Packer wrestlers pin Panthers
Published 9:09 pm Thursday, January 19, 2012
Austin's Riley Grinstead picks up Rochester Century's Steven Pho during their 145-pound match Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin wrestling team made quick work of most of Rochester Century’s lineup in a 50-31 win in Ove Berven Gym Thursday.
The Packers (3-4 overall, 3-4 Big Nine) won the first eight matches of the night and they picked up seven pins in the win.
Austin's Braden Eggum holds the leg of Rochester Century's Will Mahura as Mahura tries to break away away during their 152-pound match Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I love the way our kids are wrestling right now,” Austin head coach Bill Kinney said. “The aggressiveness is up and the technique is getting sharper. I love the confidence they’ve come out with.”
Austin freshman Connor Eads had the toughest win of the night at 106 pounds, where he allowed a rare escape in the third period, but he came back to get a reverse in the third period to pull off a 2-1 win over Jonny Brushaber.
“I have a lot of confidence in Connor,” Kinney said. “He has a shutdown ride on top and very few kids have scored off him on the bottom. He’s in total control. He’s a much better mat wrestler than he is on his feet.”
Austin’s two state qualifiers from last season showed why they’re contenders to get back to state again this year as Deven Felten, who is ranked No. 10 at 113 pounds in ‘AA,’ picked up a pin in 34 seconds and Erick Power picked up a pin at 126 pounds in 40 seconds.
“I just wanted to come out and wrestle as hard as I could and make it so there was no chance that they could get ahead of us,” said Power, who missed some early matches this season with a knee injury. “I’m feeling great and it feels better every time.”
Also recovering from a recent injury was Austin freshman Braden Eggum, who battled with Will Mahara at 152 pounds back and forth before finally putting him down for pin with 1:34 left in the third period.
Austin' s Devon Felten wraps up Rochester Century's Frankie Villenueve at 113 pounds Thursday night in Ove Berven Gym. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I was trying to get it the whole match and he finally opened up and gave me an opportunity,” Eggum said.
Eggum was one of four freshmen to pick up a win for the Packers Thursday as the team is growing with each match.
“We have a totally new team but we’re improving and getting better,” Power said. “We’re trying to get the younger guys in better shape and work on moves so they can get them down and come back even better next year.”
Austin junior Brennen Russell picked up his 60th career win when he pinned Alan Martinson with 11 seconds in the fist period.
“Brennen joins a pretty good group of kids on the 60-win club and that’s good for him,” Kinney said.
RESULTS
106: Connor Eads (A) 2-1 dec. over Jonny Brushaber (C)
113: Devon Felten (A) pinned Franke Villenueve (C) (:34)
120: Brennen Russell (A) pinned Alan Martinson (C) (1:49)
126: Erick Power (A) pinned Tanner Hall (C) (:40)
132: Dylan Diekmann (A) won by forfeit
145: Riley Grinstead (A) pinned Steven Pho (1:32)
152: Braden Eggum (A) pinned Will Mahura (4:26)
160: Zach Larson (C) pinned Michael Gaines (A) (5:57)
170: Nick O’Brien (C) pinned Joe Kamp (A) (:45)
182: Mitch Tebay (A) pinned Yee Hen (C) (1:08)
195: Justin Morbeck (C) pinned Tyler Peterson (C) (2:12)
220: Daniel Lopez (C) won by forfeit
285: Gunnar Simonson (C) won by forfeit
