WAYNESBORO – Thursday night’s high school varsity wrestling match wasn’t just any match. It was a contest against his alma mater.
While it’s unlikely that Glunt felt a tinge of mixed emotions after the Indians dismantled the Rockets 50-24, he nevertheless took time to converse with some of the JB wrestlers.
The James Buchanan grad was 120-28 as a high school wrestler, including 34-2 his senior season. He placed third in the state at 182 pounds.
Glunt doesn’t just coach, he also grapples with some of the upper weights in the wrestling room, the place that does more to prepare them for competition than the actual competition.
“I was particularly impressed with how Gage (Hutchinson) did against Steven Howard,” said Glunt. “Gage is a sophomore. He’s a good wrestler. They had a good 127-pounder (Dakota Stone). Even their 172-pounder (Christian Pine) was good. Their 160-pounder (Alex Brake) was a stud; he was good.”
The upper weight wrestlers (Brady Myers, Tyler Rooney, and Anthony Ausherman) contributed 17 points in consecutive wins. But 114-pounder Brennah Hollar, a freshman, won by fall, and 285-pounder Lucas Mummert, a freshman, also won by fall, as Waynesboro dusted off an 18-15 deficit to outscore Jams Buchanan, 32-9.
The Rockets showed resolve when Diego Atherton (121) and Dakota Stone (127) registered back-to-back pins to tie the meet at 12-12. Following Steven Howard’s 8-3 win over JB’s Hutchinson, there were three straight pins, one from Waynesboro and two from the Rockets. Then, Alex Brake worked for a first-period pin at 160 pounds to make the score 27-24.
“We just have young wrestlers, inexperienced. We’re working on it. It’s a matter of believing in yourself and competing hard,” said Glunt, whose team recorded four pins, a technical fall, two decisions, and was the beneficiary of three forfeits. “You’ve gotta be willing to give that fight for six minutes and not two minutes. It’s just sticking to basic fundamental stuff, locking hands on shots. I want them to attack legs.”
Myers and Pine locked up in their bout, with Myers getting a takedown to lead 3-0 after the first period. The fireworks started in the second period as Myers went to work, scoring on a reversal after beginning the period on the bottom. He then tallied seven near-fall points and
two more takedowns to end the match. The technical fall came at 4:50 with the score 18-2. Rooney made quick work at 189, scoring on a stalling point and a takedown before winning by fall in 1:06. Ausherman dominated his bout to win his 25th match of the season. He scored on two takedowns and a four-point near-fall to take a 10-0 lead after the first period. He scored on an escape and a takedown and then ended the contest with a fall in 2:51.
Waynesboro is back on the mat as the Tribe hosts Gettysburg on Saturday.
RESULTS
Waynesboro 50, James Buchanan 24
107: Michael Brewer (W) won by forfeit 114: Brennan Hollar (W) p. Owen Calimer, 1:08 121: Diego Atherton (JB) p. Braeden Wesoloski, 4:46 127: Dakota Stone (JB) p. Christopher Walker, 5:57 133: Steven Howard (W) dec. Gage Hutchison, 8-3 139: Blake Bishop (JB) won by forfeit 145: Colton Biser (W) won by forfeit 152: Chase Mumma (W) won by forfeit 160: Alex Brake (JB) p. Ayden Strausbaugh,1:47 172: Brady Myers (W) tech. fall Christian Pine, 5:00 (18-2) 189: Tyler Rooney (W) p. Jaylen Millsaps, 1:06 215: Anthony Ausherman (W) p. Emmett Medolla, 2:51 285: Lucas Mummert (W) p. Lucas Stoner, 3:13
Photos by Toya McCleary:
