The Packer wrestling team won four of the first matches of the night, but their less experienced wrestlers struggled in a 54-28 loss to Rochester Mayo in Ove Berven Gym Thursday.

Austin head coach Bill Kinney said he liked what he saw from his team as no one went out without a fight.

“I challenged them last night. I wanted to see an Austin wrestling team and I wanted to see our brand, which is hard nosed and aggressive,” Kinney said. “That’s what I saw tonight, even the kids that lost matches. They responded big time.”

While most of Austin’s wrestlers struggled in the upper weights, freshman Joe Kamp had a breakthrough at 160 pounds.

Kamp, a freshman who has wrestled for just three years, trailed 8-0 in the second period and looked to be on the verge of being pinned by Mayo’s Sam Lisko when Kamp flipped Lisko on his back and came through with a pin with 1:02 left in the third.

“He was a little unconditioned and I fought with him. He was ready to beat me, but I think I gained his respect after that,” Kamp said. “I’m working hard in practice and doing my best out on the mat. I’m giving my all.”

Kinney said Kamp’s refusal to give in is just the attitude he wants his whole squad to embrace.

“It started with him fighting off his back in the first period,” Kinney said. “It took a lot of heart to not give into that. Joe has a lot of heart and he’s one of our up and comers. We’re excited to have him and we see good things in his future.“

Austin senior Dylan Diekmann showed a lot of will as he came up with a second period pin over Kyle Orwoll at 132. Diekmann converted two near falls before finishing Orwall with a pin after leading 10-2.

“I think I had a him before that, but I got him in the end and that’s all that counts,” Diekmann said.

Austin’s 106-pounder Connor Eads also picked up a pin and Brennen Russell won 11-3 at 126.

“We have a really solid lower to middle weight area with a lot of experienced guys,” Diekmann said. “We have pretty young guys in the upper weights, but once they get experience they should be pretty solid.”

AUSTIN RESULTS

106: Connor Eads (A) pinned Alex Hayes (M) (4:50)

113: Miles Patton (M) won by forfeit

120: Devon Felten (A) won by forfeit

126: Brennen Russell (A) 11-3 maj. dec. over Denley Minske

132: Dylan Diekmann (A) pinned Kyle Orwoll (M) (3:08)

138: Brady Nelson (M) pinned Brandon Cotter (A) (3:15)

145: Jake Hanson (M) pinned Riley Grinstead (A) (:39)

152: Marcus McKinley (M) won by forfeit

160: Joe Kamp (A) pinned Sam Lisko (M) (2:56)

170: Sam Hinsch (M) pinned Michael Gaines (A) (2:58)

182: Loren Lorang (M) pinned Mitch Tebay (A) (1:22)

195: Jose Contreras (M) pinned Tyler Peterson (A) (1:25)

220: Justin Carr (M) pinned Joe Williamson (A) (:53)

285: Jason Callahan (M) won by forfeit