Nation Ford takes 3rd in wrestling tournament

The Nation Ford wrestling team took third in the Sabres Holiday Classic preseason wrestling tournament at South Meck High School.

The Falcons took 11 wrestlers to the individual tournament, not all of them starters. Of the 11 wrestlers, nine placed at the tournament, and two won: Jeremy Kishbaugh at 113 and Christian Trimble at 138 pounds. Nation Ford finished third overall behind winner Hopewell and runner-up Weddington.

“The reason I brought so many young guys was to get some early matches in for them,” said head coach Leon Boulware. “We have to make sure our young guys get mat time.”

Kishbaugh won in the finals with a 16-0 tech fall over South Meck’s Carlos Lesmes and Trimble pinned his South Point (N.C.) opponent about 40 seconds into the first period.

“We had some of our young guys step up during the tournament,” Boulware said.

“We are really expecting big things out of Kishbaugh and (Dylan) Curtsinger. I am real proud of JJ (Salazar) and Ashten (Schaufert).”

Curtsinger also made it to the finals at 145 pounds, but fell to South Meck’s Chris Moungle.

Finishing third for Nation Ford was Wesley Johnson at 152 pounds as he beat Hopewell’s Taylor Brown 6-1 in the consolation finals. The Falcons’ JJ Salazar also finished third at 170 pounds after beating Forestview’s Austin Harwell 14-12.

At 182 pounds, Nation Ford’s Ashten Schaufert pinned Hopwell’s Dequawn Rivers in 22 seconds to capture third and Jason Nunoo finished third at 220 pounds by forfeit.

Fourth place finishers for the Falcons were TJ Giarratana (126) and Trevor Hathcock (195).

Nation Ford opens the regular season this week with a three-way match on the road against Lexington and Boiling Springs. The Falcons then head to the Southern Slam this weekend at Eastside High.

This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Nation Ford takes 3rd in wrestling tournament."