The Rushville wrestling team took one on the chin last Tuesday night against Franklin County on the Wildcats’ senior night. The final score of 56-19 showed a seasoned Franklin Co. team with nine seniors in their lineup. 

“We were flat,” said head coach Jim Tush. “Coming off a three-day weekend did influence our wrestling, but our offense wasn’t what it has been in the past. We did a lot of live wrestling matches in practice for the last week and a half, and we should have focused more on short, directed goes to increase our skills and agility. So, I blame myself for this loss. And maybe some bad weather that kept us out of practice and our meet at North Central.”

Briggs Tackett won by forfeit at 106 pounds and Sam Pavey earned six points for a pin at 190. Denver Campbell got a major 15-4 decision victory at 157 and Trey Newman won 4-1 at 215.

The Rushville wrestlers took a 17-3 record to the EIAC tournament Saturday at South Dearborn High School.

Lion wrestling placed 3rd at the EIAC meet Saturday hosted by South Dearborn. Rushville scored 185 with East Central winning and Franklin Co 2nd. Sam Pavey won the 190-lb. Class while four others were runners-up. Tackett, Hunt, Campbell and Newman all took 2nd.

“It was very exciting to watch five of our wrestlers on the championship mat but I’m proud of all our wrestlers,” said Tush. “Everybody fought hard. We have a few more things to fine tune before sectional, but I like the fight we are bringing to each match.”  

Pavey (25-5) won first by forfeit, then had a 14-0 major decision over Batesville’s Alex Krekeler and battled Max Nelson of Lawrenceburg to a 4-2 win.

Tackett (25-4) also started with a forfeit before majoring Greensburg’s Kolton Boling 18-7; he fell 4-0 to BHS’ Carson Weiler in the final. Hunt (23-5) pinned Batesville’s AJ Dance, defeated SD’s Jayden Coy 12-5 and lost 6-1 to EC’s Jaxon Fliehman. Campbell (24-6) pinned Greensburg’s Jayden Woehler, had a 12-1 major win over EC’s Tytan Chambers and narrowly lost 7-5 to Connersville’s Aric Fox. Newman (20-7) pinned Greensburg’s William Cunningham, edged BHS’ Andrew Jones 3-2 and lost by a 16-1 tech fall to EC’s Brendin Kolter.

Buzzard (18-11) placed 4th, getting wins by forfeit and tech fall. Hatten (15-12) did likewise, winning by fall and major decision. Also in 4th was E. Pavey (18-11), winning by pin and decision.

In 5th were K. Jacobs (15-12, 2 pins), Norvell (10-12, fft., pin, major), W. Jacobs (15-11, fft, pin) Ellis (10-15, 2 pins) and Amos (14-14, fall, tech fall). Lee Kaylor competed in the 150 class.

The Lions host senior night Thursday vs. Shelbyville.