Replay: Brother Martin edges Jesuit in dual meet between state powers

A year ago, Brother Martin won its 21st state wrestling championship in Baton Rouge with Jesuit, which has won 23 state titles, finishing second.

In another classic dual meet in their rivalry, Brother Martin and Jesuit once again showed they are two of the best teams in the state.

At Brother Martin’s Conlin Gym, the meeting of Catholic League rivals came down to the wire and the atmosphere was nothing short of electric as the Crusaders pulled out a 36-33 victory Wednesday night.

The last match of the evening between Rory Horvath, Louisiana Classic runner-up from Brother Martin, and Jesuit’s Arthur Schott decided the meet. The pressure was on, and Scott stunned Horvath by throwing him early in the match but was deemed out of bounds by the referee. The two wrestlers demonstrated excellent skills. Tied at 4-4, the ultimate point that decided the match was Horvath’s escape from bottom.

After coming in third at the Louisiana Classic, the Crusaders seemed to respond well to the wake-up call ahead of next month’s state tournament. Catholic (Baton Rouge) and Jesuit will put their best feet forward but the Crusaders should take momentum from winning an excellent warmup for the main event.

To start the meet, Brother Martin senior Sam Riles stepped onto the mat prepared to battle at 170 pounds. Riles pinned Jack Seidell with 46 seconds left in the first period to get Brother Martin off to a very good start.

The Blue Jays responded with 2023 Louisiana Classic 182 pound champion Jackson Calderaro’s pin of Aidan Wieber in just 36 seconds.

Jesuit went on to win four straight matches, including a pin by Griffin Ellis at 220 pounds.

The heavyweight match was the one most people including big student sections for both schools were waiting to see. Last year’s Division I 285 state champion from Jesuit, junior Spencer Lanosga, pinned sophomore Ethan Simmons to give the Jays a 21-6 lead, swinging the dual meet back to the lower weights. It was the first match of the season for Lanosga, who appears poised to make a run at another state title.

The Crusaders never panicked after the series of Jesuit wins by pin.

Freshman Anthony Oubre began the comeback for Brother Martin at 106 pounds. In an exciting, back-and-forth match, Oubre pinned Barnett in the third period to cut the team deficit to 21-12.

With Jesuit up 24-12, Brother Martin turned to freshman Quinn McDermott in place of injured top-ranked Jacob Elsensohn at 120 pounds and McDermott came through, However, freshman Quinn McDermott pinning Jack Heslin to cut the Jesuit lead to 24-18.

The Blue Jays responded as senior John Michael-Bourgeois pinned Hunter Chabert at 126 pounds in 1:56 to make it 30-18.

Defending state champion Richie Clementi of Brother Martin, who is unbeaten in Louisiana this season, did his job. The sophomore pinned Haydel at 132 pounds in the third period to make it 30-24.

After Ty Duncan won by decision at 138 pounds for the Crusaders, Kent Burandt put Brother Martin ahead with a pin of Luke Hopkis at 145 pounds to give Brother Martin a 33-30 lead.

Sophomore Wyatt Mire of the Blue Jays answered the call, winning 6-4 over Tai LeBlanc of Brother Martin at 152 pounds, tying the match at 33-33, setting the stage for the dramatic finale.

The two top teams will see each other again this Saturday in the Catholic League District Tournament at Brother Martin with the Crusaders, Blue Jays, Archbishop Rummel and Holy Cross participating in a round-robin dual meet format which you can watch live at CrescentCitySports.com.

Brother Martin 36, Jesuit 33 (each side won 7 matches, 9 pins)

106—Anthony Oubre (BM) by fall over Michael Barnett (JES) 5:14
113—Bodi Harris (JES) dec. Trey Trainor (BM) 7-4
120—Quinn McDermott (BM) by fall over Jack Heslin (JES) 3:41
126—John Michael Bourgeois (JES) by fall over Hunter Chabert (BM) 1:56
132—Richie Clementi (BM) by fall over Chase Haydel (JES) 5;08
138—Ty Duncan (BM) dec. Grant Herbert (JES) 9-4
145—Kent Burandt (BM) by fall over James Nolan (JES) :57
152—Wyatt Mire (JES) dec. Tai LeBlanc (BM) 6-4
160—Rory Horvath (BM) dec. Arthur Schott (JES) 5-4
170—Sam Riles (BM) by fall over Jack Seidell (JES) 1:14
182—Jackson Calderaro (JES) by fall over Aidan Wieber (BM) :36
195—Dom Logiudice (JES) dec. Jason Weber (BM) 6-3
220—Griffin Ellis (JES) by fall over Evan Huling (BM) 2:32
285—Spencer Lanosga (JES) by fall over Ethan Simmons (BM) 1:48

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