RUSSELL — The Eisenhower Knights boys wrestling team hosted the Warren Dragons on Wednesday night, and posted a 45-26 victory in a county clash.

The rivalry meet was more than just another wrestling match. It was a “Cancer Whiteout” event where the underlying purpose was to raise money for the Warren General Cancer Care Center. The teams also honored Warren and Eisenhower wrestling legends Joe Letko and Dean Johnson, both cancer victims.

“This coming together to raise some funds to fight cancer is a great event,” Knights head coach Jared Lindell said. Both programs honoring two guys that meant so much to a bunch of people, it’s an honor to be a part of. It’s a huge night for Coach (Denny) Johnson and his family, and our program remembering Coach Letko.”

Earning falls on the night were Jacob Katko (E), Tanner Stuart (W), Rever Caudill (E), Hayden Holden (W), Thayne Gourley (E), Carter Campbell (W), Bryceton Wilkins (E), Bryce Spinks (E) and Wesley Wilcox (E).

The match was intense for the majority of the night, with the Knights taking an early 9-0 lead. Then the Dragons clawed back to tie it up 9-9. Down 21-15, Warren’s Ryan Letko earned a technical fall, followed by a Carter Campbell pin that put the Dragons in the lead for the first time, but the Knights were able to rally and win the final four matches en route to the victory.

“This is the match that gets circled on the calendar every year- county bragging rights,” Lindell said. “It was a little different this year with some of the Youngsville guys that were teammates a year ago, now on opposite sides of the mat. We still have a lot of things to clean up. Controlling elbows, sealing off on bottom, and we’re still out of position quite often. I was proud of our guys’ tenacity tonight. They all wrestled tough the entire match.”

The Knights are back on the mat Saturday when they travel to Sharon for a tournament, and Warren competes in the annual Fred Bell Tournament at Grove City on Friday and Saturday.

107: Lane Morrison (E) dec. Nicholas Freehling (W), 9-5

114: Jacob Batko (E) p. Dru Abbey (W), 1:09

121: Cole Fitzgerald (W) dec. Huck Fedorchuk (E), 6-4

127: Tanner Stuart (W) p. Aiden Snyder (E), :42

133: Rever Caudill (E) p. Ayden Dean (W), 2:59

139: Hayden Holden (W) p. Brenton Myers (E), 1:40

145: Thayne Gourley (E) p. Tucker Sanford (W), 5:55

152: Ryan Letko (W) tf. Wyatt Neall (E), 17-2

160: Carter Campbell (W) p. Caleb Shafer (W), 1:18

172: Collin Havers (E) win by forfeit

189: Bryceton Wilkins (E) p. Sebastian Oyola (W), :11

215: Bryce Spinks (E) p. Colby Zinger (W), 1:53

285: Wesley Wilcox (E) p. Tyson Harkins (W), 2:34