on Tuesday night.
The high school squad found the going tough as they forfeited four weight classes – spotting Oakwood 24 points – and only winning four of the ten matches wrestled en route to a 56-22 Oakwood victory.
Oakwood started strong as state alternate Dan Jacobs defeated Covington’s Sam Angle by fall at 119 lbs. Matt Breisch (125) then lost a competitive 7-3 decision to Oakwood’s Paul Hochwalt, another Oakwood district qualifier.
Oakwood would produce another pair of district qualifiers in Alex Kooser (130) and Brandon Bustillo (135) who would earn technical fall victories over Brandon Flora and Ben Wilson, respectively. In the next two weight classes, Oakwood’s Will Lebouef (140) and Josh Hootman (145) gained a major decision and fall over Covington’s Tyler Tebbe and Cory Ely.
The Buccs were able to turn things around as Andrew DeHart (152) earned a number of takedowns before pinning Oakwood’s Dan Kendig. At 160 lbs, Covington’s Aaron Devenport followed suit with a second period fall over Cameron Wedding.
Josh McMillion (171) kept things going for the Buccs with a first period pin over Max Breidenbach, while Covington’s Josh Shefbuch (189) earned an 11-3 major decision over Oakwood’s Andrew Raichle to conclude the dual.
In reserve action, Sam Herron (125) gained a pin over Oakwood’s Pat Debrosse, while Covington’s Lon Bitner (130) earned an 8-4 victory over Alex Gardner. At 140 lbs, Devan Selanders wrestled well, but found himself on the short end of a competitive 8-7 decision to Oakwood’s Buck Powell. Cody Swabb rounded out the reserve action as he fell to Oakwood’s Brian Huey at 152 lbs.
The Jr. High team found themselves in a barnburner with the Oakwood, but came out triumphant with a tight 45-43 victory over the Lumberjacks.
After yielding a forfeit to Oakwood at 80 lbs, Brock Smith (86) got the Buccs going with a pin over Ryan Burke, followed by Justin Millhouse’s 7-0 decision over Oakwood’s Mason Kooser.
D.J. Jennings (92) would make it three in a row for Covington with a first period fall over Patrick Horine. Will Gillespie (104) then dropped a 9-4 decision before Jake Sowers gave Covington another pin at 110.
Kyler Deeter (116) followed with a couple takedowns and a first period pin over Oakwood’s Jack Kegelmeyer, then Dalton Bordelon (122) earned another pin to give the Buccs a dominating 33-9 lead.
Alex Bitner (128) and Elijah Laughman (134) dropped their bouts before Oakwood earned another forfeit at 142 lbs. Covington’s Brian Olson (150) and Ben Sherman (172) picked up a pin and a forfeit while Justin Daniel (160) and Isaac Schaefer (245) dropped their bouts, leaving the Buccs with the narrow 2-point victory.
Covington’s High School team looks to rebound at the 10-team Northeastern Invitational on Friday and Saturday, while the Jr. High squad will travel with the high school to dual Mechanicsburg on Tue, Dec. 16.
