Mustangs travel with trophy

MANCHESTER — Independence needed a little extra room in its van for the ride home.

The Mustangs had some hardware for the return trip. They carried home the Del-Buc Trophy that goes to the winner of regular-season dual against rival West Delaware.

Class 2A fourth-ranked Independence rolled to a 48-12 victory in a Wamac Conference dual Thursday night.

For the second straight year, Independence will own the trophy, which is in its sixth year of existence. The Mustang seniors finished the rivalry on top.

'We just put in the time,' said Independence's top-ranked 152-pounder Chase Straw, who needed just 14 seconds for his pin. 'It was time to get our reward.'

Independence Coach Michael Doyle said it might mean more to the fans than the coaches and athletes. The Mustangs earned its 18th win in the series that dates to 1955.

'I don't want to downplay it,' Doyle said. 'It's a big deal. It's circled on our calendar every year, but it's just another match. You have to approach it like that. It's not the state championship and it's not the end of the world if it doesn't work out.'

Straw said West Delaware is one of the toughest places for an opponent to wrestle, which may have made the Mustangs' win even sweeter.

The Mustangs (16-5) won 11 bouts, including six bonus-point wins with four falls.

'Our kids wrestled hard and that is what is important this time of year,' Doyle said.

'That is what we are looking for.'

Independence broke open the dual with a five-match win streak ignited by Jason Grover's fall at 220 for a 6-3 lead after the second match. The Mustangs pulled away in the second half of the dual with another five-match win streak, getting pins from Straw and 170-pounder Nicholas Holt.

The Mustangs won four matches by two points or less, as well.

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