SEYMOUR — Columbus North coach Justin Cooper said he was hoping all nine of the wrestlers he took to Seymour Thursday night could come up with wins.
Seven of them did, and they scored enough points to defeat the Owls 36-30. North won despite forfeiting four matches, accounting for 24 points.
“We wrestled well,” Cooper said. “I brought nine kids, and all nine of our kids are tough, hard-nosed kids. I wanted to win all nine. We came up short in a couple of them, but we’ll work hard and get ready for sectional. We’ll see (Seymour) again.”
Gaining pins for the Bull Dogs (9-19) were Nick Holt at 160 pounds, Bradley Gutierrez at 220, Morgan Smith at 106 and Nick Miller at 120.
Holt trailed Nick Rotert 3-0 after the first period, then gained the fall 36 seconds into the second period. Gutierrez scored a takedown against Jacob Roberts early in their match at 220 and gained the pin in 36 seconds.
Smith also recorded a quick takedown against Isaiah Picardo in their 106-pound match and ended the match at 1:18.
Miller had three takedowns and a penalty point against Brant Steele in the first period of their 120-pound match. Miller had another takedown early in the second period and recorded the pin at 3:19.
North’s Andrew Chapman won by injury default against Bradan Thomasma in the second period of their 170-pound match.
Brigham Kleinhenz scored a takedown in the first period and a reversal in the second period for a 4-0 decision over Leo Pena at 182. Josh Larson scored a takedown in the first period, and escape in the second period and defeated Jacob Roberts 3-1 at 220.
Seymour’s Owen Chandler scored an 8-6 decision over Keandre Watson at 113, and Owl Cheaney Reichenbacker scored a late takedown for a 7-6 win against Will Russell at 152.
North didn’t have any wrestlers at 126, 132, 138 and 145, and neither school had a 285-pounder.
The Bull Dogs, who bounced back from a 58-9 loss at Columbus East a night earlier, will wrestle in the Conference Indiana Tournament on Saturday at Perry Meridian. Chapman, Kleinhenz and Larson are seeded either No. 1 or No. 2 in their weight classes for the conference tournament.
“I’m looking for good individual performances,” Cooper said. “I’d like to pull out a couple champions. Some of my lower-seeded guys I’d like to see them wrestle in the wrestlebacks, wrestle all the way through, wrestle tough and score some team points so we can place high. We’re shorthanded, but the guys we have are tough kids.”
