On Tuesday, December 3 at The Hilltop in Mount Carmel, the Golden Aces wrestling team hosted the Carmi Bulldogs in a showdown that was as competitive as it was intense, with both teams battling until the final bout. In the end, Carmi edged out a narrow victory, but the Aces showed resilience, improvement, and a never-quit attitude that reflects the growing strength of the program.

Andrew Cheesman, head coach of the Golden Aces, didn’t mince words when assessing the match. “Not filling weights and giving up a pin cost us that dual. We gave them 18 points because of forfeits and 12 bonus points for giving up a pin. If we picked up one more pin, we win,” Cheesman said, highlighting the razor-thin margin in the 2-point loss. “Losing by 2 points, so many things could’ve changed the outcome. We’ve made really great improvements from last season, but we still have work to do if we want to win these close matches.”

The Aces delivered strong individual performances that kept the dual competitive despite the uphill battle caused by open weight classes. At 165 pounds, Johnny Askren secured a fall in just 2:29, electrifying the hometown crowd and setting a tone of aggression and determination. Lukas Madlem (215) followed with a dominant pin in just over a minute, while Carter Pyatt (285) earned a decisive major decision, 15-7, showcasing both skill and stamina.

Mount Carmel also shined in the lower and middle weights, with Aaron Sanor (138) putting on a clinic to pin his opponent in under a minute, and Tucker Martin (144) displaying sheer endurance and focus in a hard-fought fall at the 7:53 mark. Isaiah Hall (150) wrapped up the Golden Aces’ pin count with an authoritative finish at 2:01, giving fans plenty of reasons to celebrate even as the team fell short overall.

While Carmi capitalized on forfeits and bonus points, the Aces proved they are not far from turning narrow losses into decisive victories. Cheesman’s message was clear: the team is improving rapidly, but there is still ground to cover to dominate in tight duals. For the Golden Aces, the path forward is filled with potential and promise—and a commitment to work that rivals their fierce spirit on the mat.

The Golden Aces will look to build on their promising performance as they head into their first tournament of the season this Saturday, December 7, at the Lawrence County Invite in Lawrenceville, Illinois. The action kicks off at 9 a.m., and the team is eager to showcase their improvements on a larger stage. Fans can expect a day of intense competition as the Aces aim to make their mark early in the season.

Individual Match Results

157: Cole Evans (CARMI) over Dakota Woods (MTCARMEL) (Fall 1:55)

165: Johnny Askren (MTCARMEL) over Branson Burnett (CARMI) (Fall 2:29)

175: Landon Kueber (CARMI) over Paul-Ray Garrett (MTCARMEL) (Fall 3:29)

190: James Hutchcraft (CARMI) over (MTCARMEL) (For.)

215: Lukas Madlem (MTCARMEL) over Nolan Aud (CARMI) (Fall 1:08)

285: Carter Pyatt (MTCARMEL) over Laeden Vargas (CARMI) (MD 15-7)

106: Gage Anderson (CARMI) over Violet Hadra (MTCARMEL) (Fall 6:08)

113: Malachi Oberlender (CARMI) over (MTCARMEL) (For.)

120: Travor Mason (CARMI) over Eli Baker (MTCARMEL) (Fall 0:48)

126: Connor Benham (CARMI) over (MTCARMEL) (For.)

132: (MTCARMEL) over (CARMI) (Fall 6:35)

138: Aaron Sanor (MTCARMEL) over Nolan Garner (CARMI) (Fall 0:52)

144: Tucker Martin (MTCARMEL) over David James (CARMI) (Fall 7:53)

150: Isaiah Hall (MTCARMEL) over Jazz Duckworth (CARMI) (Fall 2:01)