The Bellwood-Antis wrestling teams wrapped up successful winning seasons at Central High School on Thursday night. The varsity moved to 8-7, jumping out to an 18-0 lead on five straight wins to open the dual, with a workmanlike 40-22 triumph over Central, their third straight victory, and their fifth in the final seven duals, while the junior high obliterated Spring Cove 73-11 to improve to 12-3, 8-1 in the junior high Tri-County.
The varsity match began at 152, where B-A junior Ronnie Wilson avenged a loss by fall in the Zeigler Tournament to Luke Hammaker, by pinning Hammaker in 4:43. Wilson (13-16) opened with a takedown for the only scoring of the first period, then opened up with an escape, takedown and two sets of nearfall to lead 10-1 after two stanzas, before turning and pinning Hammaker from the top in the third period.
At 160, Mike Ballard (6-14) led 2-0 on a first period takedown, but needed his third takedown of the match to defeat Matt Laughlin in overtime 6-4. Ballard also had a takedown in the third period, while Laughlin scored a second-period nearfall and two third-period escapes to send the match into OT.
Garett Wyland (6-18) trailed Joel Berger 4-2 after the first two stanzas at 171, but started the final period with three back points and added a takedown with 14 seconds left to down Berger 7-6. At 189, Josh Keagy and Mason Fornwalt rolled each other around in the first two periods, with Fornwalt up 8-7. Fornwalt began the third period on the bottom and never was able to get out. Keagy (6-16), who had three escapes, a reversal and nearfall earlier, stuck Fornwalt on his back for three nearfall points for all the scoring in the final two minutes and a 10-8 victory.
Cody Smith completed the early Blue Devil run at 215, with a 6-0 win over Craig Limbert. Smith (6-17) registered a takedown in each period for his victory.
Central picked up forfeits at 275 and 103 to close the gap to 18-12, but Donnie Partner (12-14) hit a takedown and nearfall to start the match against Adam Blough at 103, then added a reversal to take a 7-1 advantage going into the third period, where he traded a takedown for a Blough escape and a solid 9-2 win at 112.
Central’s Brad Ritchey majored Timmy Collier (10-8) 14-2 at 119, but Bellwood-Antis won the next four weight classes to ice the win.
At 125, Eli Colyer (19-3) repeated a bonus point victory over Ben Little, by pinning Little in 1:24, while holding a 5-0 lead. In the Zeigler Tournament, Eli beat Little by an 18-3 tech fall in 6:00. Shane Noye moved into the lineup at 130, and responded with a 10-4 win over James Bocianowsky. Noye used a takedown, nearfall and reversal for a 7-2 advantage after one period. After a scoreless second period, Noye (5-3) escaped and scored a takedown, before yielding a reversal by Bocianowsky that saved Central a team point at the end of the match.
Brandon Beech moved up to 130, for just the third time this season to wrestle Joe Mattern. Beech weighed in at 125, and was moved up a weight by B-A coach Ron Wilson. Beech, who started the match wearing a mask to protect a bad cut across his cheek, finished without when the heat became too much underneath the contraption. a takedown and back points gave Beech a 5-1 lead in the first period and a penalty point and escape enabled the B-A senior to lead 7-3 after two stanzas. After a lull in the action, Beech (12-11) hit a takedown and added a pair of nearfall points to win a major 14-4 decision.
Ricky Shawley (19-5) was all over Josh Feathers leading 8-0 after one period and 15-0 when he pinned Feathers at the 3:23 mark to give Bellwood-Antis a 40-16 lead with just one match to wrestle.
Central won the final weight class when Eli Tomlinson pinned Dustin Harris in 1:13. Tomlinson took the early lead with a takedown, but Harris (9-16) reversed him to knot the score at 2-2. Just as quickly, Tomlinson gained a reversal of his own and put Harris on his back for the fall.
“It was nice to finish above .500, wee haven’t done that since my first year coaching here,” said fifth-year Bellwood-Antis coach Ron Wilson. “It was nice to get a win. Of the 12 bouts that were wrestled, we won 10 of those 12 bouts. The kids wrestled really well, we came back and got a couple of wins right at the end which was nice. I think that the kids are coming along nice. We need a good week of practice and hopefully can have a good week at districts next weekend.”
The Bellwood-Antis junior high (12-3) finished their season with a flourish, winning 13 of the 16 matched wrestled, with no match at either 75 or 100 pounds.
Levi Hollen (165), Jimmy Watters (210), Ben Martinez (250), Danny Noye (80), Troy Weyant (85), Tyler McCracken (95), and Nic Cover (138) won by pin, Caleb Stevens (185), Adam Davinsizer (90), Buddy Shaw (105) and Tyler Beech (122) won by forfeit, Kyle Canfield (145) won by major decision and Lucas Evans won by regular decision for the Little Blue Devils, who will host the Junior High Tri-County Tournament on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m..
Bellwood-Antis 40 Central 22
152 – Ronnie Wilson (BA) pinned Luke Hammaker 4:43
160 – Mike Ballard (BA) dec. Matt Laughlin 6-4, OT
171 – Garett Wyland (BA) dec. Joel Berger 7-6
189 – Josh Keagy (BA) dec. Mason Fornwalt 10-8
215 – Cody Smith (BA) dec. Craig Limbert 6-0
275 – Jeremy Rhodes (C) won by forfeit
103 – Jeremy Feathers (C) won by forfeit
112 – Donnie Partner (BA) dec. Adam Blough 9-2
119 – Brad Ritchey (C) maj. dec. Timmy Collier 14-2
125 – Eli Colyer (BA) pinned Ben Little 1:24
130 – Shane Noye (BA) dec. James Bocianowsky 10-4
135 – Brandon Beech (BA) maj. dec. Joe Mattern 14-4
140 – Ricky Shawley (BA) pinned Josh Feathers 3:23
145 – Eli Tomlinson (C) pinned Dustin Harris 1:13.
Junior High
Bellwood-Antis 73 Spring Cove 11
145 – Kyle Canfield (BA) maj. dec. Jordan Price 11-3
155 – Cam Price (SC) pinned Matt Lehman 2:31
165 – Levi Hollen (BA) pinned Lance Imler 1:10
185 – Caleb Stevens (BA) won by forfeit
210 – Jimmy Watters (BA) pinned John Swope 0:20
250 – Ben Martinez (BA) pinned Tyler Strayer 3:21
75 – No match
80 – Danny Noye (BA) pinned Dillon Fornwalt 0:42
85 – Troy Weyant (BA) pinned Daryle Replogle 0:22
90 – Adam Davinsizer (BA) won by forfeit
95 – Tyler McCracken (BA) pinned Shane Nycum 1:07
100 – No match
105 – Buddy Shaw (BA) won by forfeit
110 – Lucas Evans (BA) dec. Ridge Miller 6-3
115 – Nate Burket (SC) dec. Jordan Simmers 11-10
122 – Tyler Beech (BA) won by forfeit
130 – Jarod Stiffler (SC) dec. Travis Taylor*
138 – Nic Cover (BA) pinned Jason Prokopt 2:24.
Spring Cove lost one team point for straps down on the mat
EXH
130 – Ryan Brown (BA) dec. Richard Leer 7-0
