MIDDLEFIELD—Cardinal’s wrestling team defeated both Grand Valley and Berkshire to set up a winner takes all dual against Newbury in the 2015 87 Rumble at Cardinal High School on Thursday.
The Huskies won five of the eight matches wrestled against the Black Knights but couldn’t overcome their forfeits in a 42-34 loss that left them in second place.
“We wrestled well today,” said Cardinal coach Jeff Zeigler. “I’m very pleased with the guys.”
Cardinal opened the Rumble with a 42-21 win over Grand Valley then beat Berkshire, 51-6, to set up the showdown with Newbury.
Brandon Nevison, Ian Mast, Brandon Neikirk, Craig Shanower and Khaleel Samir all recorded wins and Trent Mast took a forfeit for the Huskies in the dual against Newbury. The Black Knights recorded four wins by forfeit to go along with pins at 160, 170 and 182.
“Their young guys beat our young guys,” Zeigler said. “They’re studly up top. Their 170 and 182, hats off to them. They’re both quality wrestlers.”
Overall, the Huskies were 10-5 in matches wrestled in the three dual meets.
Trent Mast (113), Ian Mast (126), Shanower (138) and Samir (152) all went 3-0 for the Huskies while Nevison (120) was 2-0 and Neikirk (132) was 2-1 with a 4-1 loss to Grand Valley’s Cody Rhoads, a projected state qualifier.
“Neikirk wrestled Rhoads real tough. It was a four-point match. It was a lot worse last time,” Zeigler said. “Ian looked strong and Trent, nobody wanted to wrestle Trent. Nevison wrestled strong and he keeps improving. Shanower kept his composure the whole match and pulled out a couple nice victories.”
Nevison recently returned from an injury and has slowly been finding his form. He earned a pin and a major decision on Thursday.
“He was a little rusty over at the CVC and lost his first match then came back to (finish fifth) over there,” Zeigler said. “It’s hard to be off a lot and not compete. It really affects how you wrestle, but he came back strong and he has a bright future.”
Shanower geared up for the postseason with a major decision, pin and a forfeit.
“He’s a very sporadic wrestler,” Zeigler said. “He comes off real strong but sometimes has a hard time keeping focus. He did a nice job of wrestling six minutes. He stayed in it the whole time.”
Samir took two forfeits and stuck his Newbury opponent in the first period.
“Khaleel surprises me all the time,” Zeigler said. “He’s got some good stuff and he’s very powerful when he really wants it.”
Bryn Havel (170) and Donovan Drebus (182) both dropped a weight class and finished 2-1 on the day.
“I got my two heavier guys down a weight class but I’m not sure it helped us against Newbury,” Zeigler said. “We kind of dropped right into their lap but my kids had to certify there so it didn’t matter. Hopefully it will be a little bit better spot for them at sectionals to hopefully make it to the next level.”
Lester Troyer (285) injury defaulted out of his first match against Grand Valley and did not return.
Cardinal 42, Grand Valley 21
106: Devin Felix (GV) by forfeit; 113: double forfeit; 120: Trent Mast (C) by forfeit; 126: Ian Mast (C) pinned Gavin Meeker, 3:27; 132: Cody Rhoades (GV) dec. Brandon Neikirk, 4-1; 138: Craig Shanower (C) by forfeit; 145: Nathan Rasmussen (GV) by forfeit; 152: Khaleel Samir (C) by forfeit; 160: Andrew Bolton (C) by forfeit; 170: Bryn Havel (C) by forfeit; 182: double forfeit; 195: Donovan Drebus (C) pinned David Wilson, 1:43; 220: double forfeit; 285: Austin Mathis (GV) inj. def. Lester Troyer.
Cardinal 51, Berkshire 6
106: double forfeit; 113: Trent Mast (C) by forfeit; 120: Brandon Nevison (C) pinned Hanson, 5:13; 126: Ian Mast (C) by forfeit; 132: Brandon Neikirk (C) tech. fall Hanson, 17-2; 138: Craig Shanower (C) maj. dec. McClellan, 12-2; 145: double forfeit; 152: Khaleel Samir (C) by forfeit; 160: Andrew Bolton (C) by forfeit; 170: Bryn Havel (C) by forfeit; 182: Donovan Drebus (C) by forfeit; 195: double forfeit; 220: Tony Urban (B) by forfeit; 285: double forfeit.
Newbury 42, Cardinal 34
106: Couch (N) by forfeit; 113: Trent Mast (C) by forfeit; 120: Brandon Nevison (C) maj. dec. Westen, 10-0; 126: Ian Mast (C) pinned Piczer, 1:11; 132: Brandon Neikirk (C) pinned Polita, 1:13; 138: Craig Shanower (C) pinned Kriczner, 1:18; 145: Chambers (N) by forfeit; 152: Khaleel Samir (C) pinned Flannery, 1:38; 160: Wilson (N) pinned Andrew Bolton, 1:26; 170: McKale (N) pinned Bryn Havel, 1:20; 182: Fenstermaker (N) pinned Donovan Drebus, 1:45; 195: Marker (N) by forfeit; 220: Ule (N) by forfeit; 285: double forfeit.
