Submitted Photo Cael Black, right, is pictured with fellow senior Gannon Jaquay following a match against Maplewood on Dec. 22.

Lost in the busyness of the holiday season, quite an accomplishment was reached in the Warren county wrestling community — specifically at Eisenhower High School.

Cael Black, a Knights senior, reached the 100-win mark during a match at Maplewood High School on Dec. 22.

Black’s ability to attain this lofty number is quite an accomplishment on its own, but when one considers the amount of matches that have been canceled, team dual meets that got canceled and just trying to stay healthy due to COVID-19, it is truly a testament to the skill and determination of the senior to reach the mark.

The match itself against Maplewood was a strange one as the score ended in a 36-36 tie. The winner of the match was decided by Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association tie-breaking protocols. The determining factor that decided the winner of this match was which team scored first in the majority of individual matches.

“We had to maneuver our roster a bit to try and get the best lineup to win,” Eisenhower head coach Kris Black said, “as we were missing four starters for various reasons.”

Cole Kellogg bumped up a weight and got a fall while Gannon Jaquay and Tucker Lindell both won and got bonus team points. Cael Black had no choice but to take a forfeit as Maplewood had no wrestler for the 215-pound or 285-pound weight classes.

Kris Black also happens to be Cael’s father, which puts the two of them in a unique position.

“It was nice to see Cael accomplish one of his goals,” Kris said. “To win 100 matches is really pretty amazing, and as his dad and his coach it only makes it a sweeter moment to share.”

The Knights have an opportunity to have two wrestlers reach the hallowed 100-win mark this season. Fellow senior Gannon Jaquay is about 20 wins away.

“Gannon is wrestling very well and has a really good shot at doing it this year,” Kris said. “That would be super cool to have two wrestlers reach 100 wins in the same year.”