Jaguars lose heartbreaker to Hornets

By Murray Gleffe, Correspondent

GREEN BAY-The Ashwaubenon Jaguars wrestling team lost to the Green Bay Preble Hornets by a final of 36-33. (Jan. 25)

After a forfeit and two falls that went against them, the Jaguars quickly found themselves down 18-0.

They mounted their comeback with the 113 lb. classification.

Cody Minor built leads of 10-3 after one period, and 14-5 after two periods.

Finally, in the third with 42 seconds remaining in the match, Minor falled his pesky Hornets opponent.

Noah Leisgang wasted no time in gathering six points for the Jaguars.

He came out with quick feet and manufactured the ‘cradle move’ to win his match with a fall.

“Noah has over 25 wins on the year versus only a few losses,” said Jody VanLaanen, Jaguars Wrestling Coach. “He’s having a fantastic year. His goal is in sight after finishing one spot out of making it to state in 2017.

After Fernando Coronado won his match with a major decision, the lead for the Hornets had been narrowed to 18-16.

After the Hornets picked up three points, Connor Ramage entertained Leighton Serrano of the Hornets.

Ramage controlled the match from the start but could not end it as Serrano stayed one step ahead of him for 5:54 of the match.

Fortunately for Ramage, a high school wrestling match consists of six minutes.

At the very last moment, Ramage took Serrano down and garnered the fall with six faithful seconds left in the contest!

Using the energy and momentum that the Jaguars were feeling, Dawson Dembroski came out and breezed through his match with five take downs and two near falls before the bout was stopped at 16-0 (tech fall).

The Jaguars had forged in front 27-21.

The Jaguars and Hornets split the next four matches (Moynihan and Kiernan victories for the Jaguars) to deadlock the team dual at 33 points apiece.

It set the stage for Julius Stevenson of the Hornets and Jordan VandeHei of the Jaguars.

The winner of the final match was not worried about the individual accolades but getting it done for his respective team.

Stevenson started out on fire going up 6-1 after one period.

He carried that mojo into period number two where he went up 8-2 after four minutes.

What looked to be a runaway for Stevenson suddenly became interesting half-way through the final period.

Stevenson wore down and VandeHei took advantage.

With 1:06 left, VandeHei brought him down to the mat and used his strength to flip him over.

Suddenly, Dessart Fieldhouse felt like a rock concert.

The coaches and fans screamed with excitement for their team.

VandeHei appeared to have a fall but the official pulled back not once but twice.

During that stretch, VandeHei picked up four points, but in the end he could not gather an extra two points or fall to win the match.

“This was a great battle,” added VanLaanen. “We win as a team and we lose as a team. 14 matches make up a dual. It just happened today that the 195 lb. classification wrestled last and Jordan wrestled his tail off to the very end. We just ran out of time there.”

The Jaguars fall to 2-3 in FRCC action and will travel to Sheboygan South Jan. 29 for a make-up match from the ice storm.

Green Bay Preble 36, Ashwaubenon 33

220: Anthony Balch (GBP) over (ASH) (Forfeit)

285: Daniel Hernandez (GBP) over Katayen Gardner (ASH) (Fall 0:57)

106: Connor Derenne (GBP) over Mick Kiernan (ASH) (Fall 0:38)

113: Cody Minor (ASH) over Mitch Kopish (GBP) (Fall 5:18)

120: Noah Leisgang (ASH) over Ronaldo Santos (GBP) (Fall 1:13)

126: Fernando Coronado (ASH) over Collin Derenne (GBP) (MD 13-4)

132: Noah Huckins (GBP) over Dominic Stichmann (ASH) (Dec 6-0)

138: Connor Ramage (ASH) over Leighton Serrano (GBP) (Fall 5:54)

145: Dawson Dembroski (ASH) over Devin LaPlante (GBP) (TF 16-0)

152: Kade Cummings (GBP) over Zach Olbrantz (ASH) (Fall 2:43)