For The Tribune

COLUMBUS

The Seymour wrestlers faced a monumental task Thursday night when they traveled to fourth-ranked Columbus East for the Olympians’ season opener.

The Owls found themselves in an early 31-0 hole and couldn’t climb out, and East came away with a 65-9 victory.

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“I think (assistant) coach (Greg) Musser, when we were talking to our team right there, I think he probably summed it up the best when he said that tonight, we were reactionary,” Seymour coach Todd Weaver said. “We were willing to stand in front of people and react to what they were doing instead of going and trying to attack them and imposing our will.”

Beginning at 152 pounds, the Olympians won the first three matches by pin and the fourth by major decision to take a quick 22-0 lead.

At that point, Weaver forfeited 195 and bumped up 195-pounder Alejandro Sachinas to wrestle against East’s sixth-ranked 220-pounder and Purdue recruit Jacob Bolte. Bolte managed a 3-0 decision.

“They have a 220 that is ranked, so I wanted our kid to go up and wrestle him,” Weaver said. “I think us going to wrestle the 220-pounder is going to get Alejandro wins, so that 3-0 loss I think is actually a confidence booster for him for later.”

Seymour then got on the board with a pin from Gabe Ramirez with one second remaining in his 285-pound match. The Olympians answered with a pin at 106 before the Owls’ Isaiah Pichardo came through with a 10-3 decision at 113 to cut the lead to 37-9.

From there, East won the final five matches on three pins and two technical falls.

“When you get that steamroller effect going, you kind of feed off of each other,” Weaver said. “They’s a good team chemistry that they have — that the next guy up is ready to go — and that’s what we’re trying to work toward and need more of.”

Seymour (2-4) had opened the season by going 2-3 in Saturday’s Edgewood Invitational.