Westminster’s wrestling team began its second half of the season, challenging Affton and Union at Affton High School Wednesday, Jan. 16.

In their first duel against Union, the team began with Bennett Lewis, senior at 195 lbs. Pinning his opponent, Lewis was followed by Joe Isaacs, senior, and Matthew Kimberling, junior wrestling in closer matches.

The duel switched gears as the lighter weights, Joseph Welker, senior; Eli Parham, sophomore; Dominic Franceschelli, junior; and Mike Nothum, senior, in weight classes 113, 120, 126, and 132 respectively took the mat.

Parham and Nothum pinned their Union opponents, contributing 12 points to their team’s overall score.

Dominic Barresi, senior, pinned his opponent in the 138 lb. weight class. Middle weights included 145 lb. Will Egan, senior, and 152 lb. Eric Shaffer, junior. Both lost their matches, leaving Westminster’s score at 30 points and Union’s at 27 points with three matches to go.

Union jumped ahead of Westminster by three points as 160 lb. Michael Weston, sophomore, was pinned by his opponent’s throw in a scramble.

Weston’s loss was followed by Brink Thompson and Chris Cacciarelli, seniors, at weight classes 170 and 180 respectively. Thompson was unfortunately pinned, and Cacciarelli won his match with a pin, resulting in Westminster losing by just three points.

“I think our team was disappointed because we should have won against Union. We had pins where we needed them but we didn’t win a few of the tossups we needed,” said Caleb Mundorf, sophomore.

After the disappointing end to a close, competitive duel, the team responded with extreme aggression as they took on Affton.

With almost all the wrestlers winning by decision or pin, the team gave up a mere 9 points, winning their duel by a total of 38 points.

The wrestlers’ competitiveness during their recent matches signifies a turning point in their season. Their great work ethic in practice and conditioning from the very beginning of the season is starting to really make a difference in their success on the mat.

“Compared to the beginning of the season, I think that our wrestlers have gotten much better. We train hard and win where we need to.  I also think the team is very well conditioned,” said Mundorf.