Members of the AHS wrestling team who won the Chuck Forward Duals are, front row from left: Dan Davis; Eric Gomez, manager; Ben Eggers; Isaac Rosales; TJ Weirauch; Jose Hernandez; Justin Arce; Oliver Stuckey. Middle row: Kain Tuckerman; Kellen Seaman; Chase Gingerich; Brandon Dennie; Lukas Rufenacht, manager; Justice Zimmerman; Zach Driver; Danny Young; Tyler Rufenacht; Trey Reynolds. Back row: Jacob Strong, Austin Ripke, Elias Urbina, Shem Neuenschwander, Jordan Cowell, Cody Kovnesky.–photo by Scott Schultz The Archbold wrestling team, under Brian Becher, head coach, captured the 2010 Chuck Forward Duals trophy by posting a perfect 5-0 record, Saturday, Jan. 23, at Archbold High School.

“Winning the tournament means a lot to the kids– to be at home and win in front of your own fans,” said Becher.

“It’s nice to win, especially for some of those kids that are not having individual success. To be part of a team and win the trophy makes them feel that they are part of something.”

Cavs Pose Biggest Threat

After posting convincing 45-27 wins over Edgerton and 55-24 over Sand Creek in the opening two rounds, Archbold’s biggest opponent came from the Cavaliers of Coldwater.

Wrestling started at 160 pounds. After three weight classes, the Streaks were down 18-0 after suffering three straight pins. The Cavs picked up a decision at the 215-lb. weight class for a commanding 21-0 lead.

“I thought we didn’t match up real well in some of those weight classes. I was hoping that we wouldn’t get pinned, but we did,” said Becher.

Archbold needed something to stop the bleeding. Heavyweight Brandon Dennie and Ben Eggers (103 lbs.) were the tourniquets.

Dennie registered a pin and Eggers picked up a huge win with a pin over 20-5 Mason Kuether.

“We were pretty confident that Brandon would win at heavyweight,” Becher said. “I thought the turning point, mentally for us, was when Ben went out there and got a pin on a returning district qualifier. I was pretty happy at that time that the rest of our guys would wrestle pretty tough.”

Coldwater was void at 112 lbs., but the Cavs still led 21- 18 when TJ Weirauch put AHS ahead 24-21 with a fall over Alex Bower.

Coldwater came right back with a pin at 125 lbs. for a 27-24 lead.

Archbold’s Oliver Stuckey (130 lbs.) picked up a win with a pin. Jordan Cowell followed with a pin at 135 lbs., and sophomore Danny Young (140 lbs.) chewed up Dale Hamberg in a 5-2 decision.

Young’s victory gave Archbold a 39-27 lead with two weight classes remaining.

Cody Kovnesky (145 lbs.) sealed the win for AHS with a pin. For good measure, Tyler Rufenacht (152 lbs.) added a pin for the 51-27 final.

Archbold went on to defeat Defiance 49-21 and Delphos Jefferson 66-12.

In the evening’s final match, Montpelier and Coldwater squared off. Montpelier supported a 4-0 record and Coldwater was 3-1. Coldwater picked up the win, finishing the tournament in second place. Montpelier took third.

“I thought as a whole we wrestled pretty well,” said Becher. “I thought a lot of our guys were being offensive today and controlling the action.

“That is what I am more concerned with than getting wins and losses– getting after guys and controlling the action so that we are creating offensive scores. I am happy with that, considering how young we are.”

Undefeated

Four Streaks went undefeated on the day. Eggers, Stuckey, Cowell and Dennie all went 5-0.

“Jordan (Cowell) had a big win today in the match with Goebel from Edgerton,” said Becher. “Goebel was a state placer last year, and the match wasn’t very close.

“Oliver (Stuckey) is starting to wrestle solid for us, also.

“There weren’t a lot of tough heavyweights here today, but what I liked about Brandon (Dennie) was he was being offensive and not being a boring heavyweight wrestler.”

Rufenacht and Isaac Rosales (215 lbs.) went 4-1; Young and Shem Neuenschwander (189 lbs.) each went 3-1; Weirauch, Kovnesky, and Eli Urbina (171 lbs.) all went 3-2; Justice Zimmerman (125 lbs.) was 1-3; and Zach Driver (160 lbs.) was 2-3.