The end of the season is rapidly approaching, and the Wildcats look ready.
The Saint Ignatius varsity gold wrestling squad rolled to two wins this weekend, improving to 10-2 in dual meets and showing a readiness for postseason play.
The Mat Cats defeated Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 51-22, and Bedford, 54-14, on Friday evening at Sullivan Gym. The Wildcats also hosted the Wildcat Technique Clinic at Gibbons Hall on Saturday, wrapping up a successful weekend for the Wildcats.
In the match with CVCA, the Royals started well, as Johnny Novak dropped an 18-3 loss at 113 pounds. However, Matthew Whipkey fought hard for a 7-6 win and Patrick McGraw won by forfeit to help the Wildcats bounce back.
Matt French then dropped his bout before the Wildcats rolled off eight straight wins. Anthony Delsanter won the 138-pound match, 138, Tommy Gallagher won by forfeit at 145, and Quade Rasmussen won by pin at 152 pounds. Freshman phenom Najee Lockett then won 7-2 at 152 pounds, Logan Toth claimed a forfeit at 160 pounds, and Cal Miller won by pin at 170 pounds. Kaden Russell and Michael Drobnick then finished off the run with a forfeit at 182 and a pin at 195 pounds.
CVCA ended the note on a positive note with a forfeit win at 220 pounds and a win by pin at 285 pounds, but the Wildcats still walked away with a resounding win.
The Wildcats started well against Bedford, as Novak tore off a 16-0 win by tech fall at 106 pounds. Whipkey then dropped a 5-4 match at 113 before McGraw and French responded with back-to-back pins.
Ethan Romford then lost at 132 pounds before Delsanter won by pin at 138 pounds. Gallagher picked up a 10-2 win at 145 and Rasmussen won again by pin at 152. Lockett secured a 12-1 victory to further increase the Wildcats' lead over the Bearcast.
Logan Toth then eked out a 7-6 triumph at 182 pounds, followed by wins by Miller (12-6), Russell (by pin), and Michael Drobnick (by pin) to put the match in the bag. Toby Engel dropped the heavyweight match, but the Wildcats emerged with a dominant 54-14 victory over the Bearcats.
The Wildcats' win pushes the team to 10-2 overall on the year and 8-1 in Sullivan Gym this season.
The Mat Cats will compete again at home on Friday, hosting Medina Highland at 7 p.m. on Alumni Night. However, a tri-match with Lake Catholic and Mansfield awaits the team first on Thursday at Lake Catholic.
Meanwhile, the varsity blue squad notched a 48-3 win over Elyria Catholic before dropping a 37-14 loss to Elyria B on Friday evening. Overall on the year, the varsity blue team has an 11-8 record. The squad returns to the mat for a tri-match against VASJ and Kirkland on Thursday.