Eisenhower Joey Bauer (top) competes in a match earlier this season. Bauer and the Knights went to Fort LeBeouf and came away with a big time win, 37-33.

WATERFORD – If anyone around District 10 was wondering just how good the Eisenhower wrestling team is, Tuesday’s match against Fort LeBoeuf should give them a pretty good idea.

All the Knights did was walk into the Bisons’ home gym and beat them 37-33 in a battle of Region 3 unbeatens.

“If you get a win like that against Fort LeBoeuf in their gym, that’s a pretty big win,” said Eisenhower coach Kris Black. “Fort LeBoeuf is one of the best teams around – they have been for years. Our guys came out and competed tonight and they found a way.”

There were impressive performances up and down the lineup, with the final one coming when the Knights truly needed it. Trailing 33-31 going into the final bout of the night, sophomore Josh Bortz earned a third period pin over LeBoeuf’s Jonathan Ploss to secure the victory for Ike.

“That was big, Josh Bortz coming in with us down 33-31 and pinning a kid who had beaten him last year,” noted Black. “The Head brothers getting us on the board after close losses was key.”

LeBoeuf’s Joel Huck earned a 4-3 decision over Sam Holt at 138 to put LeBoeuf up 9-0 early.

But, as Black alluded to, the Head brothers, Garrett and Spencer, came up with a pair of momentum-shifting wins.

Both earned decisions – Garrett 13-8 over Josh McCall at 145 and Spencer 4-1 against Trenton Pace at 152 to get the Knights rolling.

Justin Hagberg earned a decision at 182, as did Matt Huling at 185, while Joey Bauer and Easton Hedman made it back-to-back pins at 285 and 106, followed by a forfeit win from Logan Jaquay at 113.

Their coach credited them all, even the bouts the Knights didn’t win, as key to pulling off the victory.

“Justin Hagberg came through at 182, I could go on … it’s a team win,” he said. “Even the guys who got beat, a lot of them just really gave a great effort, from top to bottom. Joey Bauer, Matt Huling … everyone.”

It’s a win that is sure to get the attention of many.

“Hopefully it says we’re on the right track and going in the right direction,” Black said in terms of what it means for the program. “It’s nice to see the kids get rewarded. Our assistant coaches are also putting in so much time and effort with our guys.”

It’s now on to the prestigious Tool City Tournament this Friday and Saturday, followed by a pair of big matches against Union City and Harbor Creek next week.

And while the Knights will revel in this win, they will keep working.

“It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t take care of business every single night,” Black said. “We have Tool City this weekend and a couple of big matches next week – we’re really in the meat grinder, but this sets us on the right track.”

– – –

Eisenhower 37, Fort LeBoeuf 33

132 – Justin Cornelius (F) pinned Nate Holt, 1:40

138 – Joel Huck (F) dec. Sam Holt, 4-3

145 – Garrett Head (E) dec. Josh McCall, 13-8

152 – Spencer Head (E) dec. Trenton Pace, 4-1

160 – Jacob Lloyd (F) won by forfeit

170 – Brett Burbules (F) pinned Ethan Chambers, 2:47

182 – Justin Hagberg (E) dec. Tim Church, 11-6

195 – Julian Gorring (F) won by forfeit

220 – Matt Huling (E) dec. Kyle Krebs, 10-3

285 – Josef Bauer (E) pinned Lance McLaughlin, 2:09

106 – Easton Hedman (E) pinned Matt Orton, 1:23

113 – Logan Jaquay (E) won by forfeit

120 – Isaac Crowell (F) pinned Jake Williams, 3:16

126 – Josh Bortz (E) pinned Jonathan Ploss, 4:25