Braves batter weakened South Adams lineup to close out first half of season

DANE FUELLING

WZBD.com

Four forfeits made for an anticlimactic dual between Bellmont and South Adams, but the celebration of each State Finalist in Bellmont history more than made up for the short night on the mat as 45 years of state runners-up looked on to watch the Braves beat the Stars, 61-16.

The two most recent runners-up at Bellmont, Ike Ruble and Duke Myers, caught up with the Z Team and talked about Bellmont Wrestling and the Big Ten.

Dealing with a depleted lineup for a number of reasons, the Starfires never had the chance to entertain the idea of shocking the Braves, falling behind 18-0 as soon as the coin flip was over.

*Denny Faurote and John Faurote have a laugh with head coach Tim Myers and recent graduates Ike Ruble and Duke Myers. All five were recognized Thursday night. (Photo by Dane Fuelling)*

The Stars picked up expected wins in two of the first three bouts that were wrestled on the mat with Max Adams and Dakota Sprunger, but it was a win by Ben Mills at 120 that gave the Braves some excitement.

Wrestling Titus Loshe, Mills certainly remembered last year’s dual, when the two went into overtime at 106 and Loshe scored a signature win. This match was much different and Mills had Loshe on his back at the beginning and the end of the bout in a 14-3 major.

The Braves then ate through the heart of the South Adams lineup, scoring wins by Gabe Myers over previously unbeaten Will Patterson at 132 and at 138 with Henry Faurote.

Will Franze recovered from conceding an opening takedown to cradle Wyatt Mann for a fall at 144.

Will Franze comes back to win at 144.

That trend continued at 165 when Landon Rich found himself down 3-0 but later scored a fall at the end of the first with a cradle.

The final bout of the night featured Gavin Davis bumping up to 175 to wrestle sophomore Wes Summersett. Davis was left frustrated in the first period when he was unable to turn his opponent. He went into the second period with a 3-0 lead and took Summersett down six times until he got a turn and a 22-4 tech fall.