Union County wrestlers were at their best last week at the two-day Mac Taylor Spartan Classic in Connersville. 

The two-day Classic recognizes the top eight wrestlers in each weight class. Union County entered nine wrestlers, of which seven advanced to the second day. 

“We got seven out of nine through the first day,” UC coach AJ Bryson said. “This is an excellent showing. I’m really pleased.”

Five of the seven advancing Patriots placed in the top 8 in their weight class. 

“We’re a tournament team. When individual performances get seven advancing and five of those seven end up placing at the top, you’re looking pretty good,” Bryson said. “I think  we should do well at sectional and conference, just because we have individuals who perform at that higher level and rack up points.”

Carson Whitley was runner-up at 113 lbs. Jesus Aquino-Morales was runner-up at 120.  Whitley and Morales are both sophomores. 

“Carson wrestled a better wrestler in his quarter match,” Bryson said. “And in the semi-final match, he had more grit. In the semi-final match, he was five down going into the second round, came back and won the match - put that guy on his back.” 

“Our senior heavyweight (Nate Reffitt)  got pinned by the kid from Hagerstown on the first day, came back and whizzed through the second day to finish in third place,” Bryson said.

Reffitt (senior) placed third at 285 lbs., Evan Wolf (junior) was fifth at 145 lbs. and Jordan Takara (junior) placed seventh at 152 lbs. Freshman Cal Rudnick (106) and Leighton Jones (182) wrestled well but did not place. 

Additionally, Union County tied with East Noble for ninth-place within a field of 32 teams and well ahead of other area teams including...Connersville, Northeastern, Franklin County, Rushville, Richmond, Hagerstown, and New Castle.

The Patriots entered nine  wrestlers in the Classic and forfeited five weight classes and still have a couple of  weeks before the conference meet and sectional.

Pats at NE Invitational
Union County will compete at the two-day Northeastern Invitational this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 7 and 8. Then on Jan. 13, the Patriots will wrestle at Centerville. The TEC meet is Saturday, Jan. 22, at Union City.  

 
First place team and area team placings & point totals at Spartan Classic: 1.Portage 260. 9.Union County 138.5. 11.Connersville 136. 12.Northeastern 121. 14.Franklin County 111. 21. Rushville 75. 26.Richmond 46. 28.Hagerstown 39. 32.New Castle 00.

   
Union County Spartan Classic results:
106 - Cal Rudnick won by forfeit, defeated Herd Ayres (Miss), lost to Yant (Fish), won by forfeit, defeated Manning (Prov), lost to Herd (Miss).   

113 - Carson Whitley - Runner-up - won by forfeit, defeated Havens (Shelby) 17-8 MD, defeated Hicks (Valpo), defeated Ajmed (EN), lost to Bunton (Port).

120 - Jesus Aquino-Morales - Runner-up - won by forfeit, defeated Gibson (Dale), defeated Lovan (Prov), defeated Riley (Fish), lost to Byerly (EN).

132 - Tanner Burns - defeated Arnold (EH), defeated Barker (EN), lost to Tompson (BG).

145 - Evan Wolf - 5th Place - defeated Berger (NE), defeated Fernandez (Ru), defeated Sleeth (NP), lost to Schmitt (Jas), lost to Hood (Port).

152 - Jordan Takara - 7th place- defeated Weigel (Char’t), lost to Kinnick (Dale),defeated Schelebecker (Pike), lost to Giesler (Jas).

160 - Aiden Evans - lost to Bohman (FC), defeated Akpadija (Pike), defeated Jefferies (NP), lost to Brown (And). 

182 - Leighton Jones - lost to VanSlyke (Jas), won by forfeit, lost to Snyder (NE).

285 - Nathan Reffitt - 3rd place- defeated Sosbe (TC), defeated Blake (Miss), lost to Southerland (Hag), defeated White (Shen), defeated Nordhoff (Jas), defeated Flener (GC).