Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A very strong Elkhart Memorial wrestling team defeated the Warsaw Tigers 61-16 Tuesday evening. Warsaw garnered only three individual victories and those three Tigers remain undefeated on the season.
Justin Brooks (112 pounds) pinned Ryan Stahl in 46 seconds, while Andy Keener (152) pinned Cody Vance in 1:33. Matt Elvidge (140) battled senior Dakota Bowen, who scored escape points only when Elvidge cut him loose. Elvidge came out the winner in a 13-5 major decision.
Adam Keener (145) suffered his first loss when he was beaten by Steve Stahl, 11-5.
One other Tiger loss was by decision, in Steven Palladino's valiant effort against Brandon Harvey. Palladino scored one takedown along with a couple of escapes in losing 13-4.
Other younger wrestlers put forth good effort for the Tigers. Freshman Brandon Klosowski (103) was taken down when he slipped attempting a headlock against Mike Moore, who went on to win by fall. Paul Thompson (130), also a freshman, scored the opening takedown but wound up pinned as a result of solid fundamental wrestling by Memorial's Jake Leitch. Cody Ritchison (135) tussled into the second period but was finally bundled up by senior Cam Hall.
Taylor Julian (189), a sophomore, is gaining strength as he recovers from an injury. Although he put forth good effort he was overpowered by senior veteran Matt Nelson. Senior Sha Stewart has just begun wrestling for the first time this season, and although he is moving in the right direction, he could not outmaneuver Ross Sharp.
Warsaw coach Tony Boley had praise for the young wrestlers and those who are new to the sport.
"We certainly did work hard," Boley said. "I really liked some of the new kids and the freshmen. Their effort was outstanding, but we just have a lot of inexperience and a lot of work to do."
The young Tigers are somewhat thin with a roster of only 20, while the veteran Chargers have more than 40 in their wrestling room.
Boley went on to praise the Memorial program.
"They are a well-seasoned team with good numbers and a couple of kids who went to state. They have good competition in their practice room so they are good year in and year out."
The Chargers are the defending Northern Lakes Conference champions and came with a perfect record to this match, the first NLC meeting for both teams.
Elkhart Memorial, now 6-0 (1-0 NLC) will host Goshen Dec. 5. Warsaw, with a record of 3-3 (0-1 NLC) will travel to the Valparaiso Invitational Saturday.
ELKHART MEMORIAL 61, WARSAW 16
103 - Mike Moore (Elkhart Memorial) pinned Brandon Klosowski (Warsaw), 3:46
112 - Justin Brooks (W) pinned Ryan Stahl (EM), :46
119 - Brandon Harvey (EM) def. Steven Palladino (W), 13-4 maj.
125 - Zach Corpe (EM) pinned Brock Owen (W), 1:24
130 - Jake Leitch (EM) pinned Paul Thompson (W), 3:03
135 - Cam Hall (EM) pinned Cody Ritchison (W), 2:23
140 - Matt Elvidge (W) def. Dakota Bowen (EM), 13-5 maj.
145 - Steve Stahl (EM) def. Adam Keener (W), 11-5
152 - Andy Keener (W) pinned Cody Vance (EM), 1:33
160 - Neil Silveus (EM) ff
171 - Carson Sappington (EM) ff
189 - Matt Nelson (EM) pinned Taylor Julian (W), :54
215 - J.J. Miller (EM) pinned Aaron Kolbe (W), :39
285 - Ross Sharpe (EM) pinned Shaw Stewart (W), 1:42
