The Knights won five matches via pinfall, plus a major decision for bonus points. The Rockets, hit hard by injury during last weekend’s Fred Bell Tournament in Grove City, forfeited six weight classes.

“I feel for them,” Eisenhower coach Kris Black said. “They lost a lot of guys at Fred Bell, but still came to wrestle and gave a great effort. I thought we wrestled OK. Some of the guys were aggressive and we got bonus where I didn’t know if we would.”

The teams saved arguably the best match of the night for last.

Alex Hummel and Justin Pearce wrestled the final contested bout of the evening at 152. The two grapplers took down and reversed each other throughout the match, with neither able to maintain control for more than a few moments. Hummel led 4-3 after one and 9-7 after two. Pearce chose the down position to start the third and Hummel was able to lock in a cradle. He turned Pearce for a 2-point nearfall, but couldn’t maintain enough leverage for the pin. Hummel didn’t give up a point in the period and came away with an 11-7 decision.

Eisenhower’s Jesse Gourley locks up with Slippery Rock’s Landon Shaffer during the first period of their 220-pound match at Eisenhower High School, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. Gourley pinned Shaffer as the Knights rolled to a 67-12 win over the Rockets to advance to Saturday’s District 10 Duals in Sharon.

“Alex was giving up some weight and still did what we needed him to do,” Black said. “He’s a team guy.”

The Knights opened with a forfeit win for Teagan Gray at 182. The Rockets got the points right back as Vito Pilosi decked Tristen Wilcox with just two seconds remaining in the first at 195. Jesse Gourley, Cael Black and Anthony Rivera followed with first-period pins at 220, 285 and 106, respectively, to put Eisenhower ahead 24-6. Ethan Nizzi (113) and Logan Jaquay (120) picked up forfeits to stretch the lead to 36-6.

“Jesse Gourley looked good tonight,” Black said. “He got us back on the board and got a nice win.”

Zore Lynch got Slippery Rock’s final points of the night with a pin over Jake Williams at 126. Williams got the initial takedown of the match, but Lynch was able to catch Williams and turn it into a pinning combination.

Easton Hedman followed with a pin over Elizabeth Foster at 132 and Gannon Jaquay methodically worked his way to a 10-2 major decision over Mason Borland at 138.

“Gannon’s just gritty,” Black said. “There were some places were he could’ve been in trouble but he held on. He’s really confident right now and is comfortable with being uncomfortable. He’s got good belief in himself.”

Josh Bortz decked Jaiden Stone at 145 to set up the 152-pound match.

The Knights closed out the dual with forfeit victories for Steven Riley at 160 and Mikael Beaver at 170.

Black pointed to the flexibility of Gannon Jaquay, Bortz and Hummel as each have wrestled in multiple weight classes between 138, 145 and 152 this season.

“They’re kind of like a Lego set,” he said. “We fit each piece together into what works best.”

Eisenhower moves on to the District 10 Duals Saturday in Sharon. The Knights will have the toughest quarterfinal draw of the tournament as they square off with perennial D-10 and state powerhouse, Reynolds.

“If you ask anyone, Reynolds is the team to beat in District 10,” Black said. “You’ve got to want to wrestle that type of competition. It’s good for the guys and good for the program to get the (D-10 Duals) experience three or four years in a row.”

Saturday’s match is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

——

EISENHOWER 67, SLIPPERY ROCK 12

182: Teagan Gray (E) via forfeit.

195: Vito Pilosi (S) pin Tristen Wilcox, 1:58

220: Jesse Gourley (E) pin Landon Shaffer, 1:23

285: Cael Black (E) pin Isaac Bell, 1:53

106: Anthony Rivera (E) pin Thomas Foster, 1:08

113: Ethan Nizzi (E) via forfeit

120: Logan Jaquay (E) via forfeit

126: Zore Lynch (S) pin Jacob Williams, 1:35

132: Easton Hedman (E) pin Elizabeth Foster, 1:24

138: Gannon Jaquay (E) maj. dec. Mason Borland, 10-2

145: Josh Bortz (E) pin Jaiden Stone, 1:39

152: Alex Hummel (E) dec. Justin Pearce, 11-7

160: Steven Riley (E) via forfeit

170: Mikael Beaver (E) via forfeit