Brandywine’s Brandon Earles pins Eau Claire’s Gregorio Hernandez Wednesday night to help the Bobcats win their seventh consecutive Division 4 Team Wrestling championship. Brandywine defeated Eau Claire in the championship match 72-12. (Daily Star Photo/KELLY SWEENEY)

THREE OAKS  — The first and final match went against Brandywine in its Division 4 Team Wrestling District title match Wednesday against Eau Claire.

In between, the Bobcats dominated, finishing with a 72-12 win over the Beavers at River Valley High School. It’s the seventh straight district title for Brandywine, which improved to 25-6. The Bobcats advance to face the Lawrence District winner Wednesday in team wrestling regional semifinal action at Decatur High School.

Despite a 63-16 win over Eau Claire during the regular season, Brandywine coach Rex Pomranka was nervous entering the rematch.

“I was worried,” said Pomranka. “I didn’t think we matched up against their lineup. But, the kids knew that I was worried and brought out there A game. We took care of business and that’s what we’ve talked about all year long. We’ve been building momentum and I’ve told our team that this is when the season starts. You win, you go on, you lose, you go home. We didn’t want to go home yet.”

After losing the first match at 160 pounds by pin, Brandywine won the next 12 matches by either pin or by forfeit. The pins came from Joe Monica (189), Charlie Rodriguez (215), Victor Moranchel (112), Jimmie Wright (119), Paul Lochmondy (125), Brandon Earles (130), Nicholas Wright (135) and Brandon Shriver (145).

The most hard earned win came from Monica, who pinned Eau Claire’s Johnathon Scott in 5:57. A reversal gave Monica a 9-8 lead with :25 left in the third perod. A few seconds later, Monica recorded a pin.

“The reversal gave me momentum,” said Monica, who improved to 24-7 on the season. “From there, I could work on my 2-on-1 to break him down. That’s what really pumped me up.”

Monica avenged two regular season losses to Scott. Scott beat Monica by eight points and by a pin during the regular season.

“It’s great,” Monica said about finally beating Scott. “It’s awesome.”

Several Bobcat wrestlers were able to improve upon their impressive records. Chanc Ravish, who won by forfeit at 140 pounds, improved to 40-2, Jimmie Wright improved to 33-6, Lochmondy and Aaron Wentz stand at 27-10. Wentz won by foreit at 103 pounds.

Jimmie Wright and Nicholas Wright are the lone seniors on the team.

“We’ve been working hard and we wanted to do this for our seniors,” Pomranka said. “We always talk about sending them home as district champions.”

Monica’s comeback win was one of several performances that stood out for Pomranka.

“That was a big win for (Monica),” the Bobcats coach said. “That’s a pretty good kid he faced. He’s a returning state qualifier. The first time Monica wrestled him he wasn’t in shape and the second time he just got caught. We also got a big pin from Charlie (Rodriguez). Everybody stepped it up and the momentum carried throughout the match. Our kids came out excited. Brandon Shriver pinning his kid was exciting. It was just a great time.”

Brandywine received a bye into the finals, while Eau Claire beat River Valley, 48-21, in a first round match.

Division 3 Team Wrestling

At Three Oaks

Championship

Brandywine…72

Eau Claire…12

103: Aaron Wentz (B) wins by forfeit

112: Victor Moranchel (B) p. Nathan Blighton, 1:36

119: Jimmie Wright (B) p. Nathan Heffington, 0:46

125: Paul Lochmondy (B) p. Charlie Kelley, 1:46

130: Brandon Earles (B) p. Gregorio Hernandez, 2:19

135: Nicholas Wright (B) p. Oviel Sanchez, 1:24

140: Chanc Ravish (B) wins by forfeit

145: Brandon Shriver (B) p. Jordan Jackson, 1:53

152: William Bridwell (E) p. Nathan Anders, 2:36

160: Thomas Hess (E) p. Vincent Sallee, 0:56

171: Trevor Jones (B) wins by forfeit

189: Joe Monica (B) p. Johnathon Scott, 5:57

215: Charlie Rodriguez (B) p. Zane Klitchman, 2:26

285: Cory Katterheinrich (B) won by forfeit