With one tournament remaining, the Jesuit wrestling team continues to depend on upper weights to lead…and succeed.

Junior Perry Ganci (220) stands on the awards podium after finishing the district champion of his weight class.

View the Photo Gallery from the 2018 Wrestling District Championships

As Saturday’s 2018 district championship at Holy Cross came to a close, Jesuit’s head wrestling coach Sheridan Moran huddled his 3rd-place team together and asked them, “There’s only one tournament left, and do you know what your record is?”

Coach Sheridan Moran and assistant coach Brian Barry (left)

“0-0,” answered the Blue Jay wrestlers unanimously. The one tournament that remains, of course, is the LHSAA State Championships in Bossier City, La.

A clean slate is the mindset Coach Moran wants his grapplers to have in the remaining days before state. Since usual Blue Jay starters missed the district tournament due to injury, the team’s chances of winning the Catholic League were understandably slim. On top of that, there was no doubt the Jays lost a few matches they could have won.

Disregarding injuries and close matches, though, the 2017-18 Jesuit wrestling team has counted steadily on the heavier half of their lineup to lead…and succeed.

Senior Nathan Koenig (152) proved to be the defending state champion that he is after defeating Brother Martin’s Seth Alfonso, 5-1. Senior Paul Treuting (160) continued the Jesuit run with a 9-3 win over Holy Cross’s Caden Mumme. The Jays looked to have a third championship at 182 lbs. until only ten seconds remained. Leading the entire match, senior Thomas Arseneaux found himself only one point ahead of Crusader Michael Clapp, with the wrestlers on their feet. At the 10-second point Clapp shot and secured a double-leg takedown to take a 4-3 lead. Arseneaux had two chances in eight seconds to escape and send the match into overtime, but Clapp was able to hang on for the win. At 220 lbs. Perry Ganci recorded the third and final championship for Jesuit with a 1st-round fall over the Crusaders’ Kyle West.

The following are summaries of Jesuit’s finals matches in each weight class:

106, 3rd Place Match

• Ashton Surrency (Archbishop Shaw) 42-14, Fr. over Samuel Dreuil (Jesuit) 12-7, Jr. (For.)

113, 3rd Place Match

• Tony Serio (Jesuit) 22-20, Jr. over Cody McCollister (Archbishop Shaw) 35-22, Sr. (Dec 5-0)

120, 5th Place Match

• Edward Blakemore (Jesuit) 18-25, So. over Kolbe Golden (John Curtis) 11-14, Fr. (Dec 8-2)

126, 3rd Place Match

• Jacob Spahn (Holy Cross) 20-11, Sr. over Luke Battaglia (Jesuit) 26-19, Fr. (MD 14-1)

132, 3rd Place Match

• Justin Gaubert (Archbishop Shaw) 30-15, Jr. over Patrick McConnell (Jesuit) 14-11, So. (Dec 10-4)

145, 3rd Place Match

• Dylan Hezeau (Archbishop Rummel) 17-9, Sr. over Evan Queyrouze (Jesuit) 12-10, Sr. (Fall 1:38)

Nate Koenig (152) stands on the high step of the awards podium. Koenig finished as the district champion of his weight class.

152, 1st Place Match

• Nathan Koenig (Jesuit) 31-4, Sr. over Seth Alfonso (Brother Martin) 31-10, Jr. (Dec 5-1)

160, 1st Place Match

• Paul Treuting (Jesuit) 29-7, Sr. over Caden Mumme (Holy Cross) 26-7, Jr. (Dec 9-3)

170, 3rd Place Match

• Spencer Rayes (Holy Cross) 14-4, Sr. over James Hotard (Jesuit) 8-9, So. (Fall 4:45)

182, 1st Place Match

• Michael Clapp (Brother Martin) 26-9, Jr. over Thomas Arseneaux (Jesuit) 31-8, Sr. (Dec 4-3)

195, 3rd Place Match

• Andreas Denapolis (Archbishop Rummel) 1-1, Sr. over Jack Grady (Jesuit) 18-16, Jr. (Dec 4-0)

220, 1st Place Match

• Perry Ganci (Jesuit) 32-3, Jr. over Kyle West (Brother Martin) 29-15, So. (Fall 1:09)

285, 3rd Place Match

• Eric Bumgarden (John Curtis) 1-1, So. over Cyril Melville (Jesuit) 4-14, Jr. (Fall 1:36)