Wrestling teams from schools that are located barely 2 miles apart will fight for local bragging rights tonight.
Jackson High School plays host to Archbishop Murphy High in the second annual Battle of Mill Creek wrestling meet 7 p.m. at the Jackson gym.
Last year the inaugural event was at Murphy’s gym, which was crammed with fans. It came down to the final two matches and Class 4A Jackson beat the 2A Wildcats 41-33.
Besides local pride, there are other things at stake. The winning team receives the Buffalo Trophy, and the coaches of the losing team must buy Buffalo wings for the triumphant team’s coaching staff, Jackson coach Gus Anaya said. Murphy is coached by Blaine Smith, who previously coached Jackson.
Jackson’s top wrestlers, according to Anaya, are Jared Mead (119 pounds), Connor Martin (135), Michael Shapiro (140) and Myles Bittinger (171). Mead, a regional-tournament qualifier last season, sealed Jackson’s victory in the first Battle of Mill Creek.
Murphy’s lineup features three 2007 state-meet participants: Jeremy Wattam (112), Eric Miller (152) and Zeke Evers (189).
Depending on how Anaya and Smith juggle their lineups, key matches could be Bittinger vs. Evers at 189 and Mead vs. Wattam at 119.
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