For The Tribune
Jennings County’s wrestlers held a 6-1 advantage in pins and defeated Seymour 46-25 on Thursday night in the Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium.
It was senior night for the Owls, and prior to the varsity match, seniors Zack Newton, Dorian Borom and Rachel Hokoana-Yamaguchi and their parents were introduced.
Owls coach Todd Weaver said the seniors meant a lot to the program, as Newton and Borom both won 20 or more matches this season, and Hokana-Yamaguchi will wrestle in the girls state tournament today in Indianapolis.
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Newton served four years on the Owls’ team.
“He’s been a kid that I’ve coached since the very first year I got here,” Weaver said. “He was an eighth-grader. I coached him in middle school, and he came up to high school when I came up to the high school.
“We’ve been together the whole time, so in that aspect, it’s been special because we’ve been through so much together, and no matter what, he’s always willing to do his part as far as moving a guy here or moving a guy there and be a leader and do this. Zack is always willing to be that guy. He’s going to be hard to replace next year.”
Hokoana-Yamaguchi will leave the Owls with two years under her belt.
“She’s a spark to the program, and she’s doing her own thing in the girls’ section,” Weaver said. “She was a regional champ two weeks ago. She goes to the state tournament tonight, and that’s a tournament she can win. She got third last year, and hopefully, she steps it up. That’s exciting for the program, as well.”
For Borom, it was his first and only season with the Owls.
“Dorian walked into my classroom at the beginning of the second nine weeks and said, ‘Hello, my name is Dorian, and I think I want to wrestle.’ He’s come out and been a worker and a spark for this team. He’s been kind of comic relief at times. He’s a real funny kid, great to be around and he’s got 20 wins, so that’s a big deal.
“All in their own ways have meant a lot.”
Alejandro Sachinas gained Seymour’s only pin in 2:45 against Sam Bennett in their 182-pound match.
Gaining decisions for the Owls were Isaiah Pichardo at 106, Owen Chandler at 113, Brandon Penegar at 145 and Newton at 160, while Kevin Corrales had a technical fall at 195.
All of the Owls who won recorded the first takedowns in their matches.
“We’re willing to go wrestle anybody, but just getting one takedown doesn’t get the job done,” Weaver said. “They’re going to battle from the first wrestle to the last whistle. We gave up a lot of bonus points, and we just can’t do that.”
The Owls finished 15-7 in dual meets.
The Owls will compete in the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament today at Jeffersonville starting at 5 p.m. Pichardo is the No. 2 seed at 106, while Chandler and Penegar are No. 3 seeds at 113 and 145, respectively.
“At conference, we’re going to wrestle a lot different than we did tonight,” Weaver said. “Tonight was about getting a team win. At conference, it’s going to be an individual effort.”