Veteran wrestling coach Steve Logsdon is enjoying having a strong 1-2 punch at the top of his lineup as the pair were on the mat for just over three minutes combined while sticking a couple of opponents each as Bradley Central swept a pair of dual meets Thursday evening.

“It’s an unbelievable advantage to have two guys like that in the upper weights,” commented the 20-year Bear coach of his heavyweights who are ranked No. 1 and 2 in the state in their respective weight classes. “We’ve had good heavyweights before but I can’t remember having two this dominant at the same time.”

Second-ranked senior Tucker Bolton started the excitement with a 14-second pin of his 215-pound opponent from Murray County, Ga., then top-ranked junior Patrick Benson almost matched him when he put his 285-pound opponent’s shoulder to the mat in 17 seconds. The Bears scalped the Indians 59-18 in the first meet of the night.

At 6-foot-4, Bolton had a good six-inch height advantage on the 215-pound East Ridge wrestler and toyed with him for a little bit before picking him up and slamming him to the mat for the “stick” in 1:40. Benson once again followed suit as he got the referee to slap the mat in just 55 seconds and Bradley ripped the Pioneers 66-12.

Now 3-0 on the season, Bradley ran its current winning streak to 64 straight matches, plus pushed their home mat dominance to 132 dual meets in a row.

The Bears traveled to South Carolina today to defend their championship title from last year’s Southern Slam tournament in Greenville.

“It’s a 35-team tournament from eight states, so it will be a very tough field,” Logsdon related. Bradley will return to the Jim Smiddy Arena mat Tuesday when Ringgold, Ga., comes to town.

With seven pins in the 11 contested matches, the Bears rolled an easy victory over Murray County, dropping just a pair of decisions and one pin. The Indians forfeited a pair of weight classes, while Bradley gave away one walkover.

Along with Bolton and Benson’s lightning strikes, Jacob “Pork Chop” Bailey needed just 36 seconds to “stick” his 160-pound opponent.

Ethan Hames, the No. 1 ranked 125-pounder in the state, put his opponent’s shoulder to the mat in 71 ticks, while 145-pounder Jacob Staton got his first varsity pin in 1:33. Dakota Ream got his second “slap” in as many tries this season at 103.

Fourth-ranked Tyler Pitts earned a 16-1 technical fall for the Bears at the 4:20 mark of the 140-pound match.

In the highlight match of the night, top-ranked Bradley Colbaugh had a tough go against Georgia state champion Dalton Lane, falling behind 2-0 in the opening period and trailing 4-0 after two before succumbing to a 6-1 final.

“That kid (Lane) is extremely tough. Last year he technical falled Vince Aguilar about 30 seconds into the second period,” Logsdon related. “He has some very strong wrestling moves. Bradley did a great job of staying off his back and keeping it close.”

Against East Ridge, the Bears got seven more pin falls, plus picked up a decision and a trio of forfeits.

Bradley’s Jacob Climer built a 12-4 advantage before he put his 119-pound opponent’s shoulders to the mat, while Hames (1:44), Crutcher (3:29), Bolton and Benson made it two-for-two pins on the night.

After receiving a forfeit in the first meet, third-ranked Tyler Schuch made quick work of his 135-pound combatant with a 62-second “stick,” while Devin McCulley heard the “slap” at 2:32 of the 189-pound match.

In the closest match of the evening, Pitts and Rafeal Aguilero had to go to overtime after a 1-1 score at the end of regulation. Aguilero was able to get the only takedown of the match 13 seconds into the extra time for one of only two contested Pioneer wins.

“We’re still knocking some rust off. We’re a little sluggish at spots but that is only natural this early in the season,” Logsdon remarked. “We’ve haven’t got enough reps in yet to at the top of our game.”

Bears 59, Indians 18

(match started at 125)

103 — Dakota Ream (BC) pinned Domingo Batista, 3:58; 112 — Todd Miles (MC) won by forfeit; 119 — Josh Webb (MC) dec. Jacob Climer, 13-8; 125 — Ethan Hames (BC) pinned John Duarte, 1:19; 130 — Jericho Crutcher (BC) pinned Jesus Bautista, 1:17; 135 — Tyler Schuch (BC) won by forfeit; 140 — Tyler Pitts (BC) tech. fall Cortland Morales, 16-1, 4:20; 145 — Jacob Staton (BC) pinned Tyler Hopkins, 1:33; 152 — Dalton Lane (MC) dec. Bradley Colbaugh 6-1; 160 — Jacob Bailey (BC) pinned Dylan Bartenfield, :36; 171 — Clay Thornbury (MC) pinned Jesse Disney, 2:20; 189 — Devin McCulley (BC) won by forfeit; 215 — Tucker Bolton (BC) pinned Alan Roberts, :14; 285 — Patrick Benson (BC) pinned Steven Holmes, :17.

Bears 66, Pioneers 12

(match started at 130)

103 — Dakota Ream (BC) won by forfeit; 112 — Charlie wilson (ER) won by forfeit; 119 — Jacob Climer (BC) pinned Brandon Whitley, 1:44; 125 — Ethan Hames (BC) pinned Taylor Whitley, 4:14; 130 — Jericho Crutcher (BC) pinned Robert McAvoy, 3:29; 135 — Tyler Schuch (BC) pinned Cory Walker, 1:02; 140 — Rafeal Aguilero (ER) dec. Tyler Pitts, 3-1 OT; 145 — Jacob Staton (BC) dec. David Stevens, 7-2; 152 — Bradley Colbaugh (BC) won by forfeit; 160 — Jacob Bailey (BC) won by forfeit; 171 — Zack Stowers (ER) pinned Jesse Disney, 3:57; 189 — Devin McCulley (BC) pinned Brandon Cantrell, 2:32; 215 — Tucker Bolton (BC) pinned D.J. McCormick, 1:40; 285 — Patrick Benson (BC) pinned C.J. Baker, :55.