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Sidney puts Bridgeport on the mat

Raiders win 10 of 14 matches in dual victory

In Sidney High School's wrestling dual with Bridgeport Thursday night, there were no distractions for the large group of spectators who showed up to watch the action at the Cabela's Athletic Facility.

With just one mat where only one match played out at a time, there was no place for the wrestlers to hide. It was a night of one-on-one action and all eyes were on the center ring, much different than the invitationals the Red Raiders compete in when multiple matches are playing out simultaneously.

The Raiders didn't blink under the glare of the spotlight, however, as they won their annual dual with the Bulldogs, 50-24. On its way to victory, Sidney won 10 of 14 matches including two forfeits.

As it was also "Senior Night," four Raiders and their parents were honored before the action began. After this season, Sidney will have to say a reluctant farewell to Zach Borges, Brandon Lulf, Michael Muggli and Kane Taylor.

It was a good night for the seniors, too, as they went a combined 3-1. While Lulf was the only senior who didn't come away with a win, he wrestled well for most of his match. He had the best of Marc Vasquez until the final moments. Lulf took a 10-4 lead early in the second period at 195 pounds, before Vasquez turned the tables on him with a pin at 3:08.

Taylor, who is rated among the top wrestlers in the district at 220 pounds., had little trouble with Tyler Franklin with a pin at 2:48. Franklin actually lasted longer in this match than he did last week when Taylor pinned him at the Hemingford meet in the opening period.

"He's young and he was more prepared today than he was last week so I give him credit," Taylor said. "It was a fun night. I like duals more than tournaments. It's such a great atmosphere in front of the home crowd where it's just you and your opponent."

Muggli (145) earned the 105th win of his career on Thursday. He won by a technical fall over Logan Coalson at 5:53 when the score had reached 17-2. Though Borges (160) was never in any real trouble, his match went the distance with Todd Widener. Borges won the match by a major decision 15-2.

"I thought we could have been a little sharper, but Bridgeport has a good team," said Sidney head coach John Ganser. "Several of the guys wrestled well. Brett Jaggers got us off to a good start and I thought Zach Borges wrestled very well tonight."

Jaggers got the Raiders' night going in the right direction at 132 pounds as he dropped Bridgeport's Autin Conley by fall midway through the second period (2:56). Jaggers earned six points for Sidney after which his teammates kept the Raiders ahead to the finish.

It took just five more seconds for Derek Robb (138) to pin Joe Weibert (3:01) in the evening's second match. For Robb, it was his 25th victory without a loss this season. After the Muggli match at 145, Sidney had a 17-0 lead.

A pair of freshmen, Kaden Vowers and Colton Peckham, continued their strong wrestling of late as each won by major decision. Vowers stopped Paul Brown (12-1) and Peckham finished off Ronnie Brown (14-4). Peckham had previously faced Brown last season while with the Sidney Wrestling Federation.

"I remembered he likes to tie up so I was aware of that this time around," said Peckham.

In the last match of the night at 126 pounds, Jack Feddersen of Sidney and Peyton Baumann battled through the most tightly contested six minutes. Feddersen ended up on the right side of a 10-6 decision. Feddersen, a sophomore, jumped three weight classes since last year when he competed at 106.

"It's definitely different having to wrestle guys that are bigger and stronger," Fedderson said. "It's a lot tougher but I'm getting adjusted."

Fedderson pinned Baumann in the first period last week at Hemingford.

"I caught him in a mistake last week," Fedderson added. "But he's strong on the bottom and very good on his feet."

Dominic Beyer (285) and Patriac Hays (170) both won their matches by forfeit. Tyler King battled until late in the final period when he was taken down by Lawrence Schneider by pin at 5:11.

Colden Harrison nearly survived the second-period horn before he was defeated by Jerrod Fedorchik at 3:51. Sidney's Devon Schilz was also stopped in the second period as Steven Tafoya pinned him at 2:40.

Sidney is back on the mat on Saturday at 9 a.m. when it travels to Imperial for a tournament hosted by Chase County High School.

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

Sidney 50, Bridgeport 24

106 – Kaden Vowers (Sidney) major dec. Paul Brown, 12-1

113 – Colton Peckham (Sidney) major dec. Ronnie Brown, 14-4

120 – Steven Tafoya (Bridgeport) pinned Devon Schilz, 2:40

126 – Jack Feddersen (Sidney) dec. Peyton Baumann, 10-6

132 – Bret Jaggers (Sidney) pinned Auston Conley, 2:56

138 – Derek Robb (Sidney) pinned Joe Weibert, 3:01

145 – Michael Muggli (Sidney) tech. fall Logan Coalson, 17-2 at 5:53

152 – Lawrence Schneider (Bridgeport) pinned Tyler King, 5:11

160 – Zach Borges (Sidney) major dec. Todd Widener, 5-2

170 – Patrick Hays (Sidney) won by forfeit

182 – Jerrod Fedorchik (Bridgeport) pinned Colden Harrison, 3:51

195 – Marc Vasquez (Bridgeport) pinned Brandon Lulf, 3:08)

220 – Kane Taylor (Sidney) pinned Tyler Franklin, 2:48

285 – Dominic Beyer (Sidney) won by forfeit

 

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