MORGANTOWN — The MoHawk rivalry moved to the wrestling mat Wednesday as University High defeated cross-town rival Morgantown 74-6 inside the Rowdie Center at MHS.
“Morgantown’s working to get better just like everybody else,” UHS coach Ken Maisel said. “Our guys went out and did what they were supposed to do. There’s still a lot to get from that, there’s things we did wrong and things we can improve on.”
University picked up 10 pins, two major decisions and a forfeit in the victory. Winners for the Hawks were Colton Gillespie (120, pin), Conner Graser (126, maj. dec.), Carter Pauley (132, pin), Will Angelozzi (138, pin), Dakota Hagedorn (150, pin), Dom Parker (157, pin), Rider Ludrosky (165, maj. dec.), Luca Felix (175, pin), Jackson Pate (190, pin), Brock Kehler (215, pin), Ryder Hastings (285, pin), Pepper Martin (106, forfeit) and Brodie Emery (pin).
Even with a lopsided win, Maisel said there were opportunities for his wrestlers to improve.
“You just look at each individual and what they could’ve done better, even if it’s not technique,” Maisel explained. “You look at effort, you look at attitude, you look at body language and then you start to look at technique.”
Maisel said a focus for his team is staying aggressive and always thinking about scoring the next point.
“Not thinking about winning, which I know sounds crazy, but thinking about scoring the next point,” he said. “Whether you’re on top, bottom, you got taken down, if you’re always scoring the next point, you’re going to win.”
Morgantown’s lone winner was Garrett Spohn at 144, who pinned UHS’s Jay McKenzie in the third period. McKenzie built up a 7-1 lead, but Spohn found an opportunity late to roll McKenzie over and get the pin.
“It was a rough match,” Spohn said. “I wasn’t happy with the beginning, I was getting beat up a little bit but I kept fighting and was able to pull it out. There was an opportunity, a short window, and I caught it and was able to pull through and get the pin.”
Spohn said he found his opportunity when McKenzie tried to grab his head high.
“I felt his arm reach over my head and get a little high,” Spohn recalled. “I reached behind my back to get that back arm and kind of sucked him through. I was fighting off my back and rolled him all the way through and got the pin.”
Despite winning just one match, MHS coach Joe Abu was not discouraged by his team’s performance.
“University has a great team and we have a very young team,” Abu said. “Their experience won out but I think a lot of our guys wrestled really hard. But it’s just a matter of experience.”
The Hawks will next wrestle in a quad meet at Brooke on Saturday before hosting Parkersburg South for an important dual match next Friday. The Mohigans will take the mat Saturday for a tournament hosted by the Cameron Dragons.
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