Class 2A No. 5 West Delaware holds on for 30-29 victory over No. 6 Independence in thriller

MANCHESTER - Jake Voss has observed many West Delaware and Independence duals.

He has witnessed highly-contested matches, the unexpected unfold into the undeniable and any conceivable scenario become reality. Voss wasn’t surprised when the dual was decided in the final bout and contained more scoring shifts and momentum swings that Dramamine couldn’t cure.

“I’ve experienced this as a kid watching it, as an athlete wrestling in it and as a coach,” the first-year Hawks head coach said. “It was a fun and exciting meet.”

Class 2A No. 5 West Delaware avoided a pin in the final bout and held on for a 30-29 victory over No. 6 Independence in an instant classic Wamac Conference boys’ wrestling dual Thursday night at Seedorf Gymnasium. The Hawks also posted a 45-35 win over the Mustangs in the girls’ wrestling dual.

“I told them before the meet that we have heard all the stories,” Voss said. “Everyone has their own Independence and West Delaware story. Go out and write your own story.

“They showed a lot of toughness and resilience.”

The Hawks added another successful chapter to the series deemed the “Highway 20 Clash” with the Del-Buc Trophy up for grabs. West Delaware won its 11th straight dual against the Mustangs, keeping possession of the traveling prize since 2018.

“I think we all competed really well and I love to keep that trophy here.” Hawks junior 175-pounder Blake Mather said. “We keep it in the closet. We don't ever really look at it but to keep it here just feels good, because then they can't display it at their place.”

The first six matches were split with Independence getting a first-period fall from Tanner Wilson at 138 to open the dual, a late six-point move from 150-pounder Kam Kremer for a 9-8 decision and Christopher Meyer’s decision at 165.

West Delaware countered decisions ranked opponents by Jax Miller and Mather and a technical fall from Liam Weber at 157. No. 3 Miller scored all of his points in the second period, including the only takedown of the match, for a 4-2 decision over No. 4 Tyler Wieland.

“It would have been kind of nice to score more points,” Miller said. “At the same time, what it’s like to go into that environment and to wrestle for six minutes pretty hard is pretty nice, too. It’s always fun to get a win underneath that light. One last time, maybe.”

Mather used a second-period escape and a third-period rideout for a 1-0 decision over Braylen Bieber at 175, pulling the Hawks within one and sparking a five-match win streak.

Third-ranked Brent Yonkovic followed with a 1:53 pin over Mikey Bailey at 190, giving West Delaware its first lead at the midway point.

Jeryn Funke scored a takedown and two nearfall in the final two seconds for a 15-4 major decision, which resulted in an extra team point proving to be crucial.

Hawks heavyweight Owen Pettlon avenged a loss to Gable Eddy, scoring two takedowns in a 7-0 decision. Lucas Peters (106) produced West Delaware’s final victory with a first-period fall over Lyric Wellman, making it 30-12.

Energy seemed to grow with each Hawk that took the mat. Mather said they have a family approach bolstered by battling, encouraging and celebrating with each other in practice.

“I think we just we feed off of that really well, so you see one of your partners out there doing really well it makes you want to do good,” Mather said. “I love our crowd. The crowd just gets into it and I love our students section. We feed off of that pretty heavily.”

Independence closed with four straight wins and was inches away twice form completing the comeback. Ben Anderson started the rally, pinning Jarrett Lynch in 1:13 at 113. Zach Homan added a decision at 120, cutting the deficit to nine points with two matches remaining.

The dramatics increased with the last two bouts. The Mustangs’ Carver Wieland (126) scored a clutch four-point nearfall after a restart with less than 20 seconds left. Wieland notched a 9-0 major decision over Jarrett Engel, giving Independence a shot to win in the finale.

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Independence’s Remy Ressler had pinned Kooper Waugh in their previous meeting. He nearly had a pin in the first and second periods, settling for back points. Waugh fought off and even scored a takedown in the third.

Ressler posted a decisive 13-5 major decision but it wasn’t enough for the Mustangs. The Hawks celebrated with the trophy and seniors posed for pictures with it.

