In the Joseph A. Massa Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday, the Knights won nine of the 14 weight classes-five via pinfall-en route to a 44-21 win over the Warren Dragons.

“The guys could’ve not cared about this match (after the loss),” Eisenhower coach Kris Black said. “But they brought it tonight. This was a big win for us to give us momentum into next week.”

Eisenhower came out strong and never trailed in the match. Josh Bortz grabbed an 11-1 major decision over Donovan Fiscus at 138. Nate Holt followed with a 4-1 decision over Kyle Swick at 145 and Garrett Head picked up another major decision, 9-0, over John Fankhouser at 152 to put the Knights ahead, 11-0.

Alex Barnett got the first pinfall of the evening at 160 when he decked Zack Zinger in the second period. Jamo Douvlos got the Dragons on the board with a second period pin of Tristen Wilcox at 170.

Warren’s Alex Anderson and Eisenhower’s Ganon Jaquay jockey for control during their 132-pound match at Warren Area High School, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. Anderson won a 7-0 decision, but the Knights came away with a 44-21 match win.

Ethan Chambers and MaBrukhe Tagba battled back-and-forth through the first period of their 182-pound bout, with neither grappler able to score. Tagba chose to start the second period in the top position and quickly locked Chambers in a cradle. Chambers was able to prevent Tagba from turning his shoulders to the mat, and with just over 40 seconds remaining in the period rolled through for a reversal and decked Tagba at the 3:33 mark.

“When he locked me up, I was just thinking I didn’t want to get pinned,” Chambers said.

“I don’t have the words to describe what that win meant,” Black said. “Chambers has the biggest guts. He’s a spark plug and gets it going. He makes people stand up and get going. He’s the man.”

Instead of being in a tight, 17-12 contest, the sudden reversal put the Knights up 23-6.

“It really put the momentum in our favor,” Black said.

Eisenhower coach Kris Black embraces Easton Hedman following his pinfall victory over Warren’s Ryan Madigan at 126 pounds in the Joseph A. Massa Memorial Gymnasium, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. Hedman scored the Knights’ final points of the night in a 44-21 win over the Dragons.

Cael Black kept it going for the Knights. He fended off a late rally from Joey Arnold at 195 to hold on for a 6-5 decision.

Jacob Hayes got Warren’s second win of the night with a 9-3 decision over Jesse Gourley at 220.

“Hayes ha d a good match,” Warren coach Dean Johnson said. “He really put it all together.”

Warren’s Billy Anderson had just gotten an escape point in his 285-pound match with Joey Bauer to cut Bauer’s lead to 2-1 when he rolled his ankle getting back to center mat. Anderson fought through the injury, but Bauer was able to capitalize on the limited mobility and put Anderson to his back to give the Knights a 32-9 advantage.

Connor Papalia’s forfeit win at 106 cut the lead to 32-15. With four matches remaining, the Dragons still had a mathematical chance to pull out the win.

Warren’s Jamo Douvlos lifts Eisenhower’s Tristen Wilcox during their 170-pound match at Warren Area High School, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. Douvlos picked up a second-period pinfall victory, but the Knights rolled past the Dragons 44-21.

Logan Jaquay, who had been the subject of some social media trash talk earlier in the week, emphatically ended that chance with a second period pin of Christian Papalia at 113.

“That was a little extra motivation,” Black said.

Avery Smith picked up a 7-0 decision over Jake Williams at 120.

Despite the lopsided score, the home crowd rose to its feet for the 126-pound battle between Eisenhower’s Easton Hedman and Warren’s Ryan Madigan. Madigan started quickly and looked to have Hedman in a compromising position, but Hedman was able to get out of it and score a takedown himself. It was the only points scored in the first period. Hedman chose to start the second on bottom and again fought his way out of a tough spot. This time, he reversed Madigan and cradled him into a pinning predicament. Hedman earned the fall with just over 30 seconds remaining in the second.

“My hat’s off to Easton,” Johnson said. “He put it right to us.”

Alex Anderson grabbed a 7-0 decision over Gannon Jaquay to close out the match.

“This was an awesome match,” Johnson said. “My hat’s off to Eisenhower. This is what high school wrestling is all about.”

The Dragons will get right back on the mat today as they host Corry. Warren will hold Senior Night festivities prior to the match.

Eisenhower now turns its attention to the individual postseason. The Knights will compete in the Class 2A Section 1 tournament Feb. 15-16.

“The guys have been banging hard the last month,” Black said. “We’re going to use this week and a half to rest, get healed and get refueled.”

“This was a great morale boost,” Chambers added. “It gets us all pumped. Now we’re going to get focused for sections.”

– – –

EISENHOWER 44, WARREN 21

138: Josh Bortz (E) maj. dec. Donovan Fiscus, 11-1

145: Nate Holt (E) dec. Kyle Swick, 4-1

152: Garrett Head (E) maj. dec. John Fankhouser, 9-0

160: Alex Barnett (E) pin Zack Zinger, 3:05

170: Jamo Douvlos (W) pin Tristen Wilcox, 3:25

182: Ethan Chambers (E) pin MaBrukhe Tagba, 3:33

195: Cael Black (E) dec. Joey Arnold, 6-5

220: Jacob Hayes (W) dec. Jesse Gourley, 9-3

285: Joey Bauer (E) pin Billy Anderson, 1:11

106: Connor Papalia (W) via forfeit

113: Logan Jaquay (E) pin Christian Papalia, 3:34

120: Avery Smith (W) dec. Jake Williams, 7-0

126: Easton Hedman (E) pin Ryan Madigan, 3:26

132: Alex Anderson (W) dec. Gannon Jaquay, 7-0

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