Leopards Finish as Regional Runner-Up, Fall to Beaver Local in Finals – Wrestling
Regional Final: Beaver Local 51, Louisville 21
The top seed Louisville Leopards fell to the #2 seed Beaver Local Beavers 51-21 in the Division II, Region 12 Team Tournament Regional Championship late Saturday Afternoon at Alliance High School. With the loss, Louisville is now 10-2 on the season with both dual losses coming against the Beavers.
Beaver Local dominated by winning the first 7 matches out of the gate to take a commanding 35-0 advantage. Jax Leonard broke the Beavers run by earning a 7-4 decision. It would be the only match that a banged up Leopards team would win during the regional final.
The Beavers scored the next 16 points to pull ahead 51-3. With a trip to State clinched, Beaver Local forfeited the final three matches to make the final 51-21.
This is the second straight year Louisville has finished as Regional Runner-Up.
Full Results to Come…
Regional Semifinal: Louisville 39, Steubenville 30
The top seed Louisville Leopards punched a ticket to their second straight Regional Final with a 39-30 victory over the #4 seed Steubenville Big Red in the Division II, Region 12 Semifinals Saturday Afternoon at Alliance High School.
Starting at lightweight, Louisville won by pin in their first three matches to take an 18-0 lead at the start. Lacey Harvey (106), Charlie Simpson (113), and Garrett Lautzenheiser (120) were the initial victors for the Leopards.
The Big Red won the next two matches, but surrendered a forfeit to Carter Mickley (138) after an injury during the bout. Daniel Kennedy (145) and Jax Leonard (152) followed with decisions. Leonard, the #2 ranked wrestler in the state at 152, won a hard fought 7-5 match against Anthony Rice the #1 ranked 152 wrestler in the state. Louisville was in the driver’s seat at that point with a 30-9 lead with 6 matchups to go.
Steubenville rallied to win the next three matches to get within 30-24. However, Brent Paulus answered with a 5-2 decision and Blake Robbins earned a pin to book the Leopards trip to their second Team Regional Final in as many years.
Full Results to Come…
Regional Quarterfinal: Louisville 62, Marlington 17
RECAP COMING SOON
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UP NEXT: The Leopards will next travel hit the road to take on the Lake Blue Streaks on Thursday, February 7 at 7:00 PM.
Regional Wrestling Tournament Pictures
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