Upperweights set tone for Spring Grove
Wrestling feels a little easier for Josh Cribbs this season.
The Spring Grove senior's opponent feel lighter and easier to maneuver since he's back at his normal weight class, 195 pounds. Cribbs, who coach Anthony Miller said has "always been a team player," wrestled up at 220 pounds for much of last season despite being even lighter than he is now.
“I feel like it’s a comfortable position for me,” Cribbs said. “It feels more natural to go through it. All that power and explosiveness is being used on lighter kids.”
Cribbs started the season by placing second at the Solanco Mule Classic, where the Rockets won the team title, last weekend. On Wednesday, he pinned Mechanicsburg's Eugene Rodgers in 1:17 to send a packed Spring Grove crowd — including an excited student section sporting a lumberjack theme — into a frenzy at the Rockets' first home dual meet of the season.
Cribbs' pin came right after 170-pounder Ryan Daugherty and 182-pounder Jared Barley each had pins to start the dual meet, and put the Rockets up 18-0 on the way to a 51-18 win.
“Our big guys went out and led the charge and kind of ended the match right away," Miller said. "I didn’t expect those, I thought we’d get in a couple battles there. I’m pretty happy with that. The rest of the kids were able to go out and concentrate on their own matches.”
Spring Grove later got pins from 106-pounder Clay Baker and 152-pounder Trent Baker, as well as wins from 126-pounder Jake Meyer, 132-pounder Anthony Hinson and heavyweight Owen Jacobs. Dalton Rohrbaugh, who won a Solance Mule Classic title at 113 pounds, and Marcus Kehr, who did the same at 160 pounds, both earned wins by way of forfeit.
“Whenever anybody does well, it boosts the team up," Cribbs said of the impact of the upperweights' fast start. "Everybody gets ready."
The Rockets look to continue their strong start this weekend at the U.S. Air Force Indian Classic at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tenn. Red Lion, Camp Hill and Northern Lebanon are also making the trip from Pennsylvania.
“We’re just happy that we’re healthy and we’re getting better and improving," Miller said. "We’ve got some things to work on from tonight.”
Spring Grove 51, Mechanicsburg 18
at Spring Grove High School
170 — Ryan Daugherty (SG) pinned David Bulter, 3:39; 182 — Jared Barley (SG) pinned Jon Rutkowski, 1:12; 195 — Josh Cribbs (SG) pinned Eugene Rodgers 1:17; 220 — Akira Bastiany (Mb) pin 1:05; 285 — Owen Jacobs (SG) def. Caden Alex-Gray 8-4 ; 106 — Clay Baker (SG) pinned Brady Henry 0:37; 113 — Dalton Rohrbaugh (SG) win by forfeit.; 120 — Brady Serina (Mb) def. Chance Jackson 5-4; 126 — Jake Meyer (SG) def. Nick Tewell 8-6(OT); 132 — Anthony Hinson (SG) def. Nate Reed 8-6; 138 — Drew Tochterman (Mb) pinned Jacob Rappolt 5:40; 145 — Brayden Wills (Mb) def. Tanner Sterner 9-2; 152 — Trent Baker (SG) pinned Seth Kanes 0:25; 160 — Marcus Kehr (SG) win by forfeit.