By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence won three matches in the season-opening Super 6 tournament in BNL Fieldhouse on Saturday.
The Stars posted wins over North Harrison (58-18), Silver Creek (48-24) and New Albany (42-36) while suffering setbacks to Forest Park (34-27) and Madison (58-15).
“Overall I was happy with what I saw in the team,” first-year coach Chris Branam said. “There is so much potential here for this season.”
The Stars started with the victory over the Cougars, recording six pins and a major decision. Brax Huber topped Kaleb Koch in 54 seconds at 126 pounds, Jaythan Hudson dominated Cassie Dosset 14-4 at 132, Hunter Morris decked Pearce Hubbart in 3:09 at 138, Jaxon Powell trapped Morgan Harris in 2:56 at 145, Bruce Engleking downed Bret Benkowski in 1:00 at 152, Conner Smith stopped Garret Shroeder in 3:46 at 170, and James Covey handled Seth Kendall in 5:07 at 220.
“The boys had a great showing with everyone winning,” Branam said. “It was a great way to start off the first dual meet of the season.”
After topping the short-handed Dragons (only two matches were contested), the Stars fell to the Rangers. Gabe Nelson was victorious over Cody Brames in 1:50 at 113, Engleking topped Kaleb Pehrson in 3:00 at 152, and Smith fought off Ethan Beckman 9-4 at 170.
“This round was a wake-up call,” Branam said. “We gave up a lot of pins, which killed us in the team score. This was a very winnable dual. We had a long talk after this match about wrestling with heart and determination.
“Gabe Nelson looked great this match. Bruce Engleking fought hard and came away with a pin in a tough match. This was a tough match for Conner Smith. I was glad to see him stick it out and push himself to walk away with the win.”
BNL bounced back with the victory over the Bulldogs. The Stars were successful in the upper weight classes as Powell (pinning Jayden Ferguson in 4:40), Engleking (topping Mathew Batouski in 1:08), Byron Kyger (pinning Brayden Hurst in 1:10 at 160) and Covey (mashing John Orr in 33 seconds) were winners.
“It was great to walk away from our first match against a conference opponent with a win,” Branam said. “Everyone looked better this round. It seems like the talk we had after Forest Park worked. Even the guys who took losses fought hard.
“I was also really impressed with Jaxon Powell this round. He got taken down early in the match, but fought back and kept the pressure on his opponent until he could lock up the pin. This was one of our best rounds of the day.”
The Cubs dominated the final round. Nelson carded a pin of Kelsey Bilz in 5:01, and Covey won a battle with Dylan Fulton, recording a reversal in the final period for a 2-0 decision. Madison had seven pin wins.
“We knew this round would be tough,” Branam said. “Madison was the team to beat. Gabe Nelson looked good this match. James Covey wrestled great. He showed a lot of grit and determination that will get him through a lot of tough matches this year.”
Madison’s Val Skinner was named the outstanding wrestler for the event.
BNL will return to action against Scottsburg on Dec. 1.
BNL Super 6
BNL 58, North Harrison 18
106 – Double forfeit; 113 Gabe Nelson, BNL won by forfeit; 120 – Jorj Filler, BNL won by forfeit; 126 – Brax Huber, BNL p. Kaleb Koch 0:54; 132 – Jaythan Hudson BNL, d. Cassie Dosset 14-4; 138 – Hunter Morris, BNL p. Pearce Hubbart 3:09; 145 – Jaxon Powell, BNL p. Morgan Harris 2:56; 152 – Bruce Engleking, BNL p. Bret Benkowski 1:00: 160 – Byron Kyger, BNL won by forfeit; 170 – Conner Smith, BNL p. Garret Shroeder 3:46’ 182 – Chance Allen, NH won by forfeit; 195 – Ashlyn Larimore, NH won by forfeit; 220 – James Covey, BNL p. Seth Kendall 5:07; 285 – Landon King, NH won by forfeit
BNL 48, Silver Creek 24
106 – Double forfeit; 113 – Nelson, BNL won by forfeit; 120 – Filler, BNL won by forfeit; 126 – Huber, BNL won by forfeit; 132 – Cole Bagshaw, SC p. Hudson 1:55; 138 – Morris, BNL won by forfeit; 145 – Powell, BNL won by forfeit; 152 – Engleking, BNL won by forfeit; 160 – Ross Scally, SC p. Kyger 4:09; 170 – Smith, BNL won by forfeit; 182 – Carver Hoffman, SC won by forfeit; 195 – Jacob Losey, SC won by forfeit; 220 – Covey, BNL won by forfeit; 285 Double forfeit
Forest Park 34, BNL 27
106 – Double forfeit; 113 – Nelson, BNL p. Cody Brames 1:50; 120 – Travis Haug, FP p. Filler 1:14; 126 = Issac Fuhrman, FP p. Huber 2:59; 132 – Dylan Niehaus, FP p. 0:39; 138 – Mason Lubbers, FP p. Morris 0:45; 145 – Jacob Dooley, FP d. Powell 16-0; 152 – Engleking, BNL p. Kaleb Pehrson 3:00; 160 – Kyger, BNL won by forfeit; 170 – Smith, BNL d. Ethan Beckman 9-4; 182 -Austin Hoppenjans, FPO won by forfeit; 195 – Double forfeit; 220 – Covey, BNL won by forfeit; 285 – Double forfeit
BNL 42, New Albany 36
106 – Double forfeit; 113 – Nelson, BNL won by forfeit; 120 – Filler, BNL won by forfeit; 126 – Paul King, NA p. Huber 1:08; 132 – Amarie DeJesus, NA p. Hudson 2:57; 138 – Brendon Roberson, NA p. Morris 2:31; 145 – Powell, BNL p. Jayden Ferguson 4:40; 152 – Engleking, BNL p. Mathew Batouski 1:08; 160 – Kyger, BNL p. Brayden Hurst 1:10; 170 – Smith, BNL won by forfeit; 182 – Camren Smith, NA won by forfeit; 195 – Lucas Lengle, NA won by forfeit; 220 – Covey, BNL p. John Orr 0:33; 285 – Charlie Wilson, NA won by forfeit
Madison 58, BNL 15
106 – Double forfeit; 113 – Nelson, BNL p. K. Bilz 5:01; 120 – Filler, BNL won by forfeit; 126 – J. Walls, M p. Huber 1:21; 132 – Noah Burkhardt, M p. Hudson 1:42; 138 – E. Willhite, M p. Morris 0:58; 145 – B. Richards, M p. Powell 1:17; 152 – T. Stockdale, M d. Engleking 14-4; 160 – L. McCarty, M p. Kyger 1:13; 170 – V. Skinner. M p. Smith 1:21; 182 – D. Youngblood, M won by forfeit; 195 – D. Berry. M won by forfeit; 220 – Covey, BNL d. D. Fulton 2-0; 285 – B. Ashley, M won by forfeit
