St. Paul’s was victorious in the parish meet and Northshore senior Kenneth Bunch took home the outstanding wrestler award last Saturday at Mandeville.

The Wolves recorded 256 points. Northshore (139) was runner-up, edging out Fontainebleau (137) in the seven-team competition. Pearl River (78) took fourth place, followed by Mandeville (72), Covington (33) and Lakeshore (18).

Bunch began this weekend’s state meet as the sixth seed. The event concludes today in the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.

Bunch tallied a 3-0 record at the parish meet and won the 145-pound weight class after pinning St. Paul’s Dominic Iovenitti about a minute into the second round. “I gave it all I could. I ended up coming back in the second round and pinning the guy in the finals, so that was the highlight of the night for me,” Bunch said. “I was really excited.” He said winning outstanding wrestler was a big surprise. It was the first time in his career he’s won it. “I kind of didn’t expect it, but it was a great honor to win it,” Bunch said.

Northshore coach Eric Anderson said Bunch’s performance was unbelievable. “He was the classic underdog going against this kid from St. Paul’s, the No. 1 seed Iovenitti,” Anderson said. “Kenny just went through the tournament and took one match at a time. He wound up meeting this kid in the finals and pinned him in the second round, which is pretty good. It’s a pretty big success story.”

Northshore had two others win their weight class in Jordan Salles (120) and Justin Fernandez (182). alles, who went 2-0, pinned SPS’ Sam Pearce in the finals. Salles was ranked eighth for the state meet. Fernandez, who tallied a 2-0 mark, defeated FHS’ Daniel Priola in an 8-3 decision. He was also seeded eighth this weekend.

St. Paul’s led the way with 10 competitors topping their weight class in Chris Meraux (113), Connor Campo (126), Jordan Peterson (132), David Englehardt (138), Collin Kersker (152), James Cavaliere (160), Chris Arms (170), Andrew Mullet (195), Zach Mangrum (220) and Shane Burkholder (285).

Meraux, who was 2-0, won a 16-5 decision over Mandeville’s Collin Prosper. Meraux is seeded fourth in state with Prosper fifth.

Campo, who finished 2-0, pinned teammate Matt Rader. Campo entered the weekend’s championships as top seed for the 126s.

Peterson captured both of his matches and pinned Fontainebleau’s Gabriel Geer in the finals. Peterson began the weekend at No. 2.

Englehardt won by technical fall 18-3 over Northshore’s Kodi Wagner in the finals. Englehardt, who took all three matches, is the second seed. Wagner is No. 8.

Kersker was 3-0 and topped teammate Tanner LeBlanc in a 5-3 decision. LeBlanc is the eighth seed.

Cavaliere pinned FHS’ Zachary Peralta. Cavaliere was 3-0 and is ranked fourth.

Arms, who took all three matches, pinned FHS’ Ethan Eisenhardt. Arms started the state meet as the top seed for the 170s.

Mullet won a 3-1 decision over Fontainebleau’s Alex Horchoff. Mullet finished 2-0 and was seventh seeded, while Horchoff was at No. 8.

Mangrum pinned Pearl River’s Ethan Gurley. Mangrum finished 3-0.

Burkholder, who captured both matches, pinned NHS’ Connor Houlihan. Burkholder is ranked fourth this weekend.

Also taking home a parish weight-class championship was Mandeville’s Nick DesBordes with a pin of Fontainebleau’s Zack Lawson in the 106s. DesBordes was 2-0.

The parish had a lot of wrestlers go to the state meet this weekend. Seven other wrestlers, three from Division I [and] four in Division II, were seeded. In Division I, St. Paul’s Zachary Clay (120) and Mandeville’s Garrin Pellegrin (126) were both seventh, while MHS’ Frankie Arena (170) began eighth. Division II features Pearl River and Lakeshore. PRHS had three members seeded. Adriean Lemione (160) was fifth, while Timothy Frierson (138) and Justin Kass (145) both began seventh. Lakeshore had one in No. 4 Tyler Morris (160).