The season opener for the Wiregrass Ranch High wrestling team against visiting Zephyrhills was billed as Monday Night Fights by coach Jamey Ketler. He could not have come up with a more appropriate title since a former coach fighting for his life was in attendance and the Bulls were fighting for their first win.

The Bulls led 37-36 with only the heavyweight clash remaining. Andrew Martin pinned Zephyrhills’ Dajuan McCullough in 53 seconds to give Wiregrass Ranch a 43-36 win.

“I thought, I’ve got to win. I’ve got to do it,” said Martin, a junior who advanced to regionals last year and was the Sunshine Athletic Conference runner-up.

The Bulls had six pins in the match. Those five other wrestlers, listed by their following weight classes, were: Deshawn Creary, 106; Devin Lanier, 113; Roman Sanchez, 138; Ben Clark, 145; and Anthony Rosario, 195.

Also winning by decisions were Elhadj Ndiaye at 126 and Mark Kieper at 170.

“This was pretty huge,” Ketler said of beginning the season with a clutch victory. “We didn’t do so well in a preseason match, so was a pretty big win to get them back on track.”

Before the wrestling meet Ketler surprised Matt Simmons, the Bulls’ former wrestling coach and 2016 Wiregrass Ranch teacher of the year, with a commemorative award. Simmons, who has ALS and served in the National Guard with Ketler several years ago, is the inaugural recipient of the Matt Simmons Leadership Award.

“I’m very honored. I was not expecting it,” said Simmons, whose brother Brian had two stints as the Wesley Chapel wrestling coach. “I’m glad to see (Ketler) take over the program. He’s really brought it back.”