The Cheney varsity wrestling team powered through a series of valiant opponents at their Dec. 19 dual meet, relying on their middleweights to propel them to a 52-22 victory over East Valley — the first win against the Knights on the mat since 1988.
Three major wins in a row from middleweight competitors put Cheney well on the path to success, as Cheney’s sophomore Jackson Showalter won his match against his East Valley opponent by a 10-0 major decision after a long battle.
In the 160-pound weight class, sophomore Blake Seubert won by fall against his Knight foe. Seubert has a history of being good on his feet and showed those skills on the mat, while head coach Jason Connor also praised 170-pound sophomore Anthony Aguilera for his win by fall.
“The middle of the lineup really came through clutch for us and had some big wins and pins,” Connor said.
The Blackhawks also won by forfeit in five matches over the course of the evening. The victory is momentous due to its rarity; Cheney hasn’t won a wrestling match against East Valley for nearly 30 years.
“It feels amazing. I never even beat them as an athlete,” Connor said.
The team has been laser-focused on taking on the Knights and put all of their effort into preparing for it, Connor said.
Several students have put in a significant amount of work in the off season — staying in shape, going to camps and keeping their skills sharp.
“It really goes back to the work they’ve done over the last nine months,” Connor said.
Shannen Talbot can be reached at shannen@cheneyfreepress.com.
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