The Packer wrestling team picked up its first Big Nine win of the season when it topped Winona 66-13 and they lost to Rochester John Marshall 55-15 at a triangular in Ove Berven Gym Thursday.

Austin head coach Bill Kinney said that he saw enough in both matches to show that his team is starting to pick up on the things they are working on in practice.

“I know the score in the last one wasn’t that pretty, but I’m pleased with the way my kids competed and we’ve made a lot of progress,” he said. “I saw a lot of things on the mat that we’ve been showing in the practice room and I view that as more evidence that the kids are buying in.”

Erick Power, a sophomore, showed some good patience and technique when he picked up a 4-3 win at 119 pounds against JM’s Tony Lawesen.

Power was taken down in the first period to go down 3-2, but he used an early takedown in the second period to take the lead and he never late Lawesen escape for the rest of the match.“You have to keep control of the hands and stay back and low, so he can’t pull you over,” Power said of his technique. “You have to work hard. It seems to wear them out more than you when you ride them for longer.”

Kinney was pleased with how Power took control and didn’t let up.

“He rode him for the better part of four minutes and it was a dominant ride,” he said. “We were very concerned early in the season about our ability to ride people, Erick did it well and Alex (Amrich), even though he lost, did it well.”

Devon Felten picked up an aggressive win at 103 pounds as he had two early takedowns before pinning JM’s Logan Saltou with 21 seconds left in the first.

“Devon’s really stepping it up and it’s fun to watch,” Kinney said. “I think he’s really starting to come into his own and he’s not really leaving any doubt. He’s very intense from the opening whistle.”

The Packers picked up eight wins by forfeit against the Winhawks, but freshman Michael Gaines had to earn his first varsity win at 145 pounds.

Gaines started the second period trailing 2-0 and just when it looked like Kyle Kastello of Winona was about to make his move to go for a pin, Gaines flipped Kastello around, got on top for the reversal and pinned him 10 seconds later.

Gaines didn’t panic when he was down and he just did what his coaches had told him — stand up and turn around.

“I’ve been in that situation a lot of times and I was just hoping it would turn around,” Gaines said. “It did and I did exactly what I was supposed to do.”

Gaines was also pleased to be part of Austin’s first Big Nine dual win of the year.

“Everything’s for the team. If you’re in it for the team, it’s pretty good,” he said.

Logan Finnegan also picked up his first varsity win with a pin against Winona, while Mitch Tebay, Zach Nelson, and Joe Williamson all got their first wins with forfeits against the Winhawks.

AUSTIN RESULTS

Austin 66, Winona 13

103: Devon Felten (A) won by forfeit

112: Brennen Russell (A) won by forfeit

119: Erick Power (A) won by forfeit

125: Will Krageschmidt (W) 6-0 dec. over Alex Amrich (A)

130: Dylan Diekmann (A) pinned Max Pflughoeft (W) (2:41)

135: Logan Finnegan (A) pinned Kennedy Emerson (W) (3:21)

140: Thao Doan won by forfeit

145: Michael Gaines (A) pinned Kyle Kastello (W) (2:35)

152: Nate Pflughoeft (W) pinned Matt Payne (A) (2:40)

160: Mitch Tebay (A) won by forfeit

171: Zach Nelson (A) won by forfeit

189: Izaiah Fischer (W) 17-5 dec. over Christian Buttshaw (A)

215: Joe Williamson (A) won by forfeit

Hwt: Thomas Herrera (A) won by forfeit

John Marshall 54, Austin 15

103: Felten (A) pinned Logan Saltou (JM) (1:39)

112: Carter Williamson (JM) 12-6 dec. over Russell (A)

119: Power (A) 4-3 dec. over Tony Latwesen (JM)

125: Nick Borth (JM) 6-3 dec. over Amrich (A)

130: Charlie Stellpflug (JM) 8-5 dec. over Diekmann (A)

135: Nathan Evan (JM) 11-5 dec. over Finnegan (A)

140: Makayle Brennan (JM) pinned Doan (A) (1:10)

145: Jacob Bosshart (JM) pinned Gaines (A) (3:37)

152: Timmy Vanderweil (JM) won by forfeit

160: Tim Moore (JM) pinned Tebay (A) (:57)

171: Ryan Williamson (JM) won by forfeit

189: Austin Minea (JM) pinned Buttshaw (A) (1:59)

215: Ryan Just (JM) pinned Williamson (A) (5:34)

Hwt: Herrera (A) pinned Haris Kaltak (JM) (1:42)