JC falls to Jets, claims second in ACAC Duals at 5-1

MONROE — The Patriots got matched up with the highest ranked team in the conference to start off the duals.

The lower weight classes gave the Patriots a chance, but they couldn’t pull out enough victories in the middle and upper weight classes to secure the victory.

The Class 2A Jay County High School boys wrestling team fell to the Class 1A No. 4 Adams Central Jets in the opening round of the Allen County Athletic Conference Duals 47-30 on Saturday, but followed up with five consecutive victories to claim second place.

The Patriots (10-4) beat Class 1A South Adams 47-36, Southern Wells 75-6, Woodlan 78-5, Bluffton 45-30 and Heritage 73-6 en route to claiming the runner-up spot.

Jay County struggled in the upper weight classes against the Jets, only managing to secure points in one weight class above 144 pounds. Those six points came from No. 10 Alan Ortiz pinning Gavin Rumple 5 minutes, 15 seconds into the 285 match.

The other four Patriot victories came via fall as well. Those wins came from No. 12 Griffin Byrum in the 113-pound contest, Sylas Wenk in the 120 match, Jason Landers in the 132 weight class and A.J. Heskett in the 138 contest.

Against the Starfires, another ranked team, JCHS fared much better. Seven of the eight victories came by pin, supplemented by one technical fall. Joining Byrum, Heskett and Ortiz with wins were Corbin Lothridge (106), Dylan Bolt (144), Bryce Coy (190) Freddie Lingo (215) and Jacob Robinson with the 16-0 technical fall (150).

The only other close dual came against Bluffton, in which the Patriots took eight of 14 weight classes. Byrum, Heskett and Ortiz all pinned their opponents in the first period to finish 6-0 on the day.

Caleb Sibray took the 165-pound match 10-7 to claim the only decision in the match. Lothridge, Wenk, Robinson and Gabe Ardizzone (157) all added six points as well.

The Patriots nearly swept Heritage, Southern Wells and Woodlan, claiming 13 of 14 matches in each dual.