On Thursday, they took the first step toward fulfilling that goal, beating Harbor Creek in dominating fashion, 50-15 to advance to Sharon on Saturday, where the top eight teams in District 10 Class 2A will fight for the three available spots to the state tournament.

“Our guys just had a little bit different intensity tonight and it was nice to see that,” said Eisenhower coach Kris Black.

And having the match pushed back a day and being off of school the past two days was no issue.

“We’ve been playing this waiting game, having two days off of school and our guys responded really well,” noted Black “They came out, got after it and were on a mission tonight. We won most of the toss-ups. That’s a good sign going into the weekend.”

Eisenhower’s Easton Hedman flips Harbor Creek’s Joe Capin during their 126-pound match. Hedman earned a hard-fought 4-1 decision.

Up and down the lineup, even in the matches the Knights lost, they were impressive.

They started out with three-straight forfeit wins – Joey Bauer (220), Jesse Gourley (285) and Darren Glotz (106).

The first match that was wrestled featured Logan Jaquay, Eisenhower’s defending PIAA medalist, against talented Huskies freshman Connor Pierce. Jaquay was dominant right from the get go, jumping out to a 5-0 lead and controlling throughout on his way to an 11-2 major decision.

“Logan did a great job of beating a quality kid and getting a major,” Black said.

That was one of the differences – Eisenhower’s best matchups they got bonus points, and Harbor Creek’s didn’t.

Eisenhower’s Gannon Jaquay battles Harbor Creek’s Matt Stenger during their 132-pound match on Thursday. Jaquay earned a 7-2 decision.

Two of their top wrestlers – Joe Gabler at 120 and Dom Viscuso at 195 earned decisions, with Jake Williams giving Gabler all he could handle at 120 in a 3-0 battle and Black, a freshman, taking the senior Viscuso to overtime.

“Their big point producers – Viscuso, we gave him a decision,” Black noted. “Gabler, we gave him a decision. (Karter) Krewszeski we pinned him. We didn’t give up bonus and we got bonus where we needed it.

“Jake Williams wrestling a really good kid and having a chance to win … he just keeps getting better and better. I thought Cael wrestled really well. He went up against the best guy in our district, or even region and goes into overtime.

At 126 and 132, Eisenhower earned a couple of impressive decisions, with Easton Hedman getting a 4-1 win at 126 and Gannon Jaquay grinding out a 7-2 victory at 132.

Their performances were indicative of how the Knights wrestled as a whole.

Eisenhower’s Garrett Head puts Harbor Creek’s Jared Frampton in a leg lock during their 152-pound match. Head earned a 13-3 major decision.

“Gannon went out and wrestled a kid he wasn’t supposed to beat and beat him,” Black said.

As did Josh Bortz in the next bout, in most stunning fashion. Bortz flipped Krewszeski in the opening moments of their match and earned a pin in just 1:50.

“Josh Bortz throws a kid on his back, a kid on paper who is considered better in terms of the rankings,” Black said.

After Harbor Creek earned a pin at 145, Garrett Head came in at 152 and, in the final moments of the third period, earned a takedown to secure some more of those bonus points that Black was referring to.

At 160, Alex Barnett wrestled another of the Huskies’ top performers in Jason Bratt.

Eisenhower’s Ethan Chambers shakes hands with head coach Kris Black following his pin over Harbor Creek’s Jaden O’Hara in their 182-pound match.

Trailing 3-1 going into the third period, Barnett was able to earn an escape point, but Bratt was able to hold him off for a 3-2 decision.

“Alex wrestled well, he wrestled JT to a close match,” stated Black.

Tristen Wilcox received a forfeit at 170 before Ethan Chambers quickly took control and pinned Jaden O’Hara in 1:16 at 182, followed by the Black-Viscuso battle to end the night.

“The whole team stood out,” coach Black said. “Everybody went out there with a purpose and really did a great job. I was very impressed.”

Now, they await the winner of Friday’s match between Mercer and Titusville in the quarterfinals Saturday morning at Sharon High School.

“We’re going down there with the goal of being the top three and advancing to the state tournament,” Black said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, no one does. That’s been our goal from the beginning of the year. They’re ready.”

– – –

EISENHOWER 50, HARBOR CREEK 15

220: Joey Bauer (E) won by forfeit

285: Jesse Gourley (E) won by forfeit

106: Darren Glotz (E) won by forfeit

113: Logan Jaquay (E) maj. dec. Connor Pierce

120: Joe Gabler (H) dec. Jake Williams, 3-0

126: Easton Hedman (E) dec. Joe Capin, 4-1

132: Gannon Jaquay (E) dec. Matt Stenger, 7-2

138: Josh Bortz (E) pinned Karter Krewszeski, 1:50

145: Hunter Lewis (H) pinned Nate Holt, 1:15

152: Garrett Head (E) maj. dec. Jared Frampton, 13-3

160: Jason Bratt (H) dec. Alex Barnett, 3-2

170: Tristen Wilcox (E) won by forfeit

182: Ethan Chambers (E) pinned Jaden O’Hara, 1:16

195: Dominic Viscuso (H) dec. Cael Black, 3-1/OT

– – –

First round

Eisenhower 50, Harbor Creek 15

Titusville 42, Mercer 25

General McLane 49, Saegertown 27

Conneaut 69, Grove City 6

Reynolds (BYE)

Corry vs. Fort LeBouef (Friday)

Union City 56, Girard 20

Greenville 47, Slippery Rock 25

Quarterfinals (Saturday, 9 and 11 a.m.)

Eisenhower vs. Titusville

General McLane vs. Conneaut

Reynolds vs. Corry/Fort LeBoeuf

Union City vs. Greenville

Semfinals (3 p.m.)

Eisenhower/Titusville winner vs. GM/Conneaut winner

Reynolds/Corry/Fort LeBoeuf winner vs. Union City Greenville winner

Finals and third-place (5 p.m.)

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