DUNLAP - In the first of three consecutive nights of Northern Lakes Conference matches, the Warsaw Tiger wrestlers were edged by host Concord, 38-37.
"We had a lot of good wins, but we had some guys that should have pinned and some guys that gave up some major victories," said disappointed Warsaw coach Justin Smith. "Those are the points that get you the win in these close matches.""Still we had good wrestling today, guys who wrestled well," continued Smith. "But we just need to understand that we need to stay off our backs to save a team point and it will come back to help us in the end. This was the perfect example that this is so important."
The Tigers had seven wins on the evening. Jarred Brooks (103 pounds), Justin Brooks (119), and Adam Keener (152) came through with wins by fall, each in the first period, and Paul Manbu (135) scored a major decision.
In addition, a couple of improving Tiger wrestlers added victories by fall. Ross Hoover (171) tangled up Mike Bleile in a cradle at the 3:21 mark and then in the final minute of his match, freshman Bryce Barrus (215) squashed Devon Butler at 5:37. Sebastian Hoskins (145) scrapped for a 6-1 decision over Christ Hogendobler.
Concord, however, came away with seven wins also; and the combination of four falls, two tech falls, and major decision made for the one-point margin of victory.
Concord now stands at 14-7 on the season (4-2 NLC). The Minutemen will finish off their dual season against Plymouth Thursday.
The Tigers are now at 13-6 overall and 1-4 in the conference. The next two nights will involve two more conference battles in matches that had been postponed due to weather.
Warsaw will host Northridge tonight at the Tiger Den and then the team will travel to Goshen Thursday to finish out the regular season.
Saturday will see the Tigers at the NLC Tournament, hosted by Northridge.
CONCORD 38, WARSAW 37
103 - Jarred Brooks (Warsaw) pinned Aaron Lane (Concord), 1:03
112 - Steven Ross (C) def. Kyle Duzan (W) 18-1 tech fall
119 - Justin Brooks (W) pinned Aaron Alexander (C), :54
125 - Fulvio DeSantiago (C) def. Jordan Horney (W), 15-0 tech fall
130 - Nestor Ruizvelasco (C) pinned Ryan Lowe (W), 1:59
135 - Paul Manbu (W) def. Jeff Converse 21-12 maj.
140 - Sam Martin (C) pinned Landon Slone (W), :36
145 - Sebastian Hoskins (W) def. Chris Hogendobler (C), 6-1
152 - Adam Keener (W) pinned Drew Lopez (C), :23
160 - Jose Gonzales (C) (def.) Zac Erba (W), 11-3
171 - Ross Hoover (W) pinned Mike Bleile (C), 3:21
189 - Neil LeCount (C) pinned Jeff Perkey (W), 1:30
