Jan 29, 2021

Benton scores multiple pins, Lafayette's Trevor Johnson reaches 100th win Thursday

Posted Jan 29, 2021 2:41 AM
Tyler Murphy of Benton control's Connor McPhillips of Central in Thursday's St. Joseph city wrestling championships. Photo by Whitnee Ice.
Tyler Murphy of Benton control's Connor McPhillips of Central in Thursday's St. Joseph city wrestling championships. Photo by Whitnee Ice.

By TOMMY REZAC

St. Joseph Post

The Benton wrestling team had a solid night in the St. Joseph City Triangular Meet Thursday hosted by Lafayette High School.

The Cardinals finished the night with seven combined pins and three wrestlers going 2-0. Benton as a team went 2-0 Thursday, Lafayette finished  1-1 and Central went 0-2.

Benton's Angelo Barron (132) scored pins against A.J. Allen of Lafayette and Connor McPhillips of St. Joseph Central.

Bishop Rush (145) pinned Trevor Johnson of Lafayette and Central's Brian Eickelman.

In the heavyweight class, Benton's Kevin Machado (285) pinned Central's Nicholas Haddock and scored a 1-0 victory over Lafayette's Q Garrett in a close, physical match.

Also of note for Benton, senior Tyler Murphy, fresh off of an MEC Conference title on Saturday, pinned Central's Connor McPhillips. Murphy, who was a runner-up at state last season, is now a four-time St. Joseph city champion.

The Cardinals' Blake Gilbert (132), who's listed as a JV wrestler, had a big moment with a pin against Lafayette's Chris Arias (145).

Also, Benton's Josh Peek (170) pinned Lafayette's Ben Kneib to round out his night.

Lafayette scored a big win early when Trevor Johnson (138) outlasted Central's Connor McPhillips, 9-4. The win was the 100th in Johnson's career.

It wasn't an easy path for Johnson, who fell just shy of state at districts last season and got a concussion in a meet in late December and then broke his nose when he came back in January.

"Coming out here and getting my 100th victory really makes me want to push forward," Johnson said. "Getting that victory means a lot. Hopefully, it shows these younger guys that it can be done and they're capable of doing it. It's worth doing."

Elsewhere for Lafayette, Jay Greiner (182) pinned Benton's Diego Barron. Zach Pribble (220) scored a pin against Benton's Colton Davis as well.

In the lighter weight classes, Lafayette's Tristan Flynn (113) pinned Benton's Kaleb Boyle, while Marco Dalakishvili, an MEC Conference champion, pinned Central's Logan Cook.

The Indians had only five wrestlers in the meet Thursday, but senior Caleb Zweerink became a four-time St. Joseph city champion after pinning Benton's Josh Peek.

"It feels good," Zweerink said. "My first few years wrestling, I didn't have a ton of success. So, it feels good to finally see all of the hard work pay off."

Benton and Lafayette will wrestle at the Benton tournament on Saturday. Central will compete in the Shawnee Mission North tournament on Saturday as well.

St. Joseph Central's Caleb Zweerink earned a pin over Benton's Josh Peek at Thursday's St. Joseph City triangular at Lafayette High School Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.
St. Joseph Central's Caleb Zweerink earned a pin over Benton's Josh Peek at Thursday's St. Joseph City triangular at Lafayette High School Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.
Lafayette's Marco Dalakishvili (126) earned a pin over Central's Logan Cook Thursday. Photo by Whitnee Ice.
Lafayette's Marco Dalakishvili (126) earned a pin over Central's Logan Cook Thursday. Photo by Whitnee Ice.

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.