By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
It was the seniors' night to shine at Thursday night's wrestling match between Niles and St. Joseph.
The Vikings were able to pull off the 46-13 victory over the Bears for a Big 16 conference win.
It was also the last home conference match for Niles.
Todd Scansen was the first to wrestle for Niles in the 140-pound weight class against St. Joe's Justin Randall. The match went all three periods, with Scansen winning by decision in the end 12-5.
The next five matches were all won by decision for Niles. Ben Brandstatter won at 145-pounds against Dustin Phelan. Rob Cinninger won against Eric Koch in the 152-pound class. Dan Lawson defeated Mark Lockwood in the 160-pound class and Jake Groves beat Tyler Flora in the 171-pound class.
Niles had a 16-0 lead with Josh Henry up next in the 189-pound class.
Henry played the National Anthem on his trumpet before the match. He made the first pin for the Vikings against Kevin Owens with 13 seconds remaining in the first period.
Joel Ealy was able to pick up a second pin for Niles at 215-pounds against Scott Nevenschwander 4:45 into the match.
The two pins put the Vikings up 28-0.
Kenyon Ellison wrestled at 275-pounds against Logan Klug. In the third period, the official halted the match for stalling, giving the Bears their first six points of the night.
Jake Glueckert won by forfeit at 103-pounds for Niles and Bryce Flannery defeated Sid Kumar in three periods 17-1 in the 112-pound class.
Matt Poehlman remained undefeated in the 119-pound class getting a win against Matt Ghigotti with 10 seconds left in the first period.
Mason Stephenson was able to pull off a hard fought win in the 125-pound class against Dave Roler. The two were tied at the end of the first and Roler had the 4-2 lead going into the third. Stephenson was able to take the lead with 39 seconds remaining in the match and went on to claim the 10-5 win.
Derek Purcell and Rodney Leneway were the last two wrestlers for the Vikings and both suffered losses by decision. Purcell wrestled Bryan Ammerson at 130-pounds and Leneway faced Kurt Walter at 135- pounds.
The Vikings are now 23-6 overall.
Niles……………48
St. Joseph…….13
103: Jake Glueckert (N) won by forfeit
112: Bryce Flannery (N) dec. Sid Kumar 17-1
119: Matt Poehlman (N) p. Matt Ghidotti 1:49
125: Mason Stephenson (N) dec. Dave Roler 10-6
130 Bryan Ammeson (SJ) dec. Derek Purcell 10-4
135 Kurt Walter (SJ) dec. Rodney Leneway 15-6
140 Todd Scansen (N) dec. Justin Randall 12-5
145 Ben Brandstatter (N) dec. Dustin Phelay 9-4
152 Rob Cinninger (N) dec. Eric Koch 11-0
160 Dan Lawson (N) dec. Mark Lockwood 7-4
171 Jake Groves (N) dec. Tyler Flora 4-3
189 Josh Henry (N) p. Kevin Owens 1:46
215 Joel Ealy (N) p. Scott Nevenschwander 4:45
275 Logan Klug (SJ) wins by disqualification