The Nansemond River varsity wrestling team began the new year with a slow start against Oscar Smith, losing 49-23. But it fully recovered to dominate Indian River 58-16 on Wednesday night at Indian River High School.

“We came out kind of flat,” Warriors head coach Tripp Seed said. “We just didn’t perform, pretty much.”

On Jan. 5 of last year, Nansemond River faced an Oscar Smith team that was largely the same one it faced on Wednesday.

“We lost to them today, but we beat them at heavyweight,” Seed said.

NR junior heavyweight wrestler Caleb Repko had a big day, defeating Dante Freeman of Oscar Smith.

“That kid was sixth in the state last year,” Seed said.

Repko had no previous success against him.

“He’s lost to him four times in a row,” NR assistant coach John Bostwick said.

“He’s pinned Caleb every time, and then (Repko) pinned him tonight,” Seed said. “So, that was huge for him. That’s a big accomplishment. He’s finally getting in shape. He was hurt the beginning of the year. He’s starting to get back into wrestling shape, and it’s showing. He’s looking good.”

The pin came in one minute and 18 seconds.

In Repko’s match against Indian River’s Tyler Fain, he won 5-2 to go undefeated on the night against his opponents.

“Last year, both of them pinned Caleb at heavyweight,” Seed said. “So, that was big for him tonight to come through there.”

Warriors sophomore 106-pounder James Boone had a thrilling match against Indian River that went into sudden death overtime. All it took was a single point as he successfully escaped the grip of his opponent to claim a 7-6 win.

“That was good for him,” Seed said. “He’s looking better.”

Another highlight was NR 126-pounder Hunter Hill who pinned his opponent from Indian River in a mere 19 seconds.

The Warriors were without standout Nick Garland for the night.

“He wasn’t in school today, so that’s why he didn’t wrestle,” Seed said. “But he’ll be back for the rest of the year.”

Nansemond River is now 13-7 overall for the season and 2-2 in the district. The team will head to Western Branch High School next Wednesday to face the Bruins and Hickory.

Oscar Smith 49, Nansemond River 23

106 – Johnson (OS) dec. Michael Dawson 12-7; 120 – Bright (OS) dec. Jacob Clark (NR) 16-5; 126 – Sawyer (OS) pin Hunter Hill (NR) 2:44; 132 – Buettner (OS) dec. Graeme Beaman (NR) 23-9; 138 – Wyche (OS) pin Demetrius Ortiz (NR) 4:55; 145 – Saquan Branch (NR) tech. fall White (OS) 20-5; 152 – Matthew Carpenter (NR) def. pin Irving (OS) 2:33; 160 – Howard (OS) pin Daniel Clark (NR) 1:56; 170 – Jones (OS) pin Leon Lynch (NR) 3:48; 195 – Robinson (OS) dec. Kori Lambert (NR) 7-5; 285 – Caleb Repko (NR) pin Freeman (OS) 1:18.

Nansemond River 58, Indian River 16

106 – James Boone (NR) dec. Strickland (IR) 7-6; 113 – Danya Craig (NR) dec. Burnell (IR) 13-4; 120 – Jacob Clark (NR) pin Olsen (IR) 1:02; 126 – Hunter Hill (NR) pin Maxwell (IR) 0:19; 132 – Graeme Beaman (NR) pin Lacy (IR) 3:18; 138 – Demetrius Ortiz (NR) pin Riley (IR) 3:24; 152 – Matthew Carpenter (NR) pin Ferguson (IR) 2:54; 160 – Evans (IR) dec. Daniel Clark (NR) 9-0; 170 – Leon Lynch (NR) pin Best (IR) 4:45.