Polk continues early-season progress with sweep of home tri-match
Progress and victories – two things that Polk County wrestling coach Scott Taylor enjoys seeing at this early stage of the season.
The Wolverines notched two team wins Thursday at home, topping Madison 45-36 and Cherryville 54-30. The non-conference victories improved Polk’s team record to 3-1.
Polk’s strength in the lower and middle weights keyed both victories, but Taylor was pleased to see improvement throughout his entire lineup.
“I tell them all the time that I’m pleased with what they do, but I’m not going to be satisfied,” he said. “I may never be satisfied, but I’m still pleased.
“I like our how young guys are stepping up and learning the process of wrestling. Wrestling and conserving energy, dedicating your time, doing the right things at the right time is something that takes a while to learn and they are learning it.”
The Wolverines wrestled Madison to open the tri-match and immediately raced to a big lead. Senior Tori Strickland pinned former Western Highlands Conference rival Harley Ramsey and Bryson Rickman scored an impressive 15-0 technical fall at 126 pounds as Polk grabbed a 24-0 lead. Collier Foster’s 10-1 decision at 145 pounds and Jacon Knighton’s pin at 170 pounds helped push the Wolverines to their team win.
Cherryville forfeited seven weight classes in the night’s final match, so Polk’s win was largely never in doubt. Carter Wade scored a fall at 113 pounds and Deaken Nodine added a pin at 152 pounds for Wolverine wins on the math.
Polk continues its early-season schedule on Saturday, traveling to Lawndale for the Burns Individual Tournament. Taylor will be looking to see continued progress at that event.
“We still have a bunch of things to work on,” he said. “It could have been much different scores (Thursday). But we did well.”
POLK COUNTY 45, MADISON 36
106: Tori Strickland (PC) p. Harley Ramsey
113: Banks Barber (PC) by forfeit
120: Satchel McCoy (PC) by forfeit
126: Bryson Rickman (PC) tech. fall Chris Davis
132: Tacoma Reda (M) p. Shatter Johnson
138: Polk County by forfeit
145: Collier Foster (PC) maj. dec. Cade Woody, 10-1
152: Bryan Hernandez (M) p. Deaken Nodine
160: Bryson McCraw (PC) by forfeit
170: Jacob Knighton (PC) p. Danny Foley
182: Dawson Garrett (M) p. Dakota Ridings
195: James Calloway (M) p. Christopher Wilmoth
220: Alex Kerns (M) p. Obed Najera
HWT: Mason Clubb (M) by forfeit
POLK COUNTY 54, CHERRYVILLE 30
106: Tori Strickland (PC) by forfeit
113: Carter Wade (PC) p. Janet Guadarrama
120: Satchel McCoy (PC) by forfeit
126: Robbie Bowman (C) p. Bryson Rickman
132: Abram Avery (C) p. Shatter Johnson
138: Collier Foster (PC) by forfeit
145: Brayden Gartzman (PC) by forfeit
152: Deaken Nodine (PC) p. Alyssa Roberts
160: Chase Miller (C) p. Jacob Knighton
170: Gabe Towne (PC) by forfeit
182: Alex Love (PC) by forfeit
195: Tobias Miller (C) p. Christopher Wilmoth
220: Obed Najera (PC) by forfeit
HWT: Caleb Hovis (C) by forfeit