DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
Officials at Goshen High School announced Wednesday the schedule for the upcoming two-day wrestling event to be held Friday and Saturday.
The #5-ranked Bellmont Braves will open the tournament with a dual against Munster and end Saturday night against the hosts, Goshen.
A closer look at the Braves’ opponents in order:
Day One (Friday, November 24th)
Munster – The Braves have never in program history met Munster in a wrestling dual. The two teams did clash for a time at the Al Smith, but Friday’s dual meet will be the first ever between the two programs.
Top Wrestler: Christopher Bohn was a ticket rounder last year at 138. He was knocked out by Penn’s Wes Harper 7-5 with a spot in the State Finals on the line at East Chicago in February.
Hammond Morton – Bellmont beat Morton 79-0 on Thanksgiving weekend in 2001 in the only meeting between the two schools. The Governors had some success last year, sending two seniors to the semi-state.
Top Wrestler: Avery Villareal was a regional qualifier as a junior last year at heavyweight with a 22-8 record.
Eastside – Bellmont beat the Blazers last season at Goshen, 64-15. Head coach Doug Smoker has a strong contingent of lightweights back this season and should offer a strong challenge for the Braves midway through the day Friday.
Top Wrestler: Linkin Carter was a state qualifier for the Blazers last season at 120.
Chesterton – Bellmont had no problems with a shorthanded Chesterton team last season at Goshen, winning 48-17 on a match broadcast by WZBD. That dual featured #1 Aiden Torres wrestling Gavin Davis. The Trojans finished sixth last year at the ECC semi-state.
Top Wrestler: Isaiah Wilson is a returning state qualifier for Chesterton, making it to Indianapolis last year at 120 pounds. Ayden Campbell (126) and Hayden DeMarco (132) reached the ticket round.
Lakeland – The Braves got a real challenge from Lakeland last year at Goshen, winning 47-30 in one of the closer duals they had in their 10-0 weekend.
Top Wrestlers: The team returns two semi-state qualifiers in Zac Brown (113) and Noah Owsley (195).
Day Two (Saturday, November 25th)
South Bend Riley – Bellmont had never met Riley in a dual before they entered the Goshen duals for the first time two years ago. The Braves have won handily each year, winning 75-6 and 70-7. The team will offer a good challenge to the Braves middle weights, with several talented wrestlers returning.
Top Wrestlers: Marques Young reached the ticket round last year at 160. Trayvon Fleming (145) and Jeirmi Scales (182) were semi-state qualifiers for the WIldcats.
John Glenn – Likely the biggest challenge on day two for Bellmont, the Falcons nearly beat Bellmont last year until Keven Loshe saved the day. The first-ever meeting between the two schools ended in the Braves’ favor, 43-33. Glenn could be a potential Team State opponent, as well, with the Falcons being in the top five teams vying for the final 2A spots this season.
Top Wrestlers: Brody King (113) and Mason Kobelt (170) were semi-state qualifiers last season for Glenn.
LaPorte – The Braves have had the chance the last two seasons to see state champ Ashton Jackson at Goshen, but with Jackson wrestling with Ike Ruble at Purdue, the Slicers have a different look. Last season Bellmont beat LaPorte 57-24. The Slicers do have some history against the Braves, having beaten Bellmont on Thanksgiving weekend 20 years ago at Peru in a fantastic dual in 2003, 26-23.
Top Wrestler: LaPorte have to wrestle in the tough Crown Point Regional. Three wrestlers return to this year’s team who were eliminated in that tournament: Josh England (126), Isaac Kleist (138) and Julian Mora (152).
Angola – The Braves (and the Yellow Jackets) have never lost to Angola, going all the way back to the first meeting between the two programs in 1963, with Bellmont (and Decatur) winning all 13 matchups. Last year’s dual was very close, with Bellmont winning 45-36 in a pinfest.
Top Wrestler: The Hornets return three semi-state qualifiers who will look for wins against Bellmont Saturday: Alex Delacruz (106), Kamaron Straw (113) and Blake Denman (145).
Goshen – The hosts have chosen to place Bellmont at the end of the schedule, perhaps hoping to catch the Braves tired and worn out in their tenth dual in two days. The Braves have beaten the hosts 72-12 and 51-30 in the two trips to the RedHawk Duals. The RedHawks and coach Jim Pickard had a great tournament series last winter, sending seven wrestlers to the Fort Wayne semi-state.
Top Wrestler: Laish Detwiler was a state qualifier for Goshen last season at 182. Cole Hinkel (113), Emanuel Macias (120) and Jonathon Flores (160) all made it to semi-state.
Note: The Braves will not face West Noble or the two “B” teams involved in the event from Garrett and Goshen.