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Russell, Drobnick Set Records as Wildcats Sweep Home Match

By Joe Ginley , 01/07/17, 4:15PM EST

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A 40-year Saint Ignatius record has fallen.

In a historic afternoon at Sullivan Gym, Kaden Russell set the record for fastest pin at 5 seconds in the 182-pound bout. Russell’s feat beat the previous mark of 6 seconds, set by Kevin Czinger in the 1976-77 season.

Just moments later, Russell’s teammate, Michael Drobnick, tied Russell’s newly set record by pinning his opponent with 1:55 left on the clock in the first period of the 195-pound match.

The records highlighted a day that saw the Saint Ignatius varsity gold wrestling team defeat the Archbishop Knights, 64-14, and the Padua Bruins, 53-12.

“It’s a fun record,” head coach Mark Sullivan said after the match. “It’s fun for the kids to have an accomplishment like that. They’re very good wrestlers with very aggressive styles.”

Russell and Drobnick will remember this day for the rest of their lives.  

“It’s very exciting, it’s a fun record to beat,” Russell said. “It’s especially cool since it’s the 40th anniversary of the record, and I set it with [Drobnick], my teammate and drill partner. It’s my first year as a drill partner with him, so it’s very cool to beat the record with him.”

Saint Ignatius vs. Archbishop Hoban Recap

The dual began with a nice start, as Johnny Novak won by forfeit. Matthew Whipkey then dropped the 113-pound match, leading to a 6-6 tie heading into 120 pounds.

Patrick McGraw fought hard for the Wildcats, but the sophomore fell in a close match, 5-1. Lukas Stricker used a methodical approach, using a takedown early in the third period to seal the victory.

The Wildcats then bounced back and regained the lead, as Matt French won at 126 via forfeit, and DJ Huff defeated Alex Hoffman by major decision, 10-2. Huff wrestled smart, controlling the boundaries and granting the Wildcats a 16-6 lead.

Tommy Gallagher kept the Wildcats going at 138. The senior pinned his opponent with 49 seconds left in the first period, stretching the hosts’ lead to 12 points. Quade Rasmussen added some easy points via forfeit at 145, setting the score at 25-9 heading into the heavyweights.

At 152, Zach Tomford scuffled with a difficult opponent, as Quinton Kelley gave him quite the match. Tomford stayed alive into the third period, but ultimately fell, 18-2. Kelley’s big win narrowed Saint Ignatius’ lead to 28-14.

Logan Toth showed his strength in the 160 pound skirmish, rapidly gaining the advantage over his foe. Toth finished the bout with 24 seconds left in the opening period with a pin, augmenting the Wildcats’ lead to 34-14.

Tommy Gill followed suit with another pin, coming with 1:11 left in the second period. Gill’s win at 170 pounds set the Wildcats ahead for good.

Then, the Mat Cats made history not once, but twice.

Kaden Russell attacked his opponent with remarkable speed, and set the school record for a pin at five seconds. Russell’s pin beat the previous record by one second, as Kevin Czinger previously held the record at 6 seconds, set during the 1976-77 season.

Then mere moments later, Michael Drobnick pinned his opponent in five seonds. His feat tied Russell’s newly set record, ensuring that both will appear on the record boards outside of Sullivan Gym.

The fans roared as Russell set the record, and cheered excitedly once again, realizing that history appeared before their eyes.

Aidan Gill used the momentum to his advantage at 220 pounds, wearing down his foe over the course of the match. Gill eventually pinned his opponent 20 seconds into the third period. Gill’s triumph set the score at 58-14 Wildcats.

The day ended with a bang, and yet another pin. Toby Engel sent the Wildcats’ faithful home with a smile, pinning his opponent at 285 pounds in the first period. Engel’s triump set the final score at 64-14 Wildcats over the Knights.

Saint Ignatius vs. Padua Recap

As the Wildcats’ lightweights battled the Knights, the Wildcats’ heavyweights went to work against the Bruins.

Zach Tomford starting things off well at 152, capturing a major decision with a 10-0 win. Cal Miller then won by forfeit at 160 pounds, granting the Wildcats a 12-0 lead.

The Bruins got on the board at 170 pounds, as Tommy Gill dropped a methodical match to Matt Abraham. However, Kaden Russell helped the Mat Cats rebound quickly, wrestling aggressively at 182 pounds. Russell pinned his opponent with 28 seconds left in the match. Russell nearly pinned his opponent in the first 10 seconds, but Austin Willard fought hard to avoid it.

Russell’s pin upped the Wildcats’ lead to 18-3 heading into the 195-pound match. 

Michael Drobnick fought against a tough adversary in Pete Abraham, as the two went the distance through three periods. Drobnick turned back Abraham a number of times, fighting to stay atop the heap. Drobnick succeeded, battling for a 5-3 victory.

Aidan Gill rolled in his 220-pound bout, building a 10-1 lead by the end of the second period. The junior fought smart and hard, waiting back when necessary but lunging forward at the right moments, emerging with a 15-5 victory. Joe Gibbons then won the 285-pound match by forfeit, granting the Wildcats a 30-3 advantage heading into the lightweights.

Johnny Novak stared off the second round for the Wildcats at 106. Unfortunately for the hosts, Novak dropped the match to Jim Balazy. Matthew Whipkey then fought at 113 pounds for Saint Ignatius. Whipkey wrestled smart, winning the skirmish, 9-3. At 120 pounds, Patrick McGraw broke away in the end, winning by major decision.

Matt French kept the Wildcats moving in the right direction at 126 pounds, winning a slow, methodical 4-0 match. French’s smart approach and a forfeit won by DJ Huff at 132 pounds extended the Wildcats’ advantage to 47-9 Wildcats.

Tommy Gallagher then faced a tough adversary in Sam LoFaso at 138 pounds. The two battled for the full time, with LoFaso managing an early lead before Gallagher battled back. Gallagher nearly overcame the deficit, but ran out of time, dropping an 8-6 decision.

The Wildcats finished off the Bruins at 145 pounds, with Quade Rasmussen doing the honors. The senior won by pin with 1:04 left in the first period, finalizing the score, 53-12, in favor of the Wildcats.

“Historically, these are two very good programs,” Sullivan said. “We typically battle back and forth. Today, we were just stronger at all of the weights.”

With the two victories in hand, the Wildcats have a week off before returning to action next weekend. The Mat Cats will take part in the Catholic Invitational Tournament at Otterbein University on Saturday and Sunday next weekend.

Congratulations to Russell, Drobnick, and the Mat Cats on a record-setting day.