Forfeits hurt Pioneers
By Andy Kruse
Special to the Democrat

With three forfeits on the night, the Watauga wrestling team started out on its backs and was unable to get back on top, losing to East Burke 43-31 Tuesday night at Lentz-Eggers Gym.

Even though the young Cavaliers, who have just one senior, won the match, it looked like the Pioneers might come completely back. Jason Wood lit a spark under the Pioneers when he made a powerful pin in the 125 weight class. This was followed by another pin from William Pinkerton at 130.

Shortly after Jacob Earp (140) and Savva Kostis (145) won with two quick pins, Justin Hyatt (152) won by major decision 12-2.

Wood, however, refused to take credit for inspiring his team.

“Ethan Henson was the one who got us going,” Wood said.

Henson won Watauga’s first match by a 4-2 decision in a low scoring battle at the 103 weight class.

But the Cavaliers quieted the Pioneer surge by winning the last five matches, including a pin from Justin Williams at 160 pounds and a pin from Ben Shultz at 215.

These combined with forfeits from Watauga at 112, 171, and 285 pounds left the Pioneers with little hope.
“Forfeits are tough,” Watauga coach James Eichmiller said. “With no discredit to East Burke, we could have won. That’s the worst part.”

Ironically, Pioneer heavyweight Nathan Cable was out due to a hyper-extended elbow caused by Eichmiller himself, having wrestled the big man in practice.

Michael Townsend, a 2007 graduate who wrestled 103 for the Pioneers last year and still practices with the team, spoke of how the score could have been different.

“Avoiding a few pins or winning with a few more pins could have kept us ahead despite the forfeits,” Townsend said.

Watauga, which is 2-1 in the Northwestern 4-A Conference, wrestles at Alexander Central Friday night.

East Burke 43, Watauga 31
103 – Ethan Henson (W) d. Ginales Xiong, 4-2
112 – Tyler Cook (EB) won by forfeit
119 – BJ Tomlin (EB) maj. dec. Zain Eisenberg, 12-4
125 – Jason Wood (W) p Michael Smart, 0:33 2nd
130 – William Pinkerton (W) p Cody Townsend, 1:19 2nd
135 – Billy Abee (EB) p Eric Broschinski, 0:40 1st
140 – Jacob Earp (W) p Tyler Carey, 0:59 2nd
145 – Savva Kostis (W) pin Aaron Queen, 0:11 1st
152 – Justin Hyatt (W) maj. dec. Caleb Huffman, 12-2
160 – Justin Williams (EB) p Jake Gilliam, :16 1st
171- Shawn Chapman (EB) won by forfeit
189 – Caleb Lowman (EB) d. Nathan Jackson, 6-1
215 – Ben Shultz (EB) p Manuel Alcarez, 1:40 1st
285 – Tyler Shatley (EB) won by forfeit