Hornet wrestlers edge past Hannibal to stay unbeaten

Bristol's forfeit win at 285 gives Fulton 36-34 NCMC win over Class 3-ranked Pirates

January 9, 2014 at 10:01 p.m. | Updated January 9, 2014 at 10:01 p.m.

For the Fulton Hornets wrestling team, mass mattered most in rallying to retain its unbeaten status.

Sophomores Zach Benner and Kobe Kaminski sparked Fulton's comeback with pinfall wins at 182 and 195 pounds, respectively, and the Hornets overcame a 22-0 deficit to clip Class 3-ranked Hannibal 36-34 in an NCMC dual on Thursday night at Roger D. Davis Gymnasium.

Senior Paul Books - a state champion last year at 195 pounds in Class 2 - dropped a narrow 11-9 decision to the Pirates' top-ranked Kyle Muehring in the next-to-last match at 220 pounds, but Fulton was still within 34-30. With Hannibal - ranked fifth in the state - open at 285 pounds, all sophomore Clayton Bristol had to do was step on the mat and have his hand raised by the referee for the forfeit victory to give the Hornets the two-point triumph.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.