Southern Over Northern

Austin Shaffer picked up his 99th career win with a pin at Northern on Thursday

The first of two cross county duals were held in Accident on Thursday night where the Rams came away with a 51-25 victory over the home standing Huskies.  Despite the lopsided score, it was a spirited, hard-fought match from start to finish in front of a large, excited crowd.  Photos courtesy of Kelli Fulmer.

A Northern/Southern match is intense, even when we win big!

The match began at 152 with Stephen Collins taking the mat for Southern.  The senior co-captain wasted very little time securing the takedown and working for the pin.  Before the first period came to an end, the ref was slapping the mat and the Rams took an early 6-0 lead.  Will Foulke lost a close decision and Seth Kisner added another first period pin to extend the lead to 12-3

Seth Kisner pins again!

The Huskies forfeited the next three weights which took the match to heavyweight.  Earning the forfeit wins were Dalton Cooper (182), John Zimmerman (195) and Brian Rinker (220).  Once again, we moved Scott Cooper into the largest weight class to take on the Huskies' big man.  Despite giving up nearly 100 pounds, Cooper stayed in control of the match, finally earning the pin in the second period to extend our lead to 36-3 as we headed to the lower weights.

Scott Cooper bumps to heavyweight and scores a pin!

Northern chose to forfeit to Devan Hamrick and after picking up the pin against Ethan Bittinger, Austin Shaffer took the mat, looking for his 99th career win.  Shaffer easily scored the takedown and some nearfall points in the first period and picked up the pin early in the second.  Shaffer goes for the 100th win on Wednesday night at Keyser.

Cooper McCauley with the cross face and ankle.

With the team score 48-9, we forfeited at 126 to set up a rematch at 132 for Cooper McCauley.  The match was close until the third period when the Husky wrestler pulled away for the win.  At 138, Zach Tichnell was in the position to win the match with a cradle in the third period, but his opponent was able to hook a leg and score a defensive pin (much to Zach's surprise!)  Southern 48 - Northern 25 heading into the final bout.

Johnny Lascaris with a big win in front of the big crowd.

At 145, senior Johnny Lascaris took the mat in front of most of his family and an excited Southern crowd.  Johnny was facing one of Northern's better wrestlers and we knew the match would be tight.  Lascaris got an early takedown but his opponent was able to score a reversal to tie it up.  Johnny was able to score 7 of the next 8 points to build a 9-3 lead which he held to the end to win the decision, making the final team score Southern 51 - Northern 25.

Will Foulke cranks his opponent in a close match.

The Rams move to 7-1 in duals this season and will face Fort Hill and Keyser on Wednesday evening in Keyser in a tri-match.

Southern 51 - Northern 25

106 - Devan Hamrick (SG) via forfeit
113 - Lane Rounds (NG) pins Ethan Bittinger (SG) :26
120 - Austin Shaffer (SG) pins Cody Platter (NG) 3:03
126 - Justin Opel (NG) via forfeit
132 - Cody Lauck (NG) dec Cooper McCauley (SG) 10-1
138 - Brysan Day (NG) pins Zach Tichnell (SG) 4:15
145 - Johnny Lascaris (SG) dec Chris McCann (NG) 9-3
152 - Stephen Collins (SG) pins Kyle Beard (NG) 1:54
160 - Ryan Miller (NG) dec Will Foulke (SG) 8-6
170 - Seth Kisner (SG) pins Cordel Yoder (NG) :55
182 - Dalton Cooper (SG) via forfeit
195 - John Zimmerman (SG) via forfeit
220 - Brian Rinker (SG) via forfeit
285 - Scott Cooper (SG) pins Brandon Platter (NG) 2:55