By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – With two wins under their belts after Wednesday Night's twin kill of Covert and Schoolcraft at Brandywine High School coach Rex Pomranka's Bobcat wrestling team helped to advance their record to 3-4 early in this high school wrestling season.
"I just like how everyone came out aggressive. Last week was our first meet; kids came out a little flat, nervous. You've got to go six minutes hard. I lost five (wrestlers from last year). We've got some kids pumped up, some kids working on getting down, so I was pleased with everybody," Pomranka declared. "Schoolcraft, we had a tough match with them last year, but the kids stepped it up. I have four seniors – Chase Molica, Robert Basker, Joel Perry, and Danny Eaglebarger. This weekend we're here with our own team tournament. We start at 9:30."
If Wednesday night's performance is any indicator Brandywine wrestling fans should be in for witnessing a great event and season. After doubling up Covert 54-27 thanks to pins from Adam Earls, Molica, Kyle King, Perry, and Basker, Brandywine looked to conquer Schoolcraft, who had flattened Loy Norrix in the first round in the winners' bracket portion of the second session.
Basker started the Bobcats in the right direction, 6-0, with a quick pin of Schoolcraft's Colby Mandrasik in the 171 class. Perry then tied up Travis Forsyth to move the Bobcats ahead 6-0. Colin Monroe won for Schoolcraft, by forfeit, in the 215 class, but Eaglebarger rebounded from an earlier loss against Covert to hog-tie Brandon Dalley and put the hosts up 18-6.
That effort by Eaglebarger began a four string win-blitz by Brandywine, including Art Morris' pin of Dylan Smith (103), a void triumph by Adam Earls at 112, and Bryon Fisher's tech fall of Austin Landis in the 119 division. That surge positioned the Bobcats with a commanding 35-6 advantage.
Cody Brookman (125) brought back Schoolcraft's hopes with a pin of Brandywine's Justin Batman, followed by teammate Ralph Sater's pin of Shawne Veine in class 130. Zach Vanzile stopped Brandywine's Nate Balint, and Connor Sharp won by forfeit.
For the visitor, D.J. Cantlon of Schoolcraft received a win the hard way against Warren Watson in a disqualification ruled by the referees. Cantlon sustained a shoulder injury in the match, which Watson dominated, allowing the call. Watson deserved a better fate, but the rules mandated the call.
With the Brandywine lead shrinking to 41-30, Molica (152) and King (160) pinned their opponent's, Brandon McNeese and Tent Marnell to stop the bleeding and anchor the win.