Hagaen Slusher settles in for a pinfall win over Marchall Fishback during the heavyweight match of a TRC dual in Rochester Wednesday. (Photos by James Costello)

ROCHESTER — Valley wrestling is on a roll.

After a championship finish at the Geurin Catholic Invite Saturday, the Vikings put on a dominant performance in a Three Rivers Conference dual at Rochester Wednesday night, collecting seven pinfalls on their way to a convincing, 48-18 win over the host Zebras.

“Last year we went 2-3 down there. We lost to Shelbyville, Scecina and Lawrenceburg, and we beat all three of those teams and went 5-0,” recalled Valley coach Kyler Kearby of his team’s turnaround at Guerin. “I think that maybe gave the kids some confidence. They’re wrestling well right now, and they kept it going into tonight.”

Hunter Eherenman earned a quick pinfall victory in just 37 seconds at 132, and Branson McBrier followed suit with another fall in 1:20 at 136 to stake the visitors to an early 12-0 lead, a lead that Valley never surrendered. The Vikings went on to record pins by Brandon Hammer (160), Johnny Gonsalez (195), Harry Johnston (220) and Hagaen Slusher (heavyweight) — Gonzalez and Slusher both finishing their opponents in the first period — while Gavin Shambaugh and Drake Montelongo earned respective 9-3 and 5-1 decisions at 106 and 113 as the action rolled back around to the lighter weight classes under the spotlight in Rochester. Bazle Owens received a win by forfeit, meanwhile.

“Us coaches, we want to attack. We want to be on offense. We don’t like waiting around. We preach ‘Go, go go.’ We try to score and build that lead,” explained Kearby.

“Rochester, they’re going to fight. For us to get (seven pinfalls), that’s a credit to our guys going out there and staying aggressive and being ready for it.”

The Vikings close their dual meet season at 17-4 overall and 6-2 in the TRC with wins over Southwood, Peru, North Miami, Whitko twice and now Rochester and losses to Manchester and Maconaquah.

Valley’s varsity travels to the Goshen Invitational this weekend for a bracketed tournament that should hopefully prepare the Vikings for the TRC Tournament the following Saturday, Jan. 25. Then it’s on to the Plymouth Sectional Feb. 1.

Drake Montelongo looks for a pin against Ethan Holloway Wednesday.