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Warrior Run wrestling gets past Montgomery 41-26

By Henry Huber - | Feb 9, 2024

Conner Harer of Montgomery wins his match against Eli Butler of Warrior Run at 160 pounds at Montgomery High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The run continues.

Though Friday night’s match between Montgomery and Warrior Run was set to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, you would’ve been lucky to find a seat by 5:15. Fans had already started to gather at Montgomery by 4, hoping to get a good spot to watch two of the most prolific AA teams in the area face off.

“We got here and there were already people lined up to get in,” said Warrior Run head coach Jeremy Betz when discussing the turnout. “There aren’t too many environments where you get here and they’re lined up, waiting to get in for a varsity-only match. That’s a pretty cool setting.”

The anticipation prior to the match was palpable, as each fan base gathered within their respective sides of the gym. Though both sides thundered throughout the evening, one moment reigned above the rest.

With a Stone Allison pin a few contests way from the conclusion, the Defenders took a 35-15 lead to clinch both the match and an undefeated record through the regular season. The sound of the ref’s whistle was met with booming cheers of the Warrior Run faithful, the loudest moment of the night.

“For the kids on both sides, this was a massive opportunity to get to compete in front of an audience like this,” said Betz on the atmosphere. “Both teams have really good wrestlers, so the fans got to see some quality wrestling.”

Warrior Run ultimately won the match 41-26, finishing with seven competitive wins and one by forfeit. It would kick things off on a high note, with junior Gavin Hunter pulling off a critical win in the match’s opener.

Hunter faced off against Montgomery’s Seth McClintock, an opponent needing just two wins to surpass 30 on the season. After a scoreless first period, Hunter secured a takedown late in the second to take a 2-0 lead. He’d carry that momentum into the third, outscoring McClintock 5-2 in the period to clinch the win by decision.

“Gavin Hunter had another good match. They split last year, one-and-one,” said Betz, referring to Hunter and McClintock. “To come out and get that win the first ballot tonight was big.”

Though it lost its initial lead early, with Brandt Harer defeating Max Wirnsberger by major decision to give the Red Raiders a 4-3 lead, it would reobtain it the next match and wouldn’t surrender it again.

A tech fall from Tyler Ulrich and back-to-back pins from Reagan and Cameron Milheim gave the Defenders plenty of ground and momentum, a critical 17-0 run that put them up by 16.

From there, the teams would trade blows.

Conner Harer and Caden Finck would win by fall and tech fall respectively to keep the Red Raiders in it. And Cole Shupp defeated Coy Bryson at 172 to keep the Defenders a step ahead. Shupp’s win in particular stuck out to Betz, as the senior secured two critical third-period takedowns to defeat a tough opponent in Bryson by decision, 10-7.

“He went out and wrestled a really nice match,” said Betz on Shupp. “Gave up points at the end of the first period to make it a little tighter but finished out well.”

Montgomery battled hard throughout the night, winning five competitive matches with two pins and two tech falls within the mix. For head coach Denny Harer, the hope is that the team can learn from the loss as it prepares for District Duals next week.

“They (Warrior Run) were the better team today. They won the fight,” said Harer. “We’ve got to learn from this a move on.”

When asked about what the team can build on as it prepares for the postseason, Harer brought up the need to embrace environments like this.

“We had a couple kids not embrace the environment, younger kids that have to step up and enjoy this,” said Harer. “This is what it is, what you put all the hard work in for. So, go on the mat and have fun. They’ll get there. They’re young and we have time to get them there.”

For Warrior Run, it’s still back to the drawing board tomorrow. With the postseason quickly approaching, Betz wants the team to remain focused and keep the same energy they brought to Montgomery on Friday.

“It’s nice, but it means nothing come next week,” said Betz. “You lose two next week and you’re done. As nice as it is to be undefeated now, it means nothing if we don’t get the job done next week.”

The run continues.

Warrior Run 41, Montgomery 26

127: Gavin Hunter (WR) dec. Seth McClintock (M), 7-2. 133: Brandt Harer (M) maj. dec. Max Wirnsberger (WR), 12-4. 139: Tyler Ulrich (WR) tech fall AJ Kroft (M), 18-3 (4:58). 145: Reagan Milheim (WR) pinned Raiden Felix (M), 3:39. 152: Cameron Milheim (WR) pinned Nevin Beachel (M), 1:17. 160: Conner Harer (M) pinned Eli Butler (WR), 3:42. 172: Cole Shupp (WR) dec. Coy Bryson (M), 10-7. 189: Caden Finck (M) tech fall Connor Parker (WR), 20-5, 4:00. 215: Isaiah Betz (WR) won by forfeit. 285: Stone Allison (WR) pinned Connor Jarrett (M), 5:32. 107: Manny Stoltzfus (M) tech fall Aaron Crisman (WR), 22-7, 5:56. 114: Victor Ottman (M) pinned Ryan Kemock (WR), 2:48. 121: Caden Snyder (WR) pinned Porter Hall (M), 3:08.