Warsaw's varsity wrestling team fell to 0-2 in Northern Lakes Conference competition after being edged 40-35 by Plymouth at the Tiger Den Thursday evening.
The experienced core of Jarred Brooks (103 pounds), Justin Brooks (119) and Adam Keener (152) all won their matches by fall. Veteran Paul Manbu won by tech fall."I think our veteran varsity wrestlers did their job," said first-year Warsaw coach Justin Smith. "It is important to teach the young kids the fundamentals, the ins and the outs of wrestling. In a meet like this where we lose by five, it involves understanding that we might give up a loss, but it needs to be athree-point loss instead of a tech fall or a pin."
Smith went on to say, "The kids will learn that, yet it is frustrating. But I am still proud of the kids and everything is a positive learning experience. We have to stay positive and we learn from everything."
Sophomore Zac Erba (160) came from behind to pin Plymouth senior Sam Tomasik in the final bout of the evening, even though the final outcome had been settled two matches previously.
Earlier in the match, there were a couple of noteworthy scraps from some of the underclassmen.
The Tigers' Ross Hoover (171) grappled through three periods against Scott Barry, but came away on the short end of a 4-0 loss.
Jordan Horney (125) fought to the end and avoided falling victim to a major decision. He was down 9-0 in the third period of his match against senior Chuck Holmquest. Horney came back with a reversal and a takedown in his 10-4 loss.
Two junior varsity wrestlers had victories. Anthony Ferguson (130) won 13-4 over Calvin Eads and Joe Waikel (285) earned a 7-5 overtime battle against Tyler Southwell.
Warsaw is now 10-2 overall on the season. The Tigers will travel to Wawasee Thursday in search of their first conference victory.
Warsaw's JV wrestlers will be in Plymouth Saturday for the Rockies' JV Invitational.
PLYMOUTH 40, WARSAW 35
103 - Jarred Brooks (Warsaw) pinned Austyn Lee (Plymouth), :53
112 - Kyle Duzan (W), ff
119 - Justin Brooks (W) pinned Nolan Ludwig, 1:22
125 - Chuck Holmquest (P) def. Jordan Horney (W), 10-4
