JC grapplers top Rebels

A technical fall by the fourth-ranked, 152-pound wrestler in the state kept the Rebels in contention. Zach Metcalf and Eric Beougher quickly finished them off.
Metcalf and Beougher scored consecutive first-period pins Thursday, giving the Jay County High School wrestling team an insurmountable lead on the way to a 48-26 victory over the visiting Muncie Southside Rebels.
“We’re 7-1, that’s all I know,” said JCHS coach James Myers. “We’re beating the teams that are coming out in front of us. … Coming out of (the New Castle Invitational) 6-1 and getting a victory here, hopefully this weekend we can carry that momentum into the (Spencer Haworth Invitational).”
Isaiah Bradley’s 25-10 technical fall over Nick Leonhard at 152 pounds got the Rebels within striking distance, trailing Jay County 30-20 with four matches to go.
But Metcalf (160) extended the Patriots’ lead again, scoring a takedown at the 1:23 mark of his match against Khalil Lewis and coming up with a pin 20 seconds later.
Beougher (170), a senior, gave up an early takedown to Jacob Reed, but was able to rebound quickly. He tossed Reed, a 152-pound semi-state qualifier in 2010, into a headlock and recorded his pin in 1 minute, 40 seconds to push the JCHS lead back to 22 points.
“We knew when we started the match how many points we had to be up going into our last couple weight classes,” said Myers. “Khalil Lewis is a scrappy kid and it was one of those where it was pin or get pinned.
“Beougher’s match was the big one. That really sealed the deal for us.”
Freshman Hunter Gillette (182) made it three pins in a row, wearing down Evan Dick for a victory in 4:34.
Jay County’s other pins came in the first period from Jesse Finnerty (145) in 15 seconds, Chase Louck (126) in 21 seconds and Conner Ray (120) in 1:13.
Also adding victories were Austin Bentz (138) by an 8-1 decision and Eric Hemmelgarn (HWT) by a 3-1 decision.

Junior varsity
The Patriots picked up four pins on the way to a 27-12 victory.
Skyler Sibery (126) and Matt Shrack (HWT) each needed just 37 seconds to finish off their matches. Kaleb Toland (152) won in 44 seconds, and Donnie Miller (220) posted a victory in 1 minute, 18 seconds.
Andrew Eley (182) added a victory by an 8-1 decision.[[In-content Ad]]