The Panther wrestling team’s strong start to the season got even better last Thursday, with a 3-0 night in a quad with Windom-Mountain Lake, Wabasso and BOLD.
TMB/WWG crushed BOLD 63-9 and Windom-Mountain Lake 54-13, and capped the big — and long — night with a thrilling and important 39-32 victory over a strong Wabasso squad.
“It was a great atmosphere which ended with the mat surrounded with fans on their feet and the gym rocking,” TMB/WWG coach Karl Campbell said.
The Panthers’ win over the Rabbits was a tight one all the way. Wabasso opened with wins at 107 and 114 before Logan Petersen got TMB/WWG on the board with a fall over Levi Gladitsch at 121. That was followed by a Taylor Squires fall over Mason Goblirsch that gave the Panthers a 12-11 advantage.
From there, it was back and forth with David Schuh and Tyler Arnold earning six-point falls at 139 and 160, respectively, and Nolan Verlinde winning a tough 13-7 decision at 152. In-between those wins, TMB/ WWG’s Oakley Bornitz suffered an injury and lost by default, but those three wins were enough to put TMB/WWG up 27-20.
“With Oakley having to default out of his match, it was not looking as favorable as we got to the upper weights,” said Campbell.
Wabasso countered with two pins to go ahead 32-27 with just two bouts left.
At 215, Lawton Verlinde pinned Malachai Olson, and the Panthers sealed Wabasso’s fate at 285 when Jack Willhite earned a third-period pin over Brillin Wagner.
“Tyler Arnold’s pin at 160 was big, and Lawton’s stick at 215 put us in position with a chance,” said Campbell. “We lost to Wabasso in a close dual last year, so was fun to get this one. Wabasso is also a section opponent, so this was big from that aspect as well.”
Winning matches against BOLD were: Ethan Johnson (fall at 107); Owen Beier (fall, 114); Logan Petersen (fall 121); Weston Marten (tech. fall at 133); Schuh (fall at 139); Bornitz (fall at 145); Nolan Verlinde (fall at 152); Nevin Marten (maj. dec. at 172); Lawton Verlinde (forfeit at 189); Adam Hippe (forfeit at 215); and Willhite (fall at 285).
“Good to see BOLD have 11 out of 13 weight classes filled,” Campbell said. “We recorded eight pins, a tech. fall, a major, and two forfeit win —all bonus wins. Owen Beier got his first varsity win. The best match of this dual was the 127 match between Squires and (Edgar) Kopel. Kopel is a Top 10-ranked kid.”
Against W-ML, Johnson won be forfeit; Petersen, Weston Marten, Schuh, Lawton Verlinde and Willhite all earned pins, and Squires, Nevin Marten and Nolan Verlinde won major decisions. “Super happy with the way the guys competed in this one,” said Campbell. “We lost to Windom in a tight dual last year. Again, all bonus in every win. Getting in that mode will help us as we move forward. Quality wins for Logan and Taylor over good opponents.”
Schuh surpassed 175 wins, and Petersen last week earned his 75th win.
For the TMB/WWG girls, Bella Martinez improved to 5-0 with two wins.
• The TMB/WWG ninthgraders competed in a tournament at Jackson County Central.
Finishing first were Evelyn Rentschler, Sam Willhite, Harrison Rentschler and Noah Johnson.
Martinez, Lane Hoffman and Jayda Snyder each took second place in their weight division.