“It’s an awesome trophy, for sure,” Miller said. “I trusted Cooper that he was going to fight his butt off because that’s what we do for each other. Everything is just bigger than ourselves. We’re fighting for each other in every match. We knew that was just what was going to have to happen to win that close dual. Of course, he fought off his back. That was awesome.”

West Delaware received pins from Anna O’Rear (125), Kylee Shoop (135), Hannah Crane at 140 and 155-pounder Parker Robinson. The Hawks;’ Addison Schulte scored two takedowns in the final minute for a 6-5 decision over Natalie Nichols at 105.

Claire Carey (130), CeCe Priebe (145) and 115-pounder Sarah Greiner posted pins for Independence. The Mustangs’ Morgan Krall (120) posted a 17-0 technical fall over Lexi Bunting to close the dual.

AT MANCHESTER

West Delaware 30, Independence 29

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

138 pounds - Tanner Wilson (I) pinned Rylan Gaul, 1:53 (1,0); 144 - Jax Miller (WD) dec. Tyler Wieland, 4-2 (1,0); 150 - Kam Kremer (I) dec. Lane Gudenkauf, 9-8 (0,2); 157 - Liam Weber (WD) tech. fall Cael Troutman, 22-6 (7,0); 165 - Cristopher Meyer (I) dec. Ryan Hilby, 6-1 (1,0); 175 - Blake Mather (WD) dec. Braylen Bieber, 1-0 (0,0); 190 - Brent Yonkovic (WD) pinned Mikey Bailey, 1:53 (1,0); 215 - Jeryn Funke (WD) major dec. Masin Hummel, 15-4 (4,0); Hwt. - Owen Pettlon (WD) dec. Gable Eddy, 7-0 (2,0); 106 - Lucas Peter (WD) pinned Lyric Wellman, 1:54 (2,0); 113 - Ben Anderson (I) pinned Jarrett Lynch, 1:13 (1,0); 120 - Zach Homan (I) dec. Colten Roling, 8-4 (1,0); 126 - Carver Wieland (I) major dec. Jarrett Engel, 9-0 (1,0); 132 - Remy Ressler (I) major dec. Kooper Waugh, 13-5 (2,1)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns: Independence 7, West Delaware 20. Reversals: Independence 2, West Delaware 1. Escapes: Independence 16, West Delaware 7. Nearfall points: Independence 22, West Delaware 10. Penalty points (awarded): Independence 5, West Delaware 1. Total match points: Independence 68, West Delaware 80.

West Delaware 45, Independence 35

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds - Anna O’Rear (WD) pinned Madison Arnold, :51 (1,0); 130 - Claire Carey (I) pinned Gabriella McDermott Gotto, 3:14 (2,0); 135 - Kylee Shoop (WD) pinned Kennedi Bevans, 2:32 (3,0); 140 - Hannah Crane (WD) pinned Adison Clayton, 5:59 (1,1); 145 - CeCe Priebe (I) pinned Lily Heim, 1:46 (1,0); 155 - Parker Robinson (WD) pinned Alex Westphal, :35 (1,0); 170 - Gracie Heim (WD) won by forfeit; 190 - Ella Goedken (WD) won by forfeit; 235 - Kendyll Rave (WD) won by forfeit; 100 - Alina Ajruloski (I) won by forfeit; 105 - Addison Schulte (WD) dec. Natalie Nichols, 6-5 (2,1); 110 - Sophia Hurley (I) won by forfeit; 115 - Sarah Greiner (I) pinned Alivia White, 2:50 (1,0); 120 - Morgan Krall (I) tech. fall Lexi Bunting, 17-0 (2,0)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns: Independence 8, West Delaware 8. Reversals: Independence 2, West Delaware 0. Escapes: Independence 3, West Delaware 2. Nearfall points: Independence 24, West Delaware 11. Penalty points (awarded): Independence 0, West Delaware 0. Total match points: Independence 55, West Delaware 37.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com