Surprise move costs Bruins

Nick Fuchs didn’t expect to wrestle, but his match decided the outcome.

Fuchs, of Rock Bridge, expected a bye at heavyweight, but in a last-second move, Smith-Cotton coach Chad Hopkins moved Jimmy Brown from 215 to heavyweight.

Brown pinned Fuchs, giving the Tigers a 37-35 win at Rock Bridge on Tuesday. Rock Bridge coach John Kopnisky said he felt the lack of preparation time was a factor in the match.

“I tell them to warm up and everything, but mentally he’s thinking he has the night off,” Kopnisky said. “It’s just one of those things you’ve got to get up for no matter what.”

Fuchs agreed, saying he was unprepared and surprised when he found out he would wrestle.

“The decision wasn’t made until the last second; we didn’t really know what we were going to do,” Hopkins said.

When Brown was moved to heavyweight, it created a forfeit at 215, and the Bruins took a 35-31 lead going into the final match.

In the first period, Brown took Fuchs to his back with a headlock. Fuchs never got up, being pinned in 1:15.

Another key match came at 171 pounds. The Bruins’ Tyrone Parish filled in for Erin Slate, who was out because of a skin infection. Josh Cornine pinned Parish in 1:51.

“(Having Slate) probably would have changed things up, but you never know,” Kopnisky said.

Dustin Noell (103) earned a first-period pin against Brendon Moore. The match remained close with five lead changes. Will Martin pinned Phillip Hurlbort in 57 seconds at 160, putting Rock Bridge ahead 29-19.

Rock Bridge senior Chris Hardesty (135) had a close match against Mike Kusgon, losing 9-4.

Rock Bridge’s Brady Wilson (130) also had a close match against Jake Peek, losing 13-9.

After being down 12-3 at the end of the second period, Wilson rallied and brought the score to 12-8. Wilson let Peek up looking to score but received one stalling point as Peek held on for the win.