VERSAILLES – The Versailles wrestling team dominated Covington on Tuesday, defeating the Buccaneers in 13 of the 14 matches in the Tigers’ first dual meet of the season.
Versailles beat Covington, which typically is one of the Tigers’ toughest foes, 62-6 in Tuesday’s match.
“There was a lot of close ones, and we won the close ones,” Versailles coach A.J. Bey said. “We pride ourselves early in the year about being in really good shape, and I think that was a major contributor to the fact that we won so many close matches. And kids just gutted it out. We told the kids in there right now, we said those close matches, we’ll probably have them in two weeks here at our invitational, and we’ll see how that goes, see if we can improve on that and maybe those matches may not be as close.”
Versailles was spotted a 6-0 lead as Cael Bey won the 106 pound match by forfeit.
Nick Monnier then beat Covington’s Dolan Young 7-5 in an overtime period in the 113 pound match to put Versailles ahead 9-0.
After Jacob Poling won the 120 pound match by forfeit, Preston Platfoot beat Covington’s Kyle Barga by a 17-2 technical fall in the 126 pound match to increase the Tiger lead to 20-0.
In the 132 pound match Versailles’ Steven Mangen beat Riley Richards 2-1.
Kyle Wuebker pinned Covington’s Austin Flick with 16.2 seconds remaining in the second period of the 138 pound match.
The Tigers’ Tanner Bey then beat Covington’s Keringten Martin 3-1 in an overtime period in the 145 pound match to increase the Versailles lead to 32-0.
Covington’s lone win of the match came in the 152 pound bout as Josh Sowers pinned Versailles’ Derek Cavin with 4.1 seconds remaining in the third period to make the score 32-6.
“Even the one we lost I think we were leading that and just got in kind of a scramble and predicament,” Coach Bey said. “I think all the kids showed a lot of guts out there tonight.”
Versailles’ Tyler Gigandet beat Deron White 6-5 in the 160 pound match.
In the 170 pound match Jonny Moorman beat Covington’s Joey Schmelzer 11-6.
Versailles’ Bo Bey won the 182 pound match by forfeit, increasing the Tiger lead to 44-6.
In the 195 pound match Versailles’ Jacob Rismiller pinned Covington’s Gavin McReynolds with 1:16 remaining in the first period.
Isaac Grilliot pinned Covington’s Bryce Keiser with 44.3 seconds left in the third period of the 220 pound match.
In the evening’s final match Versailles’ Jeffrey Ware pinned Covington’s Carl Lankford with 56.5 seconds remaining in the third period of the 285 pound match, giving the Tigers a 62-6 victory.
Versailles will return to action on Friday as it travels to Springboro for a three-team meet.
“We’ve got a pretty big test this Friday – we’re going down to Springboro and wrestling Springboro and Centerville so that will be a real test for us to see kind of where we’re at,” Coach Bey said. “We had a great weekend in Sidney last week, come out and beat Covington so we’re just got to keep improving on some of the small stuff and see what happens.”
