Eagles even season series with Cougars on the mats

South Putnam's Gabe Thomas sends North Putnam's Lincoln Young crashing to the mat during Tuesday night's dual between the county schools. The Eagles, who have faced the Cougars four times in duals this year, along with the WIC wrestling meet last weekend, evened their record against their county foes in a 45-33 win.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

UPDATED 1-18-24

Just three days after the WIC wrestling meet on Saturday, South Putnam and North Putnam clashed in a dual meet for the fourth time this season, the Cougars having gotten the better of the Eagles in the first two meetings, as well as finishing two places above South Putnam in the conference meet.

The Eagles pieced together a strong start, winning the first four matches of the dual, to even up its record against North Putnam in a 45-33 win Tuesday evening.

“I’m proud of our guys tonight, specifically Kolby Harcourt for getting us a big pin and Damon Cox for picking up his second win against a good opponent in (Caiden) Hankins, splitting the series 2-2,” South Putnam head coach Antonio Hernandez said. “Damon has had a great mindset the second half of the season and has shown a lot of growth and leadership, on and off the mat.”

Action began at 157 pounds where South Putnam’s Harcourt won by fall in the first period over Josh Taylor.

Cox followed with a 9-4 decision over Caiden Hankins at 165 pounds before the Eagles picked up back-to-back third-period falls as Robert Speth defeated Jack Parker at 175 pounds and Dylan Gilley bettered Tilman Black at 190 pounds.

Hank Wood grabbed North Putnam’s first points of the night with a 19-4 tech fall over Preston Pelfrey at 215 pounds.

Noah Redman grabbed a second-period fall over Owen O’Hair for South Putnam at 106 pounds in-between several forfeits before action picked up at 132 pounds with Cougar Jackson Andrews scoring a fall late in the first period over Johny Hayden.

Gabe Thomas picked up the last Eagle win of the night with another late fall in the first period over Lincoln Young at 138 pounds before North Putnam won the last two bouts of the night as Quenton Brown won by fall in the first period over Tyler Coke at 144 pounds and Will Smith won an 11-4 decision over Joseph Pulzone at 150 pounds.

Forfeits on the night went to South Putnam’s Keenan Mowery-Shields (285) and Isaac Boyce (120) as well as to North Putnam’s Katie Jo Boller (113) and Bryce Glaze (126).

“Robert, Dylan, Noah and Gabe got us big wins by fall,” Hernandez said. “Hat’s off to North Putnam. They have won a lot of matches against us my first couple of years coaching and it’s made us hungry to get better.

“I respect (North Putnam head coach Michael) Murphy and what he’s done for his program. For us to reach our goals, we know we have to go through them and our other county rivals.

“We’re looking forward to another opportunity against them at sectionals next weekend.”