Junior Nick Womack has been strong for the Cardinals during the 2011-12 season.
For private school wrestling fans in the mid Atlantic area, the news spread quickly and raised eyebrows, Bishop Ireton beat St Christopher’s in a wrestling dual meet! For the Cardinals, the 42-31 upset of the Saints was clearly the highlight of a strong day of wrestling in the Commonwealth’s capital city Tuesday.
The Alexandrians challenged host Collegiate School, Catholic rival, Benedictine, and the state’s annual powerhouse, St Christopher’s School, on January 24th. It may have been a long drive down, but it was a great ride home for the victorious redbirds.
The Cardinals dispatached Collegiate School by a 50-25 count, on the strength of falls from Darcy Gomez (113), Severini (132), Womack (138), Baehre (145), Nagao (160), Bladen (182), and Lutterloh (220). Gibson Hawk added a tech fall with a 16-1 win, and Jimmy Keegan won a 7-0 decision at 285.
The Cadets suffered a 51-21 setback to the Cardinals as well, Tommy Fessahaye winning a 7-2 decision to go with five falls for Ireton and three forfeits. But, the clash of the evening was the traditional powerhouse Saints and the always tough northern Virginians.
Andrew Bladen scored a 7-3 decision to open the meet at 182, Tommy Fessahaye was edged 4-2 in overtime at 195. Andrew Lutterloh, a favorite in his weight class to possibly claim a state title, delivered a fall in 4:47 over Hollerith to push Ireton back in front, 9-3. Jimmy Keegan tipped the scales in Ireton’s favor with a pin at the 5:45 mark to up the lead to 15-3.
Conor Reilly was pinned at 106, but Darcy Gomez came back to gain a fall for the Cardinals at 113. Grabowski lost by a fall at 120 as the Saints closed the team score to 21-15. In a quick but wild match, Chris Macey went from his back to pinning Fergusson in 1:40, a possible swing of 12 points as the Cardinals went from possibly giving up 6 team points to tie the match to Macey pushing the Ireton lead to 11 at 26-15.
Jeff Severini suffered a loss by fall at 132, Nick Womack decisioned Cabell 11-4 at 138 before Andrew Baehre lost by fall at 145, St Chris rallying to 29-27. Mike Rodriguez at 152 pinned Saunders in 4:58 to give Ireton some breathing room at 35-27, before the Saints’ Cornette decisioned senior Ben Nagao at 160 by a score of 14-5, setting up the thrilling finish.
With Gibson Hawk taking the mat at 170, the Cardinals clinging to a slim, 36-31 advantage, Hawk needed to avoid a pin to save the upset for Ireton. The veteran Hawk soon removed any worry from Coach Don Dight’s squad as he ended the meet with a pin in 1:48 of the first period to push the final score to 42-31.
The Cardinals returned home pleased, but with little time to celebrate with senior night on Wednesday, hosting national powerhouse DeMatha and WCAC rival, Gonzaga, in Father Godley Gym in the final home appearance for the Cardinals’ senior grapplers.
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