By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – After extended down time, mat time was crucial as Bedford North Lawrence returned to action during an impromptu, last-minute scheduling of three matches on Wednesday.
The Stars recorded two wins, conquering West Washington (46-30) and North Knox (42-24) before falling to Scottsburg (36-30) in a competitive finale.
BNL’s last match action came at Bloomington North on Dec. 10, and the Stars were forced to idle time on the sideline for all practices when the school shut down extracurricular activities from Dec. 14-18. BNL cobbled together this four-team event and took advantage of the pre-holiday work.
“That was the biggest thing, mat time,” BNL coach Chris Branam said. “It’s all about how we finish the season, so we’re out here to get matches in and mat time in, even when they don’t go our way.”
Most matches went BNL’s way against the Senators as the Stars took five of the six contests on the mat. Gabe Nelson pinned Mason Jones in 5:13 at 113 pounds, Byron Kyger flattened Evan Willis in 36 seconds at 160, Conner Smith conquered Shevin Griffith 12-4 at 170, Gunner Connaughton pinned Cannon Roop in 1:57 at 195, and James Covey topped Morgan Griffith in 38 seconds at 220.
BNL won four matches against the Warriors. Brax Huber downed Aubrey Smith in 1:00 at 132, Reese Hamblen hammered Austin Gruibel in 1:38 at 145, Kyger pinned Grayson Conrad in only 19 seconds at 160, and Connaughton downed Isaiah Mackey in 2:28 at 195.
”We came out on fire,” Branam said. “We looked good overall. Byron had two good matches. He started with a lot of energy and looked sharp.”
The Warriors won four of the five contested matches in the final round. James Covey, who suffered his first defeat of the season against North Knox’s Beau Nolan’s, bounced back to deck Bryce Mack in 37 seconds at 220.
“It was sad to see James take his first loss,” Branam said. “He got caught, it happens to everybody. You don’t lose, you learn.
“The last round we let up a little bit, didn’t wrestle as sharp as we could have. We let up the pace a little bit, and that hurt us.”
The Stars are scheduled to compete at Southridge on Dec. 30.
BNL 46 West Washington 30
106 Auston Livers WW ff won by forfeit
113 Gabe Nelson BNL p. Mason Jones 5:13
120 Jorj Filler BNL won by forfeit
126 Brax Huber BNL won by forfeit
132 Wyatt Johnston WW won by forfeit
138 Double forfeit
145 Reese Hamblen BNL won by forfeit
152 Travis Hamilton WW p. Jaxon Powell 2:30
160 Byron Kyger BNL p. Evan Willis 0:36
170 Conner Smith BNL d. Shevin Griffith 12-4
182 Julius Woosley WW won by forfeit
195 Gunner Connaughton BNL p. Cannon Roop 1:57
220 James Covey BNL p. Morgan Griffith 0:38
285 Landon Pearson WW won by forfeit
BNL 42 North Knox 24
106 Madison Dolkey NK won by forfeit
113 Ethyn Riker NK d. Gabe Nelson, injury default
120 Jorj Filler BNL won by forfeit
126 Double forfeit
132 Brax Huber BNL p. Aubrey Smith 1:00
138 Hope Westfall NK won by forfeit
145 Reese Hamblen BNL p. Austin Gruibel 1:38
152 Jaxon Powell BNL won by forfeit
160 Byron Kyger BNL p. Grayson Conrad :19
170 Conner Smith BNL won by forfeit
182 Double forfeit
195 Gunner Connaughton BNL p. Isaiah Mackey 2:28
220 Beau Noland NK p. James Covey 1:00
285 Double forfeit
Scottsburg 36, BNL 30
106 Double forfeit
113 Gabe Nelson BNL won by forfeit
120 Kellen Carter S p. Jorj Filler 1:58
126 Jayden Criswell S p. Brax Huber 3:12
132 Trey Smith S won by forfeit
138 Double forfeit
145 Reese Hamblen BNL won by forfeit
152 Jaxon Powell BNL won by forfeit
160 Gage Muse S p. Byron Kyger 4:39
170 Hunter Richart S p. Conner Smith :38
182 Double forfeit
195 Gunner Connaughton BNL won by forfeit
220 James Covey BNL p. Bryce Mack 0:37
285 Ben Craig S won by forfeit
