ROCKFORD — Blackhawk grapplers took second at the annual Freeman Winter Classic on Saturday, Dec. 28, with nine scoring wrestlers and edging out Deer Park by five points to take second place and getting a head-to-head first-place victory by Blake Seubert in the 160-pound weight class in the championships.
“We had two of the best rounds of wrestling we’ve had all year in the semifinal and placing rounds,” head coach Jason Connor said. “We put four in the finals from 138-160 and won three of them.”
Seubert earned his title in a tough 8-5 decision against Deer Park’s Matthew Jorgenson, while Hunter Despino had to settle for second in the 138-pound class after losing his match on a 3-1 decision to Riverside’s Jonny DesRoches.
Dylan Straley also took first-place at 145 on an 11-6 decision, while Jackson Showalter took the top slot at 152 on a 4-2 decision.
William Seeberger took third at 113 with a pin in 4 minutes, 52 seconds, coming from behind in the third period with three takedowns and the eventual pin “against a much better wrestler technically,” Connor said.
Luke Ruby managed a fifth-place showing at 126 with a 4:19 pin.
“He had a huge tactical win for fifth, then tied at zero in the third,” Conner said. “Luke chose feet and blast-doubled the Lake Roosevelt kid to his back for a fall.”
Jason Inman took third-place at 220 on a tough sudden victory win over Chelan’s Miguel Neri.
“Those guys have been the anchors and most consistent competitors all season long and it paid off Saturday,” Connor said of Despino, Straley, Showalter, and Seubert. “As a coaching staff those matches were so fun to watch because of what we harp on so much: winning close matches, throwing bombs when you need to, beating guys maybe you aren’t supposed to on paper, pushing the pace in the third period and beyond.”
Connor remains optimistic the Blackhawks will take the top spot at a match soon.
“If we get an entire team healthy and in the same building on the same day, we might actually win one of these things,” he said.
Connor’s keeping his fingers crossed that will be this Saturday, Jan. 4, when Cheney hosts the Blackhawk Invite. Wrestling starts at 10 a.m.
“It’s always nice to win your own tournament in front of your own crowd, and its been several years since we have,” he said.
The following week the Blackhawks will host the Scabland Scuffle dual with Medical Lake on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
“We hope to pack the gym and showcase these two West Plains programs,” Connor said. “On the line is a big chunk of basalt and pride.”
Lee Hughes can be reached at lee@cheneyfreepress.com.
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