Last season the Cowan Blackhawks got the better of South Adams in a regular season matchup, but it was the Starfires who had the last laugh, qualifying for Team State partly on the strength of that close loss, and eventually finishing fifth at Team State ahead of the ninth-place Blackhawks.
The script is nearly identical this year.
Cowan are squarely in again this year, qualifying with the second-most points of any 1A team, while South Adams have to wait to be voted in again, the first team left out in the spring.
The match will also mark a change in leadership as Robert Loshe takes over as head coach from Jesse Gaskill, who resigned this spring.
A win over Cowan would certainly go a long way in solidifying the Starfires’ resume for the December IHSWCA vote.
The match also marks the first broadcast of the season for WZBD involving the Starfires.
The Starfires will need to hit their hopeful weights to get the matchups right against a lineup for coach Tony Abbott that is littered with guys ranked in the IndianaMat semi-state rankings.
Last year’s match featured a double forfeit at 113 and the forfeit could play a prominent role in who wins this matchup, with Cowan projected to forfeit either 106 or 113 depending on how they like the matchup and the coin flip.
Projected Lineups & Notes
South Adams vs. Cowan
106-Titus Loshe, Fr. vs. #4 Daigan Barbosa, Sr.
-Barbosa scored a quick fall against Brendon Sprunger last year at 106. Loshe is the son of new head coach Robert Loshe.
113-Daniel Rupp, Fr. vs. FORFEIT
-It’s certainly possible that Rupp will be the one who has a bout with Barbosa.
120-Dakota Sprunger, So. vs. #8 Bowen Keith, Sr.
-Sprunger was at 126 for this dual and lost to Jackson Bradley, who went on to place at state at the end of his freshman year.
-Bowen Keith was a notable absence in last year’s dual for Cowan.
126-Will Patterson, Fr. vs. #8 Raef Keith, Sr.
-Patterson is a talented freshman who will be expected to win big matches this season for South Adams.
-Raef Keith knocked off Braxton Kirchner in last year’s dual, 5-2.
132-Braxton Kirchner, So. vs. CJ Bynum, Fr.
138-Wyatt Mann, So. vs. #2 Jackson Bradley, So.
144-#4 Colton Bollenbacher, Sr. vs. Jaden Unger, Jr.
-Unger sealed the dual for Cowan last year in the final bout, beating Nathan Plattner, 4-2.
150-Mark McKinley, Sr. vs. #6 Jayden Jett, Sr.
157-#7 Isaiah Meyer, So. vs. Xander Sparks, Jr.
-Meyer was ill for last year’s dual but still managed a win over Jesse May.
165-Nathan Plattner, So. vs. #3 Levi Abbott, Sr.
-Abbott was defeated by Silas Loshe to open last year’s dual and will look for payback against the Starfires.
175-Wes Summersett, Fr. vs. Noah Modglin, Jr.
-Wes Summersett had a great football season and has the frame and build to be competitive at 175 this year.
190-Luke Bauman, Jr. vs. Peyton Kepper, Sr.
-Bauman had a fall win for South Adams last year in this dual, while Kepper was pinned by Mav Summersett.
215-Bryan Roll, Sr. vs. Levi Watson, Sr.
-Watson got the fall against Thomas Murphy at 220 last year, while Roll was pinned at heavyweight.
285-Phoenix Boxell, Sr. vs. Carson VanCleave, Sr.
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