Patriots and Bees

Finally warming up for battle

The Southern Rams finally got the chance to compete on a cold, snowy night in Fairmont, WV.  The tri match featured the host East Fairmont Bees and the visiting Parkersburg South Patriots.
The evening began with the Rams facing off against the Bees.  The match began at 106 where Jay Miller, in his very first bout ever, had the pleasure of wrestling last season's state runner-up from East.  The Bees took an early 6-0 lead but Southern tied it up with a pin of our own by Jeremiah Mellinger at 113.  The Rams took the lead with a pin by Aiden Schwab at 120.  At 126, freshman Kolton Lee also had the pleasure of wrestling one of West Virginia's best in his very first high school match.  Lee fought off the pin and the team score was 12-11 in favor of the Rams.

Chris Mersing with a pin vs. East Fairmont

Pins by Brogan Kealy and Colum McCann and forfeit wins by Elisha Skipper and Jake Sweitzer gave Southern a 36-11 lead going into the upper weights.  East Fairmont got a win at 160 but Southern would win the final five bouts to finish off the match with a 63-17 victory.

Finally, it was time to wrestle one of the best teams in the country, with their 4 returning state champions, one state runner up, some amazing freshmen and two D1 college recruits.  Parkersburg South was as good as advertised and handled our Southern Rams without much trouble.
The highlights for Southern came at 120 where sophomore Aiden Schwab pinned last year's AAA state runner-up in the second period.  Also picking up a win for the Rams was sophomore Hunter Sanders at 182 with another second period pin.

Jake Sweitzer vs. Roberts from Parkersburg South

At 132, junior Brogan Kealy lost a tough 5-3 decision to returning state champion Braydon Johnson and senior Jake Sweitzer lost to another returning state champion, Brayden Roberts who has committed to wrestle at WVU next year.  At 220, sophomore Cameron Glover had the pleasure of wrestling the nations top ranked wrestler and Wisconsin commit, Braxton Amos.
It was a great opportunity to face the best in the country and despite the lopsided score, the Rams battled the Patriots tough.

Cameron Glover vs. Braxton Amos

Southern 63 - East Fairmont 17
106 - Geno Casuccio (EF) pins Jay Miller (SG) :25
113 - Jeremiah Mellinger (SG) pins Levi Carpenter (EF) 4:53
120 - Aiden Schwab (SG) pins Connor Konya (EF) 2:39
126 - Blake Boyers (EF) tech Kolton Lee (SG) 15-0
132 - Brogan Kealy (SG) pins Jason Ferraro (EF) 1:43
138 - Colum McCann (SG) pins Chance Rundle (EF) 4:19
145 - Elisha Skipper (SG) via forfeit
152 - Jake Sweitzer (SG) via forfeit
160 - JT Miller (EF) pins Zach Schoch (SG) 3:30
170 - Declan McCann (SG) via forfeit
182 - Hunter Sanders (SG) dec Evan Helm (EF) 10-4
195 - Justin Richter (SG) via forfeit
220 - Chris Mersing (SG) pins Kaynan Coleman 1:46
285 - Cameron Glover (SG) pins Jacob Ogden (EF) 3:41

Parkersburg South 65 - Southern 12
106 - Brady Roberts (PS) pins Jay Miller (SG) 1:29
113 - Nathan Ford (PS) pins Jeremiah Mellinger (SG) 1:10
120 - Aiden Schwab (SG) pins Devin Easton (PS) 3:17
126 - Trent Jones (PS) tech Kolton Lee (SG) 15-0
132 - Brayden Johnson (PS) dec Brogan Kealy (SG) 5-3
138 - Ian Irizarry (PS) pins Colum McCann (SG) 1:20
145 - Gavin Quiocho (PS) pins Elisha Skipper (SG) :31
152 - Brayden Roberts (PS) tech Jake Sweitzer (SG) 15-0
160 - Jude Childers (PS) pins Zach Schoch (SG) 3:17
170 - Casch Somerville (PS) m dec Declan McCann (SG) 12-4
182 - Hunter Sanders (SG) pins Brent Pankhurst (PS) 3:27
195 - Noah Buckalew (PS) pins Justin Richter (SG) 3:20
220 - Braxton Amos (PS) pins Cameron Glover (SG) :14
285 - Gabe Hendershot (PS) pins Chris Mersing (SG) 2:57