Battlefield Bobcats emerge from pack in Cedar Run wrestling

No matter how many times he found himself on the ground, inches away from a face-full of mat, Battlefield’s Ryan Newton wouldn’t give up. Nothing, not the 250-plus pound All-American on top of him nor the pain and fatigue pulsing through his veins would force him to give up without a fight.

Ten minutes later, he was standing on top of the podium celebrating a Cedar Run District title with his teammates.

After the trophy presentation, warm embraces and countless photo opportunities with family members and friends, Newton voiced a simple message: “I just couldn’t give up, for my team or for myself.”

Battlefield’s team, to a man, exuded this never-say-die attitude Saturday as the Bobcats held off Freedom-South Riding and Osbourn by the narrowest of margins.

The outcome was in such doubt, Battlefield head coach Brian Shaffer had no inkling of the final result until minutes before the public announcement, when Osbourn coach Tim Weaver walked over and shared the good news.

“I knew it was close, I knew it was right there, but I didn’t know how close,” said a beaming Shaffer.

The Bobcats rode the tide of huge wins by Matt Asper (106) and Jake Payne (220) to swing momentum in their favor despite strong outings by Osbourn in the 132, 138, 145, and 160-lb. weight classes and despite a late surge from the Eagles.

Nathan Tabelon’s match with Broad Run’s Tarkan Martin was particularly entertaining, as both wrestlers came within danger of being pinned in the first period, only to last deep into the third when Tabelon ended things with an emphatic escape and pin.

The clincher came on the penultimate match of the evening, as Battlefield’s Payne scored a 7-2 decision over Stonewall Jackson’s Thomas DeLeon.

“I kinda knew in the back of my head that in order for us to win I would have to win my match, but I didn’t know it would be the deciding factor,” said Payne.

Regardless of his match’s impact on the team score, the two-sport star knew one thing. “I hate to lose,” remarked Payne. “Maybe it’s a pride thing.”

The Battlefield senior admits he took awhile to get situated into the match, but with nearly a nine-hour lull, it might just be understandable.

“That was my first match of the day,” explained Payne. “In the first round I had a bye, and in the second round the kid forfeited. In the first period, I was still warming up. Everything was still tight, but then I got into a groove.”

His coach thinks that groove isn’t stopping anytime soon. “For Jake, it’s a belief thing as much as anything,” said Shaffer of his 220-pounder. “He can win a state title. He’s that good.”

The top four finishers from each weight class will advance to the Northwest Regional tournament, next weekend at Forest Park High School in Montclair.

NOTE: Junior Anthony Olsen is first-year Patriot High School's first district champion for all sports. At the Cedar Run District Meet, Olsen was crowned district champion at 170 pounds and is currently 34 - 0 for the year.

Olsen is a two-time district champion winning last year's district tournament at 160 pounds for Stonewall Jackson High School.

Team Scores

1^st Battlefield 191.5

2^nd Freedom- South Riding 191

3^rd Osbourn 190

4^th Broad Run 168

5^th Patriot 133

6^th Stonewall Jackson 100

Finals (By weight class)

106: Asper (Battlefield) def. Chau (Freedom) Fall

113: Berios (Osbourn) def. Gowda (Broad Run)

120: Rios (Broad Run) def. Belcher (Stonewall Jackson)