Wrestling Bucs down Lewis County in dual opener; have strong showings at Elite Opener

Duane Carpenter
December 11, 2023

TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur wrestling Bucs recently opened their 2023-24 season with a home dual against Lewis County and followed that up with a trip to the eastern panhandle to Washington High School for the Elite Opener

In their home dual with Lewis County, the Bucs defeated the Minutemen by a 45-28 score.

Getting wins on the mat against Lewis County were Jeremy Jett (113 pounds) by pin over Zane Stewart, Liam Garcia (132) by a 4-1 decision over Luke Boram, Alex Casto (150) by pin over Garrett Carnes, and Oscar Blonn (215) by pin over Colton Defasse.

Earning forfeit wins for the Bucs were Bri Howes (120), Ian Cornett (126), Colton Wending (157), and Dirk Riley (165).

At the Elite Opener, Ian Cornett (120 pounds) had the Bucs’ best showing, placing third with a 3-2 record. He won by fall over Haven Ailoer of Berkley Springs in his opening match and then defeated Cody Ucciardi of Brooke by pin and Jackson Knupp of Woodgrove by pin. He lost in the semis to Parker Withers of Skyline by an 8-0 major decision before falling to Kai Plinski of Washington by fall.

Garcia (126 pounds) placed fourth for the Bucs as he lost his opener by a 5-4 decision to Jake Timai, but won his next four matches, a 6-0 decision over Scott Roberts of Riverbend, a pin over Isaac Hall of Stonebridge, an 8-5 decision over Daniel Clark of Berkeley Springs and a 3-2 decision over Ben Spagnoli of Woodgrove. The win over Roberts was his 100^th career win.

Jett (113 pounds) was the other Buc with a top four finish as he went 2-3. He won his first match with a pin over Haley Turner over Riverbend before losing a 12-2 major decision to Adam Skinner of Woodgrove. He came back to pin Wyatt Zimmerman of Spring Mills before losing by a 10-2 major decision to Eligah Parsell of Berkeley Springs and a 9-5 decision to Sebastian Garcia of Stonebridge.

The rest of the Bucs competing were Blonn (215) at 3-2, Andrew McDowell (138) at 2-3, Wendling (157) at 2-3, Dominic Castillo (190) at 2-3, Riley (165) at 1-3, Chance Morgan (175) at 0-4, Breyer Jackson (285) at 0-4 and Maya Garcia (132) at 0-5.