It was raining pins in the Kennedy gym Thursday night.

Kennedy won over both Xavier and Hempstead. Xavier lost both meets.

Kennedy defeated Hempstead in the first meet, 48-36. Every match wrestled resulted in a fall. Senior Zach Deitrich, who moved down to wrestle 171, had a pin in 58 seconds. Nick Waterhouse (112) pinned Ian Hurst in 1:00. All of the other Kennedy falls occurred in the second period. JD Ruzicka (125), Ben Feuerhelm (130), Jordan Baskerville (160), and Ryan Sheldon (189) rounded out the seven Kennedy pins.

The pins continued in the second meet, with Hempstead defeating Xavier 48-30. Twelve of the 14 matches were falls — three for Hempstead, and five for Xavier. Nick Drahozal (119), Mitch Downey (125), Braxton Chicchelly (130), Jared Joens (160) and Peter Ickes (171) recorded pins for the Saints. Xavier had more pins, but forfeits and decisions resulted in Hempstead’s win.

Chicchelly had not wrestled Mark Ciesielski of Hempstead before, and he recorded a fall in 1:01.

“Usually if I can take a guy down in the first 20 seconds, I like to drill and get mat time experience. I think it makes you a more well-rounded wrestler. I was surprised I went for the pin right out of the first take-down,” said Chicchelly. It just felt right, he explained.

Chicchelly looked forward to his match against Kennedy’s Feuerhelm. They met last weekend at the MVC super meet, and Chicchelly said he knew Feuerhelm would be a tough opponent tonight. Chicchelly, ranked fifth in the state, won a close match over Feuerhelm, 5-2.

“I looked forward to competing with him, and I plan to see him in the finals at districts,” said Chicchelly.

The final match of the night ended with Kennedy’s Sheldon pinning Xavier’s Peter Ickes in 5:54. The match was a repeat of the MVC conference final. The match was close until Sheldon turned Ickes in the final 10 seconds. The slap of the mat was the 36th pin of the night, including forfeits.

Sheldon continued to dominate his opponents, increasing his wins to 36 on the season. He’s still enjoying every moment.

“Don’t let a day go by because every day counts,” said Sheldon.

All three teams will be in Epworth for a Class 3A district on Feb. 12 to determine who goes on to wrestle at the state tournament.

KENNEDY 48, HEMPSTEAD 36

103 – Feldman (DH) won by forfeit; 112 – Ni. Waterhouse (CRK) pinned Hurst 1:00; 119 – McIntyre (DH) pinned Haman 1:54; 125 – Ruzicka (CRK) pinned Duccini 3:57; 130 –Feuerhelm (CRK) pinned McGovern (DH) 3:33; 135 – Kremer (CRK) won by forfeit; 140 – Brimeyer (DH) won by forfeit; 145 – Kubovec (CRK) won by forfeit; 152 –Smith (DH) pinned Williams :45; 160 – Baskerville (CRK) pinned Pape 2:49; 171 – Deitrich (CRK) pinned Glaser :58; 189 – Sheldon (CRK) pinned Fritsch 3:02; 215 – Haas (DH) pinned Dunne :30; 285 – Arensdorf (DH) won by forfeit.

XAVIER 30,  HEMPSTEAD 48

103 – Feldman (DH) pinned Duball 3:59; 112 – Hurst (DH) won by forfeit; 119 – Drahozal (CRX) pinned McIntyre 1:52; 125 – Downey (CRX) pinned Duccini 1:16; 130 – Chicchelly (CRX) pinned Ciesielski 1:01; 135 – McGovern (DH) dec. Laska (CRX) 6-4; 140 – Brimeyer (DH) won by forfeit; 145 – Pfohl (DH) won by forfeit; 152 – Smith (DH) pinned S. Ickes :46; 160 – Joens (CRX) pinned Pape (DH) 2:44; 171 – P. Ickes (CRX) pinned Glaser 1:39; 189 – Fritsch (DH) dec. Boland 3-1; 215 – Haas (DH) pinned Barak :35; 285 — Arensdorf (DH) won by forfeit.

KENNEDY 51,  XAVIER 18

103 – Duball (CRX) won by forfeit; 112 – Moss (CRK) won by forfeit; 119 – Drahozal (CRX) pinned Haman 1:50; 125 – Ruzicka (CRK) dec. Downey 12-11; 130 – Chicchelly (CRX) dec. Feuerhelm 5-2; 135 – Kremer (CRK) pinned Laska 2:35; 140 – Rodriguez (CRK) won by forfeit; 145 – Kubovec (CRK) won by forfeit; 152 – Williams (CRK) pinned S. Ickes 1:58; 160 – Baskerville (CRK) dec. Joens 6-0; 171 – Sheldon (CRK) pinned P. Ickes 5:53; 189 – Boland (CRX) dec. Deitrich 2-1; 215 – Aldrich (CRK) pinned Barak 1:22; 285 –Dunne (CRK) won by forfeit.