Vikings lose back-and-forth dual to Maize
12/5/2008 12:59:00 PM
By JOEY FALKOFF
Sports Editor
For the last two years, the Winfield Viking wrestling team has had as close to a sure thing as there is in the heavyweight spot.
Two-time defending state champion heavyweight Pete Tapia could be counted on for at least three and usually six points at the end of each dual.
In their first match post-Tapia, the Vikings needed only to avoid a major decision, technical foul or a pin at heavyweight to pull off the upset or tie 6A No. 10 ranked Maize.
With Tapia, it would have been all she wrote.
Without him, the Vikings had to settle for being close.
Maize's John Close recorded a pin on Winfield's Marcus Tapia with 43 seconds remaining in the second period to give the Eagles a stunning 39-36 dual win in Winfield's first dual of the season.
"I felt better than what we got," said Winfield head wrestling coach Andrew Brenn. "I hate putting it on the heavyweights shoulders. I hate it because being a big guy like myself it always kinda came down to the bigger guys. That's just the nature of the beast in the sport. Marcus is going to be good for us. It just shows us that we need to work on our offense and working off bottom in the practice room."
Marcus was on the bottom much of the second period and was unable to get to his feet. Close eventually turned him over and recorded the pin.
"Just wasn't able to get the takedown in the first period, and in the second period, the other guy was just able to keep him down and got him turned," said Brenn. "We're going to work on that every day and get better at it so hopefully next time that won't happen."
It was a heartbreaking conclusion to an exciting, back and forth dual that saw the lead change hands five times. Neither team held the lead by more than 10 points and it was never greater than four after the 140-pound match.
"I mean anytime you have a chance to give yourself a win against one of the top 6A teams in the state of Kansas, it was fun," said Brenn. "We gave ourselves every opportunity. We had some wins where we thought we may not and losses I thought we should have won. It just kind of shows us what we need to work on in the practice room, fundamentally. It was tough to lose but I mean it was fun."
The fun didn't last long, however.
Eight of the 12 matches ended with pins; seven of which came in the first or second round. Maize had five pins while the Vikings only had three.
"They just had more pins than we did," said Brenn. "That's what it came down to."
At 112 and 152 pounds, the Vikings had chances to add a point on technical falls in the third period but were unable to capitalize in either circumstance.
Those two points would have put the Vikings ahead 38-33 in the final match, which may have taken some of the pressure off Tapia.
"Any time you leave points on the board it disappoints me," said Brenn. "I stress get the max points you can.You want a pin, but when you can't get a pin, get a tech fall. If you can't get a tech fall, get a major decision and just wrestle as hard as you can for six minutes. If it asks for overtime you gotta dig a little deeper. The difference might have won it."
Winfield started the dual strong, picking up six points at 103 on an open and four more at 112 as Abel Beltran pounded Maize's Carson Ngyen 18-4.
Starting with Evan Amaro's pin of Jacob Nelson at 119, the two teams traded six points for six straight weights.
Dylan Dust (125 pounds) and Vance Oliver (135 pounds) recorded pins for the Vikings. Dust had his after trailing Maize's Trevor Cox 7-2 in the third period.
"You got the great equalizer in wrestling," said Brenn. "You could be down 14 points and be able to come back and get a win. No matter how far you are down you just gotta always look to your opponent to score points. If those points lead to a pin, then you've gotta take advantage of it. He just never quit. That's what it takes."
Maize's pin of Andrew Ricke at 130 was recorded by senior Trent Cox. Cox was the 4A state champion for Andale last year at 125 pounds and was making his debut at Maize.
He is ranked No. 1 in the state in 6A at 130 pounds.
An open at 140 and a pin by Jesse Garcia on Kit Hawkins at 145 gave Maize their first lead, 24-22. Winfield quickly regained a 26-24 lead as freshman Marty Hawkins (152) dominated Maize's Tyler Higgins 14-0.
"I've said he's a talented young man and he really proved me right," said Brenn. "I look forward to him having a good season."
Maize went back ahead on a quick pin at 160, but Garrett Hoover recorded a major on Andrew Davison at 171 to tie it at 30-30.
"He's got a great work ethic in the practice room," said Brenn. "I'm hoping that will transfer over to some of these young guys, seeing how hard he works in the practice room and seeing it pays off. He had a tough kid and he really dominated him."
The air appeared to come out of Winfield's sails at 189 after Sam Dimit lost an exciting three period match to Maize's Kurt Olsen 8-6.
But the Vikings seized the momentum right back at 215 as Cyruss Tasker pinned Maize's Chris Collins with 12 seconds remaining in the first period.
That put Winfield ahead 36-33 heading into the heavyweight match.
Maize just had one too many answers.
"I'm proud of my guys. We wrestled tough," said Brenn. "Bringing in a big team like this shows us exactly what we need to work and it will start tommorow afternoon."
Winfield will be at the Mulvane Triangular next Thursday for duals with Mulvane and Ark City.
The Vikes were open at 140 against Maize, but Brenn hopes to have that spot filled in time for Mulvane.
"Hopefully we can improve on our mistakes tonight and work on every aspect of the game," said Brenn. "I always try and stay optimistic for the first dual because I know we're not going to be 100 percent. I know we're not going to be in 100 percent shape. It just reinterates the fact that we need to work harder in the practice room, technique-wise."
Dec. 4
Maize 39 Winfield 36
103: Maize Open (6-0)
112: Abel Beltran (Win) MD 18-4 over Carson Ngyen (Maize) (10-0)
119: Evan Amaro (Maize) by fall over Jacob Nelson (Win) (10-6)
125: Dylan Dust (Win) by fall over Trevor Cox (Maize) (16-6)
130: Trent Cox (Maize) by fall over Andrew Ricke (Win) (16-12)
135: Vance Oliver (Win) by fall over Chris Baldwin (Maize) (22-12)
140: Win Open (22-18)
145: Jesse Garcia (Maize) by fall over Kit Hawkins (Win) (22-24)
152: Marty Hawkins (Win) MD 14-0 over Tyler Higgins (Maize) (26-24)
160: Blake Fulbright (Maize) by fall over Juan Hollingsworth (Win) (26-30)
171: Garrett Hoover (Win) MD 14-2 over Andrew Davison (Maize) (30-30)
189: Kurt Olsen (Maize) 8-6 dec. over Sam Dimit (Win) (30-33)
215: Cyruss Tasker (Win) by fall over Chris Collins (Maize) (36-33)
285: John Close (Maize) by fall over Marcus Tapia (Winfield) (36-39)