By Cort Reynolds
MT. BLANCHARD – The Ada High School wrestling team split a pair of dual matches against county rivals Wednesday, December 18.
The Bulldogs rallied from a 22-6 deficit behind three pins to beat the host Falcons, 42-28. The Bulldogs then narrowly lost to Kenton by a 35-34 count.
“Tonight was our best overall team performance of the season so far,” said Ada head coach Eric Perkins. “Every wrestler did some really good things.”
Five of the nine Ada wrestlers went 2-0 on the evening, Perkins reported.
Ada junior Silas Riblet got the Bulldog grapplers off to a good start. He pinned Falcon Ethan Spitnale at 57 seconds, and won by technical fall at 2:39 of the second period over Wildcat Logan Kapanka at 120 lbs.
“Silas Riblet wrestled first for us in both duals,” said Perkins. “He controlled both those matches really well, stayed active and set a really good tone for us in both duals.
“He has really become a leader for our team, and someone we need to be able to count on for consistent points and he definitely delivered that for us,” he added.
At 144 lbs., Ada senior Liam Vieira swept both of his matches. He pinned Riverdale’s Cohen Phillips at 51 seconds, then beat Karson Davis of Kenton by technical fall at 3:42 in period two.
“Liam Vieira is such a good technician, it just feels like he is always in good position and always stringing together chains of really good moves,” said Perkins.
“Tonight he wasn't scored on, and put up a bunch of points in only about two periods of wrestling,” he continued. “His confidence and positive energy is really a spark for our whole team.”
Ada led Hardin County rival Kenton 16-6 after Vieira’s victory, and still was on top by 10 at 22-12 after a forfeit win at 157 lbs. But Kenton rallied to win the next two matches and added a forfeit to seize a 29-22 lead.
Bulldog Elijah Craig pinned Falcon Grant Swavel at 150 lbs. at 4:40 in the third period to inch Ada within 22-18. Craig then lost by pin in 46 seconds to Kenton’s Isaiah Mundy, but Ada still led that match 16-12 at the time.
“Eli Craig picked up a really important win for us in that dual with Riverdale,” Perkins noted. “He has been improving so much so quickly, and just hasn't had the results to show for it yet but tonight even though you could tell he was exhausted by the end of the match, he pushed through and got a pin.”
Layne Simon won by forfeit at 165 lbs. vs. the hosts, then lost by technical fall at 4:05 to Wildcat Isaac Blevins.
The forfeit solidified Ada’s lead vs. the Falcons, 30-22. After the TF fall defeat to Blevins, the Bulldogs still led 22-17.
“Layne Simon always competes,” Perkins said. “He got behind early in his match, but there was never a moment where he was even close to giving up.
“He just keeps getting more and more consistent and is doing a really good job of fighting through some difficult positions and competing with some quality wrestlers early in this season,” the coach added.
Senior Landon Simon won by forfeit at 215 lbs. vs. Riverdale, then pinned Kenton’s Matthew Handel at 1:41 to pull Ada within 29-28.
“Landon Simon wrestled one of the best matches I have seen him have in a long time, against an opponent that has beaten him in the past,” said Perkins.
“He was in control from start to finish and did a really good job of transitioning and taking advantage of what his opponent was giving him. He shows flashes of dominant wrestling, and tonight was one of those,” he added.
Easton Lane registered two pins in the heavyweight class. Lane quickly pinned Falcon Eli Bagley in 66 seconds, then dispatched Wildcat Brison Laubis in just 27 seconds.
“Easton Lane works really hard,” noted Perkins. “He is always looking for ways to get better. Coming off a strong second-place finish at Lincolnview he backed that up with two pins tonight. He uses leverage well and did a good job getting to positions where he was at an advantage.”
The Bulldogs led Kenton 34-29 after Lane pinned Laubis, but a forfeit at 113 lbs. gave the Wildcats a one-point win.
Forfeit wins by Easton Lee at 157 and Layne Simon at 165 put Ada in front of the Falcons by eight points late, 30-22. The Falcons inched within 30-28 after a pin win at 175 lbs.
But a forfeit win by Landon Simon and the pin by Lane clinched the win over new Blanchard Valley Conference foe Riverdale. Ada captured the last 12 points to pull away and win by 14.
The Bulldogs are 4-3 in dual matches this season.
Ada wrestles next at the Woodmore Invitational January 3-4.
