By Cort Reynolds
RAWSON - The Ada wrestling team started its 2019-20 campaign by finishing fifth at the annual Cory-Rawson Duals Saturday.

Delphos Jefferson won the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record. Van Buren (4-1) was second, C-R (3-2) came in third and Ada was fifth (1-4).

The Bulldogs beat Toledo Woodward 18-12 for their win.

"Ada wrestled pretty well, considering how young and inexperienced a majority of our kids are," said new Bulldog head coach David Ames. "Sadly, we were without our 113-pounder because Antonio Petitt suffered a severe concussion earlier in the week.

"With only seven wrestlers, I was pretty happy with how we showed up and fought," he continued. "For a lot of our guys, it was the first time they had ever seen a mat in competition, and each of our brand-new wrestlers won."

Hornet senior Deontae' Davis went 5-0 with four pins to earn most valuable wrestler for the second straight year at the Cory-Rawson Duals. 

Ada individual records by weight class:
126 Colton Beiderman 1-4
138 Wyatt Badertscher 3-2
145 Khyler Stoll 2-1 (suffered a season-ending collar bone fracture)
152 Cameron Bober 2-1
160 Reece Evans 3-2
160 Cole Anspach 3-1 (wrestling varsity and some JV matches)
170 Kyle Mattson 1-4
285 Jonathan McClain 3-2

The Bulldog varsity grapplers will return to the mats Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Linolnview Invitational.

"While we struggled some at the high school, mainly due to inexperience, our junior high team (under the coaching of Ada alumni and former Allen East jr. high assistant Matt Higgins) did very well," said Ames. 

With only six wrestlers able to compete this past weekend, Ada managed to place eighth. Four of the six Bullpup wrestlers placed in the top three.

Liam Viera placed first; Clayton McClain placed second; Josh Arnett placed third; and Rowan West placed third.

"We have a lot to work on, but both the high school and the junior high are excited about the opening and looking forward to getting better as the season continues," said Ames. 

"Next week find the high school wrestling team at the Lincolnview Invitational, and the junior high traveling to the Allen East Invitational," he added.