Wildcats Takedown Midd-West, 61-9

MIDDLEBURG—The undefeated Central Mountain wrestling team showed few ill effects from the recent holiday period, traveling to Midd-West High School and coming home Thursday night with a resounding 61-9 win.

It was a complete team effort, despite the absence of three starters with minor injuries. The 90 minute dual meet saw Central Mountain rack up five falls, two forfeits, two major decisions, one bout termination and two regular decisions. The Wildcats also piled up a 20-2 edge in takedowns. With the win CM moves to 3-0 on the year, the Mustangs now 1-1.

Two first-year starters Mahlik Houtz and Richie Thompson helped jumpstart the Wildcats in a dual that started at 170 pounds. The score was 8-3 Wildcats going into the Houtz bout at 220 pounds; the Wildcat junior, now with a 12-6 record, picked up his seventh pin on a first period throw and fall at the 1:24 mark. Heavyweight Thompson followed and was on top in the second period in a scoreless bout when he recorded a team-leading thirteenth pin; Thompson is now 15-5 on the year.

Their bouts followed the first match of the year for senior Kullen Bechdel at 195 pounds; he responded to the opportunity with a third period 18-0 technical fall.

Other falls came from Geo Barzona at the 2:50 mark, his fifth in a 15-1 start to his senior season; Logan Long (9-6), a 46 second fall, his seventh; and Brandon Miller (10-7), his eighth pin recorded in just 19 seconds.

Other Wildcat winners were Tanner Weaver (14-5), a 6-3 decision; Johnny Shreffler (11-7), a 5-0 winner; Dalton Bechdel (2-1), a forfeit win; Seth Andrus (13-4), a 9-1 major over Kameron Kline (8-3), a wrestler Andrus edged 3-2 a year ago; Colton Weaver (10-8), a 15-6 major over Mustang veteran Cole Sauer 9-4); and Asher Corl (8-7), a forfeit win.

Central Mountain is off until next Thursday, Jan. 12, a home match with Shikellamy (3-1), another Heartland Conference foe. In two and a half years the Wildcats have yet to lose to any of the District 4 schools in the conference.