BEDFORD – Mitchell won four matches on the mat to clip Bedford North Lawrence 35-30 during high school wrestling action on Tuesday.
The Stars honored Ethan Stancombe, the lone upperclassman on the roster, on Senior Night, and he posted one of the three contested wins for the Stars, who shuffled their usual lineup to get as many matches on the card as possible.
“They decided that nearly all of them would bump up a weight class in order for everyone, especially Ethan, to get a match in front of our home crowd,” BNL coach Mike Branam said. “I respect that decision. Only three guys were in their normal weight class. I do believe it cost us the meet win, but it shows how much this team has grown as a team, and their desire to sacrifice self in order to get as many guys matches as possible.”
Stancombe (18-2 and fresh from his win in the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament) moved up to 165 pounds and conquered Levi Petro with a pin at 2:51. BNL’s other victories came from Alex Johnson (pin of Michael Simon in 1:59 at 113) and Ian Fish (pin of Roger Ye in 5:12 at 190).
“Alex and Ian pulled off a couple of great wins that they needed and have been chasing for a while now,” Branam said. “Even though the final score was not in our favor, I liked what I saw. I especially enjoyed watching the team encourage, cheer, celebrate, console, and critique one another. That mental shift that we have slowly watched form and grow through this season is exactly what we need going into next weekend.”
The Bluejackets recorded key wins by Ezari Brazzell (pin of Saeben Arce in 1:00 at 132), Dusty Miles (pin of Asher Owens in 1:00 at 138), Corbin Peters (pin of Asher Arce in 1:13 at 175) and Ian Norrington (pin of Reese Ritter in 2:19 at 215).
BNL will visit North Knox on Thursday.
MITCHELL 35, BNL 30
106 – Double forfeit
113 – Alex Johnson, BNL p. Michael Simon 1:59
120 – Wyatt Philpott, BNL won by forfeit
126 – Double forfeit
132 – Ezari Brazzell, M p. Saeben Arce 1:00
138 – Dusty Miles, M p. Asher Owens 1:00
144 – Gabriel Brazzell, M won by forfeit
150 – Carson Bean, M won by forfeit
157 – Double forfeit
165 – Ethan Stancombe, BNL p. Levi Petro 2:51
175 – Corbin Peters, M p. Asher Arce 1:13
190 – Ian Fish, BNL p. Roger Ye 5:12
215 – Ian Norrington, M p. Reese Ritter 2:19
285 – Rex Evans, BNL won by forfeit
