Middle weights lift Buffs wrestlers to dual win
Published 12/17/2010 in Prep-Garden City

By BRETT MARSHALL

bmarshall@gctelegram.com

If the middle weight divisions of the Garden City High School wrestling team were the lineup of a baseball team, they just might be nicknamed "Murderer's Row," the nickname earned by the home-run hitting lineup of the New York Yankees back in the 1920s.

That's the tag Buffaloes head coach Monte Moser gave his five wrestlers from 130 to 152 pounds after Thursday night's 39-30 Western Athletic Conference dual victory over rival Dodge City at The Garden.

It was that group -- comprised of Colt McElroy (130), Tyson Phillis (135), Braxston Medina (140), AJ Hurtado (145) and Jonathan Heiman (152) -- that lifted the Buffs from an early deficit and set the wheels in motion for the big win over the Red Demons.

Those five ripped through their Dodge City counterparts with three pins, a technical fall and a decision.

"Every time we wrestle Dodge, it gets a little crazy, no matter what or no matter how good anybody is," said Medina, who pinned Santiago Garcia at 1:02 of the second period in the 140 division. He and Phillis switched weight classes for the dual after morning weigh-ins. "Without Aaron (Anguiano) and nobody at 103, it's a pretty big hole so we knew we needed to get pins so we can win. We pulled through, so we knew then we would get them."

Anguiano suffered a concussion at last weekend's Colby Invitational, and was held out according to rules established by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. He also will be held out Saturday when the Buffs travel to the Goodland Invitational.

"(Holiday break) will give him time to get over it," Moser said of Anguiano. "You don't mess with concussions and beating them without Aaron is pretty good."

Moser's tag of his middle weight wrestlers was appropriate as McElroy, a senior, got the momentum rolling with a pin of Jeremiah Smith at :59 of the second period after leading 7-0 at the end of the first.

"I told Colt to light the fuse," Moser said. "There's a lot of powder behind him. Those guys can thoroughly demoralize another team, so you're sitting there watching -- boom, boom, boom. It has an effect on you, I think."

After McElroy's pin, it was Phillis at 135 with a pin at :29 seconds of the first period. Those two pins pulled the Buffs into the lead at 15-12 and Moser's Muderer's Row never looked back.

Medina's pin was followed by a technical fall win by AJ Hurtado at 145 and Jonathan Heiman's 6-1 decision of Justin Lampe at 152. Only Anthony Calderon's 5-2 decision at 112 pounds came early. Calderon, ranked No. 2 in the state, took a 3-0 lead after two periods and had a two-point near fall in the third against the No. 4-ranked wrestler in Class 6A.

Anthony Shockley's pin of Harrison Armendariz at 171 and Aaron DeLeon's 14-5 major decision of Freddy Hernandez clinched the team victory.

"It was fun, it's always fun against Dodge City," said Shockley after his match ended at :52 seconds of the first period. "There's always the pressure and you're just trying to get the big points because you never know how close the match is going to be. All the points help. There was a lot of hype about them ranked this year (Dodge City No. 4 and Garden City No. 3 in Class 6A)."

Moser said he thought the Dodge City team was one of its best in recent years.

"They came hard at us and I thought our boys responded and got fired up," Moser said. "(The Buffs) defended themselves well and scored a lot of points."

The Goodland Invitational on Saturday concludes the pre-holiday schedule for Moser and his team. Their next competition will be Jan. 7-8 at the Derby Invitational.

"We're looking pretty good so far, but we're a little tired and a little beat up," Moser said of his squad after two weeks of two major tournaments and two duals.

"The Christmas break will give us a chance to get healthy and then get ready for a run to state."

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Garden City 39, Dodge City 30

103 -- David Montoya, DC won by forfeit
112 -- Anthony Calderon, GC dec. Alex Garcia, DC, 5-2
119 -- Dane Edwards, DC dec. Matt Urritia, GC, 7-2
125 -- Pablo Martinez,DC dec. Miguel Luero, GC, 13-6
130 -- Colt McElroy GC pinned Jeremiah Smith, :59, 2nd
135 -- Tyson Phillis, GC pinned Donovan Ruboro, DC, :29, 1st
140 -- Braxston Medina, GC pinned Santiago Garcia, DC, 1:02, 2nd
145 -- AJ Hurtado, GC tech fall over Michael Daramus (18-3)
152 -- Jonathan Heiman, GC dec. Justin Lampe, DC, 6-1
160 -- Jacob Eggers, DC pinned Anthony Gardner, GC, 1:22, 3rd
171 -- Anthony Shockley, GC pinned Harrison Armondariz, :52, 1st
189 -- Aaron DeLeon, GC maj. dec. Freddy Hernandez, DC, 14-5
215 -- Tyler Ediger, DC, pinned Juan Rodriguez, :21, 2nd
285 -- Jesse Trent, DC pinned Jason Carreon, :54, 1st

Read more: http://www.gctelegram.com/sports/GCHS-vs-Dodge-City-Wrestling-12-17-10#ixzz18Sv5IF7z


Richard D. Salyer