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FCHS makes it 8 in a row over Western Hills

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By Chase Sewell
February 4, 2010

Despite the lopsided final score, both Franklin County and Western Hills had something to be happy about after Wednesday night’s Wrestling City Championship at FCHS.


The Flyers won the annual dual meet handily, 59-18, making it eight city titles in a row, while the Wolverines made strides toward a better program.


“It’s nice to keep defending our City Championship,” FCHS coach Zac Donnelly said. “We keep improving as a team, but at the same time, Western Hills is also improving as a team. I like seeing them have (bigger) numbers because it makes for a good rivalry. I hope it continues.”


Last season’s dual saw Western Hills dress only seven wrestlers, win one match, and forfeit the other seven weight classes, losing 78-6. This season, the Wolverines forfeited only five matches and won two.


“It was better than last year’s score,” WHHS coach Adam Bowser said. “We’re getting better. It’s small steps. We’re a young team. I know I have been saying that all year, but they are getting better.”


Franklin County started the night with a pair of forfeits at 171 and 189 pounds with sixth-ranked Jeremy Gardner and No. 13 Tyler Wright getting the wins respectively.


Western Hills’ Mark Davis did not wrestle at 171 due to an ear injury, but Bowser said it should not affect the rest of his season.


Western Hills got on the board at 215 when Ken Holbrook – ranked No. 15 in the state – jumped out to a 4-1 lead then pinned Franklin County’s A.J. Burrell with just 18.8 seconds left in the first period.


Christian Wilkins made it two wins in a row for WHHS when he pinned FCHS’ Jose Rebolledo with second remaining in the first period.


It was all Flyers after that, with Coty Hunt pinning WHHS’ Austin White at the end of the second period after amassing a 14-1 lead in the 103 match. Tighe Harrod followed that with a 16-0 technical fall against WHHS’ Josh Slone.


FCHS forfeited the 119 match, and then Josh Lopez dominated WHHS’ Corey Johnson at 125, pinning him 50 seconds into the second period.


Lopez has dropped to 125 after the season-ending elbow injury fellow freshman Tevon Clay suffered Jan. 23 at the Capital City Classic.


WHHS won 130 by forfeit and FCHS took the next three matches by forfeit. Jacob Williams (152) and fifth-ranked Josh Bruning (160) posted the last two wins for the Flyers over Travis Smith and Darreck Rogers respectively.


“Christian and Ken came out a looked real good and there were a lot of positives for the younger kids,” Bowser said. “There is still a lot to work on, a lot of stuff they shouldn’t have done that they know they shouldn’t have done. It’s going to happen.”


The Flyers also used Wednesday’s dual to honor its senior wrestlers and managers. Gardner, Bruning, Wright, Burrell and Kyle Marston (did not wrestled to to injury) were all recognized before the matches began.


“These guys have been leaders for quite a few years,” Donnelly said of his seniors. “Jeremy has been with the team for six years – the first year we started the middle school program. It’s going to be exciting to see what he’s going to do at state.


“Bruning is a leader in the mat room and he also has a chance to make a run at a state title,” he added. “Both of those guys are captains.”


Donnelly also said that Wright and Marston, along with Burrell have made huge strides in their careers and could all be factors in next weekend’s Region 7 tournament at Dunbar.


Managers Samantha Good, Mackenzie Phillips and Kacie Tingle were also honored.


“The senior (managers) we are really going to miss,” Donnelly said. “Those girls take care of all the behind the scenes work.”


Western Hills’ lone senior this season is Davis, who Bowser said his team couldn’t have done without.


“He’s meant a lot this year,” Bowser said. “He has helped out showing the kids the program. We rely on him to keep them in line, keep them around to weigh in and stuff like that. And just having that kid that’s winning matches all the time. He’s lost four total this year, 36-4. He comes in and tells (the younger wrestlers), ‘Keep trying. When I was a freshman, I only won two matches.’ It helps keep their spirits high and gives them something to shoot for.”


Both teams are in action this weekend with the Wolverines heading north to the Conner Duals while Franklin County heads to North Oldham for the Mustang Classic. The Region 7 tournament is Feb 12-13 at Dunbar.


“I think mentally our guys are prepared and physically our guys are there,” Donnelly said about his team heading into the regional tournament. “I’m really looking forward to this tournament this weekend. It’s a 30-team tournament – the North Oldham Mustang Classic. It’s one of the biggest tournaments we’ve been to. It ought to really prepare us for state. How they do there will be indicative as to how they will perform at the state level.”


As for the Wolverines, Bowser is continuing his season-long mantra for his young team.


“Better than we did today,” Bowser said. “That’s something I keep telling them – next match better than the last match.”


RESULTS
Franklin Co. 59, Western Hills 18


103
Coty Hunt (FC) def. Austin White (WH), fall 3:50


112
Tighe Harrod (FC) def. Josh Slone (WH), T-fall 16-0


119
Josh Morris (WH) win by forfeit


125
Josh Lopez (FC) def. Corey Johnson, fall 2:50


130
Ethan Cox (WH) win by forfeit


135
Jonathan Hockensmith (FC) win by forfeit


140
Hasaamnja Hart (FC) win by forfeit


145
Ronnie Sewell (FC) win by forfeit


152
Jacob Williams (FC) def. Travis Smith (WH), fall 1:34


160
Josh Bruning (FC) def. Darreck Rogers (WH), fall 1:26


171
Jeremy Gardner (FC) win by forfeit


189
Tyler Wright (FC) win by forfeit


215
Ken Holbrook (WH) def. A.J. Burrell (FC), fall 1:41


285
Christian Wilkins (WH) def. Jose Rebolledo (FC), fall 1:57





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