The Dec. 9 wrestling match between Cardinal and NDCL came down to a dramatic last match pin by junior Greg Bores to give NDCL a 41-36 victory.
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The Dec. 9 wrestling match between Cardinal and NDCL came down to a dramatic last match pin by junior Greg Bores to give NDCL a 41-36 victory.
In only the third match of his wrestling career, Bores stayed calm, cool and collected as he followed his coach’s advice to wrestle hard and have fun.
After leading his team to victory, Bores spoke about his thought process going into the match and also provided insight into how the match unfolded.
“Going into the match, I just wanted to get the win and get out of there,” he said. “I just wanted to get it done quick and easy.
“I feel like I had control most of the match. I was on top most of the time, I had the wrist control, and I got a tilt in there. That’s one of my favorite moves to do. My coaches said it was the first heavyweight tilt they ever saw by someone that they coached.”
Lions Wrestling Coach Michael Fleeman discussed the positive approach he took in mentally preparing Bores for the final deciding bout.
“It came down to our heavyweight match, which we would have won outright on a forfeit, (however) they bumped up their extra 215,” said Fleeman. “So I told my heavyweight (Bores), I said hey, this is going to be on you. They’re sending him out there; you’re going to have to wrestle this match. I said same thing we do in practice: wrestle hard and have fun.
“He went out there and he wrestled hard and had fun.”
Although the Lions won the match when Bores got the pin, both teams had excellent individual performances. Other wrestlers that won their individual match against the Huskies were Vance Marut and Andreas Reider.
“I got a take down and took him straight to his back,” said Marut. “He was good at fighting off his back, but I got an escape, took him to his back again, and he rolled back over, and I took him to his back again and I picked up a tech.”
The Lions’ OHSAA state qualifier, Bryce Wheatley, was also at the match with the Huskies, but did not wrestle due to a forfeit at Wheatley’s specific weight class.
Wheatley is having a great season so far and is looking to return to the state tournament this year and finish within the top four.
“Feeling pretty good, you know, getting back on the mat — it’s a good feeling,” said Wheatley. “We’re getting out there, getting after it. We’re looking to go back to the state tournament. We’re trying to place down there this year; we’re looking for a top four spot.”
Cardinals wrestlers including Josh Ripley and Andrew Tucholski also have their goals set on wrestling at the state tournament this season.
“I’m hoping to get through my matches this year, and looking forward to the state tournament,” Tucholski said.
Certainly a focus on the tactical elements of wrestling is a prerequisite for success, along with mastering the technical, physical and mental aspects of wrestling. Focusing on these components of wrestling skill are necessary to wrestle at a high level like states.
The Huskies’ Benjamin Bolton, who also has aspirations of wrestling at the highest level possible, won the 144 pound match. He discussed his tactical approach to understanding his opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.
Throughout the season, he said the wrestling team watches video of its opponents and uses the mental skill of visualization in order to develop match strategy.
For the match against NDCL, Bolton specifically described his tactical approach, focused on how his opponents; footwork followed a specific pattern. This awareness led him to an optimal offensive strategy.
“When he took his steps, it was like in a certain kind of pattern,” Bolton said. “I just looked at it, I saw it, and I just timed it, and that’s all it really took to get him to the ground and pin him.”
The Lions next return to the mat Dec. 16 at Vermillion High School, while the Huskies also next compete that day but at Pymatuning High School.
