TROJAN WRESTLING: Trojans put up fight against Huskies

WORTHINGTON — A young Worthington wrestling team gained confidence on the mat Thursday night.

The Trojans (2-6 overall, 2-3 SWC), who feature one eighth-grader, five freshmen and two sophomores in their lineup, split a Southwest Conference triangular meet by defeating Marshall 45-27 and giving Class 1A top-ranked Jackson County Central a tough battle in a 46-27 loss.

“We are really proud of them because I thought we wrestled well in both duals,” Worthington coach Mark Prunty said. “In our triangulars this year, it seems like we have come out slow in the first one and looked better in the second one. But experience, in triagulars like this one, is going to go a long way.”

The Huskies, who improved to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in league duals, topped the Tigers in Thursday’s first contest 47-24. Marshall is 4-12 overall and 1-2 in league against the SWC.

“We didn’t wrestle all that bad, but we didn’t wrestle great,” JCC head coach Randy Baker said. “Some of our younger kids stepped up and gave us some good performances. We were trying to get better by competing with some of our younger guys.”

Baker said Elliot Jurries’ 23-8 technical fall win against Marshall was impressive.

Luke Norlund (152 pounds) and Darick Vancura (170), both ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes, according to theguillotine.com, did not compete for the Huskies.

Through eight matches of the nightcap, Worthington and Jackson County Central were deadlocked in a 21-all tie.

At 152, the Trojans’ Joey Mills pinned the Huskies’ James VanWesten in 1 minute, 55 seconds to force the tie.

Worthington won three of the previous seven bouts in the match. Freshman Hser Eh Pwae posted a 9-5 decision against JCC’s Dalton Wagner at 106. Trojans junior Andrew Luft, ranked No. 4 in Class 2A, pinned Jordan Biehn in 1:26 before WHS freshman Jeff Camacho pinned Scott Ringquist in 4:47 at 126.

Worthington came close to winning five of the first eight bouts, but the Huskies’ Ryker Vanderwoude used a two-point near fall in overtime to defeat Hser Moo Pwae at 113.

JCC’s Cameron Henning (132), Dylan Riggle (138) and Luke Pygman (145) respectively pinned Trojans freshman Cody Michelson, eighth-grader Vince Riley and freshman King Saenz.

The Huskies went ahead 25-21 on a 15-6 major decision from Keegan Moore, who defeated Zach Kempema at 160.

Jackson County Central won four of the final five bouts, including a pin from Caleb Will at 170, a decision from John Marker at 195, a pin from Jack Ziemer at 220 and forfeit victory from Nate Horn at 285.

Worthington’s only win during that span was an 8-6 decision from Blake Schroeder, who took down Nate Guggisberg in overtime of the 182-pound contest.

The Trojans claimed eight bouts during their victory against Marshall.

Worthington led 18-0 through three contests as the Trojans picked up pins from both Pwaes and Luft. Mills added a win by decision and Terrance Gray (160) captured a forfeit win. Sophomore Joe Pavelko (195) also won by decision and sophomore Peter Abraham (220) pinned Marshall’s Abdirzach Mohamad in 40 seconds.

“We set the tone against Marshall when you can go up 18-0,” Prunty said. “The (Pwae) twins did a nice job, especially at 113. That was a big win for us. Marshall has a quality wrestler (Kesmond Willart) there and a pin against him was somewhat unexpected. A great win for Hser Moo in that match.

“Vince Riley stepped up big (against Marshall), winning what I thought was a swing match (138) in what was a freshman against a sophomore,” Prunty said.

Wagner (106), Biehn (120), Henning (126), Jurries (132), Pygman (138), Paden Moore (152), VanWeston (160), Keegan Moore (170) and Ziemer (220) all provided JCC victories against Marshall.

Southwest Conference Triangular

At Worthington

Jackson County Central 47,

Marshall 24

106: Wagner (JCC) technichal fall Dulas, 18-2, 3:31. 113: Willart (M) decision Vanderwoude, 7-0. 120: Biehn (JCC) technical fall Erbes, 18-3, 5:41. 126: Henning (JCC) technical fall Facele, 22-5, 5:36. 132: Jurries (JCC) technical fall Roth, 23-8, 4:38. 138: Pygman (JCC) pin Breczinski, 3:49. 145: Gregoire (M) won by forfeit. 152: P. Moore (JCC) pin Louwagie, 2:42. 160: VanWesten (JCC) won by forfeit. 170: K. Moore (JCC) decision Hofstetter, 12-6. 182: Appel (M) pin Will, 3:00. 195: Holland (M) decision Marker, 16-11. 220: Ziemer (JCC) pin Mohamad 0:10. 285: Nath (M) pin Horn, 0:41.

Worthington 45,

Marshall 27

106: H.E. Pwae (W) pin Dulas, 0:57. 113: H.M. Pwae (W) pin Willart, 0:47. 120: Luft (W) pin Erbes, 5:57. 126: Facele (M) pin Camacho, 1:17. 132: Roth (M) pin Michelson, 3:00. 138: Riley (W) decision Breczinski, 7-3. 145: Gregoire (M) pin Saenz, 3:38. 152: Mills (W) decision Louwagie, 6-4. 160: Gray (W) won by forfeit. 170: Kempema (W) pin Appel, 1:33. 182: Hofstetter (M) decision Schroeder, 6-1. 195: Pavelko (W) decision Holland, 9-3. 220: Abraham (W) pin Mohamad, 0:40. 285: Nath (M) won by forfeit.

Jackson County Central 46,

Worthington 24

106: H.E. Pwae (W) decision Wagner, 9-5. 113: Vanderwoude (JCC) decision H.M. Pwae, 11-9, OT. 120: Luft (W) pin Biehn, 1:26. 126: Camacho (W) pin Ringquist, 4:47. 132: Henning (JCC) pin Michelson, 1:41. 138: Riggle (JCC) pin Riley, 0:12. 145: Pygman (JCC) pin Saenz, 1:18. 152: Mills (W) pin VanWesten, 1:55. 160: K. Moore (JCC) major decision Kempema, 15-6. 170: Will (JCC) pin Bartels, 4:49. 182: Schroeder (W) decision Guggisberg, 8-6, OT. 195: Marker (JCC) decision Pavelko, 5-3. 220: Ziemer (JCC) pin Abraham, 0:58. 285: Horn (JCC) won by forfeit.

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