The Central Falcons swooped into the Den in Baker and East Hardy Wrestling defended the territory in a 36-35 victory on Tuesday night.
This was the second match of the season for the Cougars against Central from Woodstock, Va. and the only home match for the year.
A plethora of fans came to support East Hardy and were given a special pre-match show featuring members of the youth mat club.
Fans filled the bleachers to watch the pre-match entertainment provided by the youth mat club.
“It was great. It was good for the sport. It was good for the team to have that kind of support to show off their skills and I’m happy,” East Hardy Wrestling Coach Stevie Miller remarked.
“This was a confidence builder for us going into regional competition, absolutely. A lot of people here haven’t seen the sport before, so we exposed some kids and some parents to it and hopefully we will get more of a following.”
A first period pin by East Hardy freshman Sierra Miller added to five forfeits plus sophomore Cole Pusl battling to finish in a tech fall rather than a pin loss was the edge needed for the team win over the Falcons.
Central took the initial lead 6-nil with a forfeit given to Andrew Scibelli (106).
Each match for the Cougars started with a huddle and cheer for the wrestler taking the mat.
East Hardy tied the match with a first period pin at the 51-second by Sierra Miller (113) over Central’s Quaseem Garland.
Both wrestlers locked arms trying to anticipate the right moment to shoot for a takedown.
Garland went for a double leg attack and Miller spread her legs, then Garland lifted the right leg as Miller got a headlock when both went tumbling to the mat.
Miller maintained the headlock and wrapped her legs around Garland to reverse to the top holding down one arm and moved her feet lower for balance along the edge of the circle before a whistle for a penalty.
Miller wrapped around Garland’s back again tightening her legs around the waist and leveraged with a hold on the neck to position for the pin.
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There was a double forfeit at 120 for no points awarded to either team.
East Hardy took an 18-6 advantage on a pair of forfeits given to Marina Stotlemyer (126) and Sky Spell (132).
The next match pitted East Hardy’ sophomore Cole Pusl (138) against Central’s Jacob Scibelli.
After both locked heads in the middle, Scibelli ducked to grab the gift leg of Pusl, while on his knees and drove forward into Pusl’s stomach and a
Pusl twisted over to his base and was able to start getting up, but Scibelli had firmly around his waist and pulled him down.
Scibelli flipped Pusl upside-down with a power half, but Pusl was able to slip his arm out and reverse the situation to stand up for an escape.
Scibelli made a bear hug and tackled Pusl to the mat and got back points awarded before Pusl turned to his stomach to end the period, 9-1.
Scibelli hoisted Pusl up by the waist and made a takedown, then made a crossface move flipping Pusl to his back and Pusl attempted to kick out of the move with the lock not budging leading to a 17-1 tech fall for Scibelli worth only five points, 18-11.
Forfeits for East Hardy’s Blake Miller (145), Emma Lutz (152) and Jasmine Abrell (160) created a 30-12 lead.
East Hardy freshman Dayton Miller (170) went down to one knew with his arm around the neck of Central’s William Ball and tried to throw him over to the mat, but Ball refused to be tossed around and turned to position on top of Miller on the mat.
Ball worked on a cradle before Miller shifted his legs closer underneath, the Ball spun around riding on top and intertwined legs rolling both upside-down for a moment as Miller reached back around Ball’s neck.
Ball moved to the side getting an arm lock and twisted Miller to his back with legs kicking around for the pin at the 3:09 mark of the second period.
East Hardy’s Patrick Helsley (182) grappled against Central’s Alec Stickles.
Helsley placed his right hand around the neck of Stickles, then reached down for the left leg with his left arm and pulled up on the leg for a takedown.
Both wrestlers were on their knees with Helsley leaning over for a power half driving Stickles backwards, but he was able to flip to is stomach.
Helsley attempted to make a cradle, then shifted plans putting his left arm under the armpit of Stickles and reached his right arm over the shoulder to lock in place and flipped out of bounds.
As the second period started, Helsley was in control with a hold around the shoulder, but Stickles shifted to knock the hold loose driving his head forward into Helsley.
Stickles got a hold around Helsley’s waist and moved him to his back, applying pressure for the pin at the 1:27 mark of the second period.
East Hardy’s Hunter Ames (220) got out of a brief double headlock with Central’s Jordan Fogle to move around to his back, then started pulling down as Fogle attempted an escape and fell down next to Ames.
Ames got on Fogle’s back trying to secure a power half, but Fogle was able to get to his knees and was knocked over.
Both wrestlers stood up and Ames made a single leg takedown lifting Fogle’s left leg as Fogle made a headlock crashing down to the mat.
Ames spun around on Fogle’s back and tried to position into a lock under the shoulder, then turned to a sitting position.
Ames wrapped his right arm under Fogle’s chin and moved him face first into the mat with a 6-2 lead.
In the second period, Ames went for another headlock and Fogle was able to slip out and make an arm bar hold with his back to Ames.
A counter by Ames broke the hold and was able to be back on top putting his arm around the top of the shoulder.
Ames locked Fogle in a cradle with a crossface move around his chin and left leg keeping that position to end the period.
Starting the third period, Fogle locked both arms for a takedown and positioned on top for a pin at 1:46.
East Hardy’s Hinton Shifflett (285) wrestled against Central’s Ezra Smith.
Smith garnered the pin in the second period at 1:39 to pull the Falcons within one point in the final match, 36-35.
After a brief headlock, Shifflett grabbed Smith’s right leg and tried to make the single leg takedown lifting the leg and spinning around and finally shifted the balance in favor for landing on the mat.
Shifflett let go to change position reaching around Smith’s stomach, but Smith turned to his stomach and before a power half was made there was a whistle for blood time as Shifflett’s nose was bleeding.
EHEMS teacher Sara Orndorff and several of the elementary children were having fun during the break at the scorer’s table with big smiles for the camera.
Shifflett went for the left leg and Smith remained balanced on his feet, until Shifflett was able to pull Smith down on top of him just out of bounds.
There was another blood time break for Shifflett.
Smith made a crossface move and power half to secure a pin at the 1:39 mark of the second period for the win.
After several exhibition match losses by Stotlemyer, Emili Flynn and Blake Miller, East Hardy freshman Braden Orndorff finished the night with a pin and the entire bench leapt up in enthusiastic cheering and a big round of applause from the audience gave the Cougars a smile heading into the regional tournament this weekend in Braxton County.
“It was good for Braden, he was ecstatic and maybe we will get him back next year. We were excited to wrestle at home and hopefully we can bring this energy to the regional tournament,” Coach Miller concluded.
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