Wawasee’s Eleazar Vazquez gains leverage on Fairfield’s Colt Dolson during action at the Wawasee November Duals Saturday morning. InkFreeNews photos by Mike Deak

By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE – Of course it would happen.

Landing on the heap of “only in 2020” scenarios, the Wawasee November Duals wrestling meet saw another one when the lights went out, then really went out as part of the four-team round robin Saturday morning at Wawasee High School.

Wawasee and Warsaw both opened its seasons in the competition, which saw a lengthy delay during the second round as the power went completely out. After the lights were restored, Columbia City finished out a 3-0 day to run as the team of the Duals, Wawasee landing 2-1, Warsaw 1-2 and Fairfield 0-3 in match play.

A reported car accident in Syracuse jarred the main power off near the end of round one, where Warsaw and Columbia City were wrapping up a 60-18 City win. As round two was beginning, the lights went completely out, putting a halt to the meet. Eventually, order was restored, and City would knock off Wawasee 49-30 and close out Fairfield 69-10 in round three to finish its perfect team day.

Wawasee would beat Fairfield 69-6 in round one, then take out Warsaw, 49-30, in round three serving as its Northern Lakes Conference dual.

The Warriors had four wrestlers run undefeated on the day in Brenden Dilley, Jace Alexander, Gavin Malone and Eleazer Vazquez. The quartet racked up a combined nine pins, a major decision and two forfeits in their work on the day. Alexander would be tabbed as the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the Duals.

Wawasee and Warsaw’s dual in round three featured 11 pins among the 13 mat results. Earning falls for the Warriors were Titus Taylor, Dilley, Alexander, Malone, Tim Shortt, Cameron Zimmerman, Vazquez and Haegan Slusher. Tiger pins were achieved by Elias Garza, Jose Martinez, Mario Cortes and Brandon Estepp.

The Tigers had two undefeated wrestlers in Estepp and Cortes, Estepp winning all three via pinfall and Cortes winning two by pin and third via forfeit.

The Hardwood Teepee was only lit with cell phone lights during a power outage in the second round of the Wawasee November Duals.