Indians claim three titles at Max Horz, Jr. Holiday Invitational - by Horace Blankenship - 12/17/2008



The young Berkeley Springs High School Wrestling Team had a very strong showing at the Max Horz, Jr. Holiday Invitational on Saturday, December 13, finishing third in the 12-team field.

"I was pleased with the way we wrestled," said Berkeley Springs Coach Darrell Bennett. “We made some mistakes and have things we need to work on, but we wrestled better this week than we did last week. If we keep improving one step at a time, we can be pretty good."

Three Indians won individual titles, one took second, two placed third, one fifth and one sixth, as the Tribe scored 174 points. Southern Garrett, Md. won their second consecutive team title with 233 points followed by Sherando, Va. (185.5), Berkeley Springs, Skyline, Va. (148), DeMatha Catholic, Md. (135.5), Hedgesville (133.5), Northern Garrett, Md. (130), Cameron (122.5), Loudoun Valley, Va. (109), Musselman (91.5), Washington (80.5) and Frankfort (50).

Cohen Hovermale captured the 103 pound title with a convincing 11-3 major decision over Jonathan Wimer of Washington in the championship match.

Hovermale scored an early takedown and dominated in all phases, on his way to his first Holiday Invitational title.

Hovermale led 2-0 at the end of the first period, 5-0 heading into the third period, and then added three third-period takedowns for the 11-3 win.

Derek Hovermale, wrestling in the 125 pound final, defeated former West Virginia High School State Champion Alec Peer 5-3 for his title. Fittingly, it was the 100th win for the Berkeley Springs junior.

Hovermale scored a first-period takedown for a 2-0 lead. Peer bounced back with a reversal in the final seconds of the period to tie the match at 2-2. Hovermale selected bottom in the second period and gained an escape for a 3-2 lead heading into the final two minutes of regulation. Peer quickly scored an escape of his own early in the third to tie the match at 3-3. Hovermale sealed the win when he scored a double leg takedown with under 30 seconds remaining in the match and rode out his opponent for the final margin of victory.

Sophomore, Hobert Delph was the third champion of the evening for Berkeley Springs.

Delph found himself in a 7-4 hole heading into the third period of the 285 pound final, but managed to score a 2-point reversal, against Tony Hall from Cameron, and then turned Hall and recorded a pin 55 seconds into the final period.

Brad Reed, Berkeley Springs’ only senior, also made the finals, but lost a hard-fought 1-0 decision to Lex Ozias from Southern Garrett in the 130 pound title match. Ozias's third-period escape was the only point scored in the match.

"I thought all of our kids wrestled well in the finals," Bennett said. “Derek wrestled a very intelligent match against Peer and pulled it out at the end. Brad gave Ozias all he wanted, but just couldn't quite finish a couple of moves, Cohen did a nice job against Wimer and Hobert fought from behind to claim his title."

Freshman Tory Bennett and sophomore Damen Capper placed third at 160 and 140, respectively.

Capper lost a tough 5-2 decision to George Scheffel, a two time defending Maryland state champion, in one of the 140 pound semifinal matches, before beating Cody Meade of Sherando and Adam Moranduzzo from Northern Garrett to place third.

Bennett also lost in the semifinals at 160, before defeating his next two opponents, Cole Hilling from Loudoun Valley and Cory Wilson from DeMatha, to bring home a bronze medal. Bennett, was leading 2-1 in his semifinal matchup with Jordan Skipper from Southern Garrett when he was caught in a scramble situation and pinned late in the second period.

"Damen and Tory showed a lot coming back through the consolations," said Bennett. “Both lost to eventual champions in the semifinals and didn't let the disappointment get the best of them. It really helps the team when kids battle back like that."

Freshman Loguen McKee and sophomore Zac Risinger placed fifth and sixth at 112 and 145, respectively.

McKee scored an 8-1 decision over Dematha's Jonathan Turcotte to claim fifth place, while Risinger fell to Sherando's Zach Fletcher.

Berkeley Springs will travel to Point Pleasant on Friday, December 19, for the Point Pleasant Duals Tournament and won't return to the mats until after the New Year.

Championship bouts:

103 Cohen Hovermale (BS) d. Jonathan Wimer (W) 11-3

112 Oliver Hilgartner (LV) d. Brandon Fletcher (Sh) 7-5

119 Patrick Prada (DC) d. Shane Smith (Sk) 5-1

125 Derek Hovermale (BS) d. Alec Peer (F) 5-3

130 Lex Ozias (SG) d. Brad Reed (BS) 1-0

135 Tevin Hall (C) d. Nicholas Brant (SG) 7-4

140 George Scheffel (SG) d. Trevor Walker (Sk) 5-3

145 Matt Huffstickler (Sk) tf Davey Sweitzer (SG) 19-4

152 Jacob Scheffel (SG) md Tanner Whyte (C) 11-1

160 Jordan Skipper (SG) d. Billy Forquer (H) 8-6

171 Dustin Stough (NG) d. Nick Bakos (Sh) 1-0

189 Dylan Nick (W) d. Jared Weatherholtz (M) 5-2

215 Ben Hatef (DC) p. Ryan Fitzwater (SG) 1:44

285 Hobert Delph (BS) p. Tony Hall (C) 4:55