Mount Hebron Strong to the Finish in Sweep

The Mount Hebron wrestling team scored two lopsided victories at home on Monday night, clinching a winning season and making one thing clear for opponents in the upcoming tournaments.

The Vikings are in shape.

Mount Hebron defeated New Town, 65-16, and then put away Lackey, 57-15, winning 16 of the 20 matches and looking superior late in bouts. The sweep on Seniors Night moved the Vikings to 15-12 going into their final two matches Wednesday at Long Reach against the Lightning and Marriotts Ridge.

The Vikings got 11 pins and won five of the seven matches that went the distance Monday.

“What really stood out is our conditioning,” said Mount Hebron head coach Todd DeCrispino. “We are really able to last six full minutes when we need to. They’re wrestling aggressive. I think our conditioning is definitely key.”

Endurance certainly was critical for junior Drew Staedeli, who wasn’t even expecting to wrestle after just missing to make weight for 140 pounds. He won by forfeit at 145 against New Town, and then was bumped all the way up to 152 against Lackey because teammate Nawwal Ibad had suffered a leg injury and defaulted against New Town standout Malik Jones.

Staedeli fought off several near-takedowns late in his match against Lackey’s Barry Butler to send the match into overtime, and then scored a takedown himself near the edge of the circle with 25 seconds left in the extra period to win, 3-1.

“It was definitely a tough match,” said Staedeli, who improved to 18-11 for the season. “I went out there expecting him to overpower me a little bit, but I kind of hung in there. I wanted to take him deep into the match.

“I kind of got in my underhooks (at the end), and he was a little bit off balance, so I kind of pushed forward a little bit, and he rolled onto his back and bellied out, so I got the two.”

Mount Hebron’s Zach Fernande (130) won the other close bout of the night, holding on to defeat Connor Welch of Lackey, 3-1, to improve to 17-10.

New Town fell to 9-6, and Lackey dropped to 9-11.

Joe Kendrick (135 pounds), Jon Iwaskiw (189) and A.J. Wade (285) all scored a pair of pins for Mount Hebron. Alex Stewart (119) defeated his two opponents by a combined 36-3.

Mount Hebron 65, New Town 16

119 – Alex Stewart (MH) technical fall Adrian Collins, 18-1

125 – Drew Vickers (MH) p. Jayland Bradby, 5:45

130 – Zach Fernande (MH) p. Joseph Lehair, 1:18

135 – Joe Kendrick (MH) p. Royal Churchill, 4:35

140 – Sean Kelly (MH) won by forfeit

145 – Drew Staedeli (MH) won by forfeit

152 – Malik Jones (NT) won by injury default Nawwal Ibad (MH)

160 – Gary Clark (NT) major decision Nevin John, 12-1

171 – Mike Sutton (MH) won by forfeit

189 –  Jon Iwaskiw (MH) p. Amir Lynch, 1:01

215 – Ryan Hassan (MH) won by forfeit

285 – A.J. Wade (MH) p. Jonathan Middlebrook, 2:41

103 – Collin  Manning (NT) won by forfeit

112 – Alex Bisant (MH) p. Maurice Laury, 3:27

Mount Hebron 57, Lackey 15

125 – Drew Vickers (MH) major decision Jermaine Ferguson, 11-3

130 – Zach Fernande (MH) d. Connor Welch, 3-1

135 – Joe Kendrick (MH) p. Brett Warden, 1:31

140 – Sean Kelly (MH) won by forfeit

145 – Max Varipapa (MH) won by forfeit

152 – Drew Staedeli  (MH) d. Barry Butler, 3-1 OT

160 – Nevin John (MH) p. Nico Montgomery, 3:33

171 – Devon Walker (L) d. Mike Sutton, 13-6

189 – Jon Iwaskiw (MH) p. Corey Davis, 2:55

215 – Ryan Hassan (MH) p. Tyler Turner, :52

285 – A.J. Wade (MH) p. Garrett Welch, 1:02

103 – Brandon Paulin (L) won by forfeit

112 – Omar McFarlin (L) p. Alex Bisant, 1:31

119 – Alex Stewart (MH) tech fall Kevin Anderson, 18-2