By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
MITCHELL – For its brevity, with only five of the 14 weight classes contested, Bedford North Lawrence’s victory in the annual county clash with Mitchell did not lack for intensity. Nothing lights a little fire like a rivalry.
The Stars won three of the battles on the mat, all by pins, while recording a 36-21 victory over the Bluejackets on Thursday night. Mitchell celebrated Senior Night during its first home match of the season, juggled its usual lineup to create as many battles as possible, but came up short in sheer numbers. BNL’s edge in forfeits and total wins made the difference on the scoreboard.
With swing victories from its main core, BNL made the most of short time.
“It was one of our better matches,” BNL coach Mike Branam said. “We wrestled a lot better, wrestled the way we should be wrestling. We’re still making some mistakes, but we can fix those. I’m excited for the last part of the season. They were pumped. They wanted to own Lawrence County.”
BNL’s first win was posted by Wyatt Philpott, who fought off Ezari Brazzel (one of the honored seniors) with a pin in 1:52 at 138 pounds. “That’s our best and their best,” Branam said. “He had to work for it, but he got it.”
Caine Restall stopped Levi Petro (another Mitchell senior) in 1:02 at 157. BNL’s Ian Fish wasted no time in flattening Orion Meyer in 11 seconds at 165.
”Ian wrestled with intensity, and that’s what we need from him,” Branam said. “Ian and Wyatt are getting to the point where they need to be for the sectional.”
For the Bluejackets, Will Dobson went the distance, scoring late takedown points for a thrilling 14-8 win over Mason Heinzman at 144. Roger Ye, one of the Bluejackets who competed in a weight classes above their scale measurement, stopped Elias Ury in 1:59 at 190.
“Will wrestled a really good match, had the heart to stick it through,” Mitchell coach Reece Freeman said. “Roger has been on a tear. It’s only his second year of wrestling, and he’s just taken to it like a sponge. He’s a fierce competitor, and he’s at a whole new level.
”We’ve had an issue of being great in the practice room, but not executing on the mat. There were some nerves, with the first home meet, and the county rivalry played a part.”
BNL will participate in the Old Capitol Classic at Corydon on Saturday. Mitchell will compete at Greencastle on Saturday, then return home to host North Knox and induct its first class into its Hall of Fame.
BNL 36, MITCHELL 21
106 – Rhys Friend, BNL won by forfeit
113 – Double forfeit
120 – Logan Stillion, M won by forfeit
126 – Zach Haste, M won by forfeit
132 – Double forfeit
138 – Wyatt Philpott, BNL p. Ezari Brazzel 1:52
144 – Will Dobson, M d. Mason Heinzman 14-8
150 – Kody Covey, BNL won by forfeit
157 – Caine Restall, BNL d. Levi Petro 1:02
165 – Ian Fish, BNL p. Orion Meyer 0:11
175 – Double forfeit
190 – Roger Ye, M p. Elias Ury 1:59
215 – Reese Ritter, BNL won by forfeit
285 – Double forfeit
