REPLAY: Brother Martin shows strength in wrestling win at Jesuit

NEW ORLEANS – Coming off a disappointing fourth place finish in the LHSAA Division I state tournament in Baton Rouge in 2021, wrestling powerhouse Brother Martin has been on a mission to correct what went wrong a year ago.

The Crusaders had won eight of the previous nine state titles, including three straight, before the fall last season when St. Paul’s claimed its first-ever Division I title.

The mission continued this season Wednesday night as Brother Martin handled Jesuit 38-19 at Tom and Gayle Benson Arena at Jesuit in a meet broadcast live at Crescent City Sports.

Brother Martin won 10 of the 14 matches contested in an impressive performance.

After Bodi Harris opened the night with a 16-3 win for the Blue Jays over Trey Trainor, the Crusaders took over, winning nine straight matches.

Unbeaten freshman Richie Clementi, the favorite in Louisiana at 113 pounds, started the run with a pin of John Michael Bourgeois in 2:22.

At 195 pounds, senior Luke Ohler of Brother Martin pinned sophomore Jackson Calderaro of Jesuit in 1:22.

Also scoring notable victories for the Crusaders were brothers Jacob Elsensohn (120) and Mason Elsensohn (132), along with senior star Rocco Horvath, who improved to 42-1 with a 12-5 win over Ian Bohn at 170 pounds.

Scoring falls for Jesuit were Dennis Dougherty (225), who pinned Julian Tapia in 1:25 and Spencer Lanosga (285), who pinned Chaney Phillips in 3:54.

In the two best matches of the night, at 145 pounds, Kent Burandt of Brother Martin edged Jackson Ballay of Jesuit 6-4 while in a thriller at 182 pounds, Winn McConnell of the Blue Jays outlasted Christopher Sulli of the Crusaders 13-11 in overtime.

Both teams will wrestle in the Catholic League tournament on Saturday at Archbishop Rummel with the Raiders, Crusaders, Blue Jays, Holy Cross, Archbishop Shaw and John Curtis Christian participating.

You can watch the finals of the district championship live at CrescentCitySports.com beginning at 12:05 p.m.

Brother Martin 38, Jesuit 19

106—Bodi Harris (JES) by MD over Trey Trainor (BM) 16-2

113—Richie Clementi (BM) by fall over John Michael Bourgeois (JES) 2:22

120—Jacob Elsensohn (BM) dec. Chase Haydel (JES) 7-4

126—Ty Duncan (BM) by MD over Ferdie Laudumiey (JES) 12-2

132—Mason Elsensohn (BM) by MD over Grant Herbert (JES) 10-2

138—Nick Cusimano (BM) by dec. over Luc Columb (JES) 7-0

145—Kent Burandt (BM) by dec. over Jackson Ballay (JES) 6-4

152—Ryan Corca (BM) by dec. over Arthur Schott (JES) 8-2

160—Samuel Riles (BM) by dec. over Wyatt Mire (JES) 4-0

170—Rocco Horvath (BM) by dec. over Ian Bohn (JES) 12-5

182—Winn McConnell (JES) by dec. over Christopher Sulli (BM) 13-11 in OT

195—Luke Ohler (BM) by fall over Jackson Calderaro (JES) 1:22

220—Dennis Dougherty (JES) by fall over Julian Tapia (BM) 1:25

285—Spencer Lanosga (JES) by fall over Chaney Phillips (BM) 3:54