This time last year, the town was abuzz about the possibility that Durant’s wrestling team had a small chance to end Brandon’s legendary winning streak.
The national media was waiting with baited breath ready to report the story of an upset; supporters from each school rallied their troops and poured into Durant High School for the match to end all matches and alumni who had wandered away from the school flooded back.
But, as had been the case for nearly three decades, Brandon put down the Cougars.
About the only thing that’s still the same this year is the outcome of the Durant/Brandon dual meet. Brandon, still a national wrestling powerhouse squads with their record-setting streak up to 439, handily defeated Durant last week.
Durant marched into Brandon Jan. 11 knowing they were in for a tough battle. And while some wrestlers put up a fight, the final result rested 62-9 in favor of Brandon.
Brandon’s Sean Patrick, 189 pounds, set the tone for the evening, pinning John Decker in 38 seconds.
Patrick was one of eight Brandon pins. The others included Keith Simmons, Terry Dawson, Eric Grajales, Zach Berridge, Sean Joyce, Keith Koziel and Tom Timothy.
Grajales, Joyce, Timothy and Patrick all improved their season records to 27-0.
And while it might not have been a street fight, Durant did get a couple good shots in.
Sean Padgett, 103 pounds, defeated Eddie Ciesla in a 6-2 decision, while Matt Wacaser, 142 pounds, beat Brandon’s Nick Hutchinson 7-6. Durant’s Erik Ruiz, 121 pounds, delivered Kyle Keller his second loss of the season at 15-13.
“Durant’s a fine program,” Brandon’s coach Russ Cozart said. “(Dennis) Kitko’s a fine coach and the kid’s always have fight. We knew we’d get a good workout here tonight.”
Cozart moved his wrestlers up a weight class while Cozart’s former pupil, Durant’s Dennis Kitko moved his squad down a class.
Kitko said he was impressed with Ruiz, who beat Brandon’s state-runner up.
“Realistically, they’re tough and we’re down. They know when to attack,” Kitko said.
Ruiz, who is 18-2 in his first year at Durant as a senior, said he felt great following his win.
“His (Keller) shots were pretty weak,” Ruiz said, adding that the match came down to technique.