Elkers close out the regular season
Ridgway seniors Theo Coder and Allen Brigger were recognized before Tuesday's 48-27 home loss to Brockway (10-9), which wrapped up the Elkers' 6-3 regular season.
The local Junior Olympic wrestlers also were part of the prematch festivities and accompanied the Varsity onto the mats for warmups.
Junior Rocco Delhunty improved to 9-8 and opened the bouts with a pin of Rover 215-pound junior Ashen Barefield (0-8) in 42 seconds. Elker 145-pound freshman Kayden Garris (5-6) recorded a fall in 2:40 over freshman Cash Butters (0-5), and Ridgway 172-pound junior Benji Truchan upped his mark to 2012 with a 6-3 win over senior Jack Smith (148). Also, for the Elkers, 114-pound Nate Steger (21-8) and 121-pound Blaise Knepp (4-5) were awarded forfeits. Receiving forfeits for Brockway were 285-pound sophomore Johnathan Winnings (14-15) and 107-pound Gage Park (12-7). The Rovers also got falls from senior 127-pound Weston Pisarchick (28-4) over Eli Potts, 133-pound junior Colton Ross (24-9) over Coder (1013), 139-pound Parker Pisarchick (29-5) over junior Austin Young (3-10), 152-pound Dylan Bash (23-11) over sophomore Gavin Kilpeck (10-15), junior 160-pound Blake Pisarchick over sophomore Lydia Polaski (1-2), and freshman 189-pound Madox Decker over Brigger (2-8).
"We're young, and we're going to have our growing pains," said Ridgway head coach Justin Burkhouse. "The kids wrestled well despite the loss. We have a good group of kids. With the kids coming up from Junior High, it will be exciting over the next few years."
The grapplers are off until the Class 2A District 9 championships at WestPenn Clarion on Feb. 23-24.
"We have a couple of kids banged up, and we just need to get healthy over the next couple of weeks and head into districts with a full head of steam," said the Elker coach.
Burkhouse complimented his team's approach.
"We push the kids hard. As hard as we do, we never hear one of them complain. We tell them to run, and they ask how long. It's been good. These kids feed off each other and are just a great group."
Seniors
Burkhouse
praised the contributions of his two upper classmen.
"Theo wrestled coming up through and decided to come back out. He gives his all. He's a funky wrestler that can catch somebody at any time. Allen is a big, strong kid. He's going to the Navy and has a bright future.
"They helped us tremendously. We don't win matches at the Clearfield duals (went 3-2) and other matches without them. They're a big part of this team."
JO grapplers
The excitement of the younger kids hitting the mats was a wonderful site for all involved with the Ridgway wrestling program, which includes over 50 kids at the Junior Olympic level.
"I was actually out there trying to get the music playing, and by the time I got out here, it was like herding cattle," Bunkhouse said with a huge smile. "It was pretty neat. They look up to the Varsity wrestlers and enjoy going out with them. It gives them something to look forward to."
The coach was happy to see a large crowd.
"You get all these little kids and parents in here, and it's nice to see a packed gym for Ridgway wrestling. Hopefully, all our dual meets will draw crowds like this in the future."
Notes: Sophomore 107-pound Michael Copello, who took first at the Juniata Invitational on Saturday is battling an injury and could not go on
Tuesday. He is 23-4. Other Elkers include sophomore Nick Cristini (139, 145 – 2-2) and junior Cayden Solomon (139 – 1-3).