Antigo High School Wrestling Team Splits Pair of Dual Meets
FOR THE ANTIGO TIMES
On Thursday, the Antigo Wrestling team traveled to Tomahawk to face the hosts as well as Rhinelander. Medford was also in attendance, making an abundance of exhibition matches possible.
Up first for the Robins was Tomahawk. The evening started with a matchup at heavyweight, where Hunter Cordova faced off with Erik Decker, who bumped up from 220 pounds, where he is currently ranked 8th in the state. Cordova was able to secure an early throw, and earned two nearfall as well, to take an early 4-0 lead. Decker was then able to score a reversal, and win via fall at 1:22.
Danny Livermore took the mat next, facing Presley Gutbrod at 106 pounds. Gutbrod was able to push the Tomahawk team lead to 12-0 with a first period pin.
In the closest match of the dual meet, Sam Bretl squared up with Addison Peissig. Bretl was able to score the first takedown, and take a 2-0 lead into the second period. Peissig chose to start on the bottom, and Bretl was able to turn his opponent for 3 nearfall. After a penalty point against Bretl for locked hands, and a reversal by each wrestler, the second period ended 7-3 in favor of the Robin.
Bretl chose to start the third period on top, and conceded a point for locked hands. Peissig was then able to score a reversal and earn a stalling point to tie the match at 7. Bretl was able to secure the victory with a reversal for the 9-7 decision victory that cut the Tomahawk lead to 12-3.
At 120 pounds, Chris Mackey competed with Ryan Larson. Mackey was able to dominate his opponent, scoring a first period takedown and three-point nearfall to enter the second up 5-0. Larson chose to start the second period in neutral, and Mackey was able to secure another takedown, this time leading to a pinfall victory at 3:29.
Antigo would forfeit at 126 pounds, leading to Logan Edwards taking the mat against Mitchell Holloway. Edwards was able to make short work of his opponent, securing a takedown and pinfall victory in 37 seconds.
At 138 pounds, Seth Beaber put the Robins ahead for the first time in the evening with a victory over Hudson Matke. Matke was able to score first, but a Beaber reversal tied the match at 2. Beaber was able to control the second period after Matke chose to start in neutral, scoring with a takedown, a penalty point for stalling, and a three-point nearfall to take a 8-2 lead into the third. In the third, Beaber chose to start on top, and finished his opponent by fall at 5:03. This pushed the Robins ahead 21-18.
After Antigo had to forfeit at 145 pounds, Robby Hagerty once again put the Robins ahead in a dominant match. Facing Brayden Jones, Hagerty was able to score a takedown and nearfall in the first period for an early 4-0 lead. In the second, Jones chose to start on top, and Hagerty was able to secure a reversal and pinfall victory at 2:54. Antigo led 27-24 at this point.
At 160 pounds, Gideon Sass matched up with Logan Bishop, who carried a ranking of 7th in the state into the matchup. Bishop was able to secure a pair of takedowns in the first period to take a 4-1 lead into the second. After choosing to start on bottom, Bishop earned a reversal and penalty point for stalling before an escape by Sass made it 7-2. Sass chose to start neutral in the third, and a takedown by Bishop made it 9-2. Sass was able to earn an escape, and then a takedown of his own to cut the lead to 9-5. Unfortunately, Sass ran out of time and lost the match by 9-5 decision. This tied the dual meet at 27.