Apaches dominate Knights on Senior Night

BY JACOB RUDE - sports@wabashplaindealer.com

With the Three Rivers Conference meet near on the horizon, Class 1A’s No. 10-ranked wrestling team in Wabash hosted Southwood on Wednesday night.

Behind six pins, including three in the final four matches, the Apaches earned a 50-18 win over the Knights on Senior Night.

Wabash started the night with a pinfall victory at 220 pounds as Grant Warmuth downed Carson Rody.

The Apaches would take a forfeit victory at heavyweight to move ahead 12-0 on the night. Southwood’s first points came at 106 pounds where Isaac King pinned Seth Bidwell 32 seconds into the first round.

Ethan Higgins picked up a pinfall victory in 1:27 over Seth Teague to push the Apaches ahead 18-6.

Braden Brooks at 120 pounds and Anthony Long at 126 pounds earned decision victories over Braden Sweet and Elijah Sutton, respectively, to push the Apaches’ lead to 26-6.

Clayton Wells earned a big victory for the Knights at 132 pounds against Aidan Benysh. Trailing 5-3 late in the third period, Wells earned a takedown and a near fall to snatch an 8-5 victory.

Wabash bounced back with a third-period pinfall win at 138 pounds, but Southwood responded with a decision victory at 145 pounds by Chad Elliott over Jake Cisneros.

Carson Kelley won by injury default at 152 pounds for Southwood to pull the Knights to within 32-18.

Wabash, however, put away the match in dominating style.

Alec Wallisch earned a pin in 20.2 seconds at 160 pounds before Bryson Zapata followed up with a pinfall win over his own at 170 pounds.

At 182 pounds, Noah Cressell downed Luke Kirk in 1:02 for the third-consecutive pinfall victory for Wabash, giving the hosts a 50-18 lead.

In the final match of the night, Southwood’s Cavin Beavers earned a close decision victory over Justin Samons at 195 pounds to send the Knights off with a win.