East Ridge came up with the upset Tuesday, jumping ahead in the upper weights and holding on for a 36-34 wrestling victory over Notre Dame.
“I do enjoy the rivalry,” said Notre Dame coach John Mullin, a veteran of Pioneers-Irish battles dating back to his days as a wrestler.
He has enjoyed other meetings more, especially the last half-dozen years or so when his Irish were taking win after win. Notre Dame was without state medalist Jack Boone, who was having weight issues, but Mullin felt much more went into the loss.
“Let me count the ways. There were at least six possible ways we could have turned this defeat into a victory, and that’s frustrating,” he said. “For us, it’s get back in the room and get ready for meets with Hixson on Thursday and East Hamilton and Tyner on Friday.”
For East Ridge, the win was confirmation of the job first-year coach Brad Laxton is doing in continuing the rebuilding process that began under Brad Jackson.
“I thought we had a chance. I hoped we had a chance,” Laxton said. “Since the days we missed because of the snow, we haven’t looked our best. But tonight we pulled out a gutsy, close dual meet. It’s something we haven’t done in years.”
Working with the first nearly full lineup East Ridge has had paid dividends. The Pioneers forfeited only one match, and that turned out to be a double forfeit at 103 pounds.
Dependable Grayson Mullin got the Irish off to a good start with a pin at 130, and they blew out to leads of 12-3 and 22-9 before the Pioneers took control in the upper weights. Helping forge the Notre Dame lead were Will Armor and Patrick Kent with pins and Taylor Bankston with a major decision.
East Ridge, though, won the next five matches — pins from Wakota Colver (160), Zack Stowers (1171) and C.J. Baker (285), a forfeit for Brandon Cantrell (189) and a decision from D.J. McCormick (215) — and gained a 30-22 advantage.
Austin Robinson’s pin closed the Irish to within two, but Brandon Whitley’s forfeit at 119 clinched the meet for East Ridge, leaving Chase White’s pin too little too late.
Both teams beat Howard, Notre Dame by 57-24 and East Ridge by 60-24.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765.