Boiling Springs bests Bermudian in districts
BOILING SPRINGS — It's hard to fathom now, but Bermudian Springs could be Boiling Springs' biggest fans come Saturday.
After beating Newport, 39-30, but losing to Boiling Springs, 45-28, in the District 3 Class AA team tournament, the Eagles will need a win in Saturday's third-place match and some help if they are to reach states this season. The only way Bermudian Springs can finish in second place and earn the final state qualification spot is if it wins that third-place match and the Bubblers win a fifth-straight district title, which would set up a true second-place bout between the Eagles and the loser of the championship match.
But a state tournament trip isn't necessarily a goal for the Eagles.
“We’re happy to be wrestling another weekend, to be honest," Bermudian Springs coach Dave McCollum said. "Newport has a nice club; we were a little worried about them. Our goal was to get here and get through Newport and have another shot to wrestle next weekend.”
Pins by Austin Clabaugh (126 pounds), Darren Beall (145), Noah Fleshman (182) and Landon West (106) helped propel the Eagles through that match against Newport to ensure their season would continue for a few more days.
But that momentum quickly ran out against Boiling Springs as the Bubblers won the first five matches to build a 21-0 lead they'd never relinquish in front of a raucous home crowd.
The matchups in that dual looked very different from when the two teams faced on Saturday. That day, the Bubblers won by only four points, but only four of Wednesday's bouts pitted the same opponents. Much of those changes had to do with starting the dual at a different weight class and the return of Boiling Springs 145-pounder Cole Wetzel, who pinned Beall.
“You’ve got to give Boiling Springs credit," McCollum said. "They came out very aggressively and wrestled a great match overall. Having Wetzel back helps them a lot, and losing the flip didn’t help us. They got some matchups they wanted that we could’ve avoided that might’ve kept the dual meet a little closer.”
The highlights of that match for Bermudian Springs came from Clabaugh and 220-pounder Logan Luckenbaugh. Boiling Springs' Rickie Ott took Luckenbaugh into two overtimes, but the Eagles senior ended up pinning Ott with six seconds left in the second overtime period. Clabaugh, who beat 2015 state medalist Jalin Hankerson on Saturday, pinned Hankerson despite trailing 4-0 in the final bout of the dual.
“It doesn’t matter what the score is with him, he’s out there wrestling," McCollum said of Clabaugh. "He just doesn’t get flustered, he doesn’t lose his composure.”
Bermudian Springs will face Hamburg in Saturday's third-place match at Milton Hershey High School. Boiling Springs will face Northern Lebanon in the district championship.
Bermudian Springs 39, Newport 30
at Boiling Springs High School
126 — Austin Clabaugh, BeS, pinned Aaron Finicle, 4:45. 132 — Brady Sanders, BeS, dec. Josh Kline, 7-4. 138 — Pat O’Toole, N, md. Jarod Miller, 14-6. 145 — Darren Beall, BeS, pinned Michael Capozzoli, 2:23. 152 — Ashton West, BeS, dec. Colby Stroup, 5-4. 160 —Drew Paden, N, dec. Lucas Gladfelter 7-3. 170 — Dalton Klinger, N, tech. fall Nate McCollum 21-3. 182 — Noah Fleshman, BeS, pinned Josh Maschak, 1:30. 195 — Brady Herr, N, pinned Isaiah Fannin 5:04. 220 — Logan Luckenbaugh, BeS, dec. Walter Klinger, 8-4. 285 — Brady Linebaugh, BeS, won by forfeit. 106 — Landon West, BeS, pinned Mason Kauffman, 1:15. 113 — Isaiah Bryner, N, won by forfeit. 120 — Jordon Frey, N, pinned Dylan Griffie, 4;27.
Boiling Springs 45, Bermudian Springs 28
at Boiling Springs High School
132 — Tristan Henshaw, BoS, maj. dec. Brady Sanders, 10-2. 138 — Cameron Palmer, BoS, dec. Jarod Miller 8-3. 145 — Cole Wetzel, BoS, pinned Darren Beall, 2:35. 152 — Kaiden Karper, BoS, maj. dec. Lucas Gladfelter, 14-5. 160 — A.J. Kostyak, BoS, maj. dec. Ashton West, 13-4. 170 — Noah Fleshman, BeS, maj. dec. Cory Calaman, 11-2. 182 — Travis Wickard, BoS, pinned Nate McCollum, 3:00. 195 — Austin Taylor, BoS, pinned Isaiah Fannin 2:47. 220 — Logan Luckenbaugh, BeS, pinned Rickie Ott, 7:24. 285 — Brady Linebaugh, BeS, pinned Damon James . 106 — Landon West, BeS, won by forfeit. 113 — Josiah Haulman, BoS, won by forfeit. 120 — Kollin Myers pinned Dylan Griffie, 0;58. 126 — Austin Clabaugh, BeS, pinned Jalin Hankerson 3:24.