Polk County opened its wrestling season Tuesday night with a roster short on numbers but not short on success.
Despite missing a number of starters still playing football, the Wolverines defeated Asheville 42-30 and East Rutherford 44-30, sweeping those matches on a night where forfeits and pins were the theme of the evening as all three squads were minus wrestlers due to football.
“Obviously, without the football players, our younger guys were able to get some wins early and get some confidence,” said Polk County head coach Phillip Miller. “A bit of confidence never hurt anyone.
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“It is great to get started with two wins.”
In the opening match with Asheville, every match was decided either by forfeit or pin. The Wolverines took command of the match with four straight pins in the middleweights, Christian Davis starting the run at 138 and followed by Chase Emory at 145, Cameron Reed at 152 and Dustin Calvert at 160.
The East Rutherford match followed much the same pattern, with all but two matches decided by forfeit or pin. The first of those came at 145, where Emory battled East’s David Conner in the match of the night. Emory built an 8-5 lead entering the third period, then clung to a 9-7 lead before a takedown in the final minute led to an 11-7 victory.
Calvert then crushed East’s Daniel Banuelos, scoring three straight near falls at one point en route to a 19-4 technical fall.
Polk County hosts another tri-match on Thursday, with Crest and West Henderson visiting for a series of matches beginning at 5 p.m.
Polk County 42, Asheville 30
106: Henry Lathrop (A) p. Triston Watkins
113: double forfeit
120: Gabriel Burgin (A) forfeit
126: Staekwon Taylor (A) p. Dillon Knighton
132: double forfeit
138: Christian Davis (P) p. Brett Weinert
145: Chase Emory (P) p. Sagan O’Neill-Yoder
152: Cameron Reed (P) p. Jourdan Bailey
160: Dustin Calvert (P) p. Benjamin Pitrolo
170: Tyree Brown (A) forfeit
182: Dillion Elliott (P) forfeit
195: Donovan Lloyd (P) forfeit
220: Gabe Lail (P) forfeit
HWT: Vitalli Lanovyi (A) forfeit
Polk County 44, East Rutherford 30
106: Triston Watkins (P) forfeit
113: Dayana Ireta (E) forfeit
120: Joey Gangemi (E) forfeit
126: Dillon Knighton (P) forfeit
132: Christian Davis (P) forfeit
138: double forfeit
145: Chase Emory (P) dec. David Conner 11-7
152: Dustin Calvert (P) tech. fall Daniel Banuelos 19-4
160: Nathan Daisley (E) p. Cameron Reed
171: Zach Wilson (E) forfeit
182: Dillion Elliott (P) forfeit
195: Donovan Lloyd (P) forfeit
220: Gabe Lail (P) forfeit
HWT: Dylan Epping (E) forfeit
