STARS FACE TOUGH TEST AT DELTA TONIGHT
The South Adams Starfires got their season underway Tuesday night in Daleville, but there will not be many similarities tonight when coach Jesse Gaskill’s team takes on Delta, one of the top teams in the Fort Wayne Semi-State in a matchup that is a far cry from the five forfeits received at Daleville.
“We were certainly happy for the opportunity to compete tonight,” noted coach Gaskill after his team won 60-9 over the Broncos. “But we’ve got tough competition ahead and more work to put in.”
That work will include trying to find a way to win seven matches against coach Cody LeCount’s Eagles in Delaware County. Delta fields a team with three returning state qualifiers, including state placer Neal Mosier, who will pose quite the challenge for one of Gaskill’s talented lightweight freshmen.
Also qualifying for state last season were Ayden Bollinger and Braxton Russell. Russell might match up with Maverick Summersett in a key showdown to show just how good Summersett is this senior season.
Another good bout should come at 145, where Colt Bollenbacher will hope to bounce back from his tough loss Tuesday. His likely opponent is Kolten Rhonemus, a wrestler with plenty of experience and a trip to the Coliseum under his belt.
Despite the tall task tonight, coach Gaskill feels like his team started out well at Daleville.
“We as coaches thought they wrestled tough,” said Gaskill. “Our guys encouraged each other well. Bryan Roll started us off with energy at heavyweight and we just took it from there. Our freshmen stepped up.”
Roll will match up against Delta heavyweight Isaac Moss, who was 15-13 last season.
Mosier is up to 126 for the Eagles and will face South Adams freshman Manny Juarez, who received a forfeit Tuesday.
After the Starfires take on #4 Delta tonight, they will have to prepare for a trip to Bellmont to take on the #3 Braves in Decatur. Both matches will serve as a quality tune-up for the all-important ACAC Duals next week.