Fast Start Propels Spartan Wrestlers To Win Over Trine In Home Finale
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Manchester University Sports Information-
NORTH MANCHESTER – Fueled by six wins in the first seven matches Friday, Manchester University made sure it sent its Class of 2016 out in style in regards to home dual action. The Spartans, improving to 2-9, received a pair of falls from sophomore 157-pounder Alex Arney and junior 174-pounder Dylan Lauffer in the opening span to help stake themselves to a 28-3 advantage in front of a happy crowd at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena. Despite a brief rally by the visiting Thunder (1-14) in which they won two of the final three match-ups by major decisions, the Black and Gold ended the evening with their third successive win in the series, this one coming by a 31-11 count. “I really wanted to see us start off strong,” Coach Kevin Lake said. “(Sophomore 141-pounder) Chase (Wilson) had a strong effort, and (senior 149-pounder) Josh (Juarez) has been turning the corner, so it was good to see that open the evening. We knew we had to get going like that, too, because the last three matches were going to be a strong test. We hoped to get two of the three, but it didn’t happen that way. “Actually, this all got started with (senior heavyweight) Dustin (Kult) giving the team a great speech beforehand,” he added. “It really picked us up, and a lot of the guys were wrestling for him tonight.” The Spartans return to the mat Jan. 29-30, for the Wheaton College of Illinois Pete Willson Invitational. “It’s the time of the year where we are refining little things and getting ready to peak,” Lake said. “We’ve been training really hard the last two weeks, and now it’s time to taper and get ready for this stretch that takes us to regionals.” MANCHESTER UNIV. 31, TRINE 11 Meet began at 141 pounds 141 – Chase Wilson (M) dec. Jeff Helm 12-8; 149 – Josh Juarez (M) maj. dec. Austin Helm 9-1; 157 – Alex Arney (M) won by fall over Sean Jones, Jr., 1:24; 165 – Brandon Gay (T) dec. Tristan Wilson 16-14; 174 – Dylan Lauffer (M) won by fall over Jaycee Jensen 2:25; 184 – Alex Roberts (M) dec. Kerry Raab 6-0; 197 – Brian Clark (M) won by forfeit; HWT – Joe Stasiak (T) maj. dec. Nick Joyner 17-4; 125 – Alan Mock (M) dec. David Moore 3-2; 133 – Caleb Maddox (T) maj. dec. Kalib Jackson 13-2
AATOR EARNS AWARD: Manchester University junior women’s indoor track and field athlete Shay Aator was recognized by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tuesday. Aator picked up women’s field event Athlete of the Week accolades after winning the weight throw in record fashion at the Terre Haute Double Dual Jan. 15. The junior broke the Manchester record by over two feet due to a top preliminary round toss of 56-feet, 1/2-inch, and came back for a second 50-foot-plus mark in the finals. Her 56-foot-plus throw ranks fifth in NCAA Division III this indoor season.
