Crescent-News.com - DHS wrestling: Bulldogs get their revenge against Elida

ELIDA -- After losing to Elida for the first time ever last season, heading into this year the Defiance High School wrestlers had the orange-and-black Bulldogs circled on the schedule.

On Tuesday, the DHS Dogs got their revenge by heading to Elida and handing the Allen County Bulldogs a 39-32 defeat. However, in their nightcap against Coldwater the Bulldogs fell to the Cavaliers, 48-33.

"Our number-one goal was to beat Elida," admitted DHS head coach Josh Neilson, whose club moves to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in league bouts. "They kicked our butt at home last year and pretty much handed it to us.

"But we've been preparing for them," added Neilson. "We've had some tough competition to help prepare us, but every one of our guys wrestled hard until the end and got us the points we needed and the sticks we needed."

After falling behind Elida early, the Bulldogs got on track thanks to a team-leading 15th pin by junior Terry Wagenhauser, who also had a fall against Coldwater. Senior Pat Millen then had a first-period backing to give DHS a 22-12 edge. But Elida rebounded to grab a 32-24 lead heading into the final three matches of the night.

At 112, Elida chose to stay away from undefeate B.J. Miller giving up the six points and putting the match in the hands of Shawn Brunk against Defiance's Jordan Gonzales. The DHS junior, who missed school on Monday with the flu, didn't roll over for the Elida district qualifier. Instead, Gonzales got a quick takedown for a 2-0 lead after two minutes.

But the match proved to be a cautionary tale. Gonzales was hit with his first penalty in the second period for fleeing the mat and got hit for another in the third while also being given a caution. Brunk too was warned during regulation including his warning with less than 30 seconds remaining that helped Gonzales force overtime at 7-7.

In the first overtime, Gonzales held Brunk at bay while holding him to the mat in the second overtime. In the third overtime, Brunk drew another caution while mounting Gonzales to give the DHS junior an 8-7 edge. Brunk kicked out Gonzales in hopes of a takedown, but to no avail as Gonzales held on for the triple-overtime win.

"Coming in I knew it was going to be a tough match," admitted Gonzales. "I've wrestled him before, but coming in I wasn't fully prepared because of being sick. So going out there I was just going to try and give it everything I've got."

Against the Cavaliers, Miller upped his record to a perfect 24-0 with his 15th pin of the season, a third-period fall over district qualifier Matt Grandstaff while Millen also picked up another pin.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday when they head to Fulton County to take part in Archbold's Chuck Forward Duals.

SUMMARIES

Defiance 39, Elida 32

103 - Jason Hunlock (E) pinned Zack Jimenez, 2:37; 112 - B.J. Miller (D) won by forfeit; 119 - Jordan Gonzales (D) dec. Shawn Brunk, 9-8 3OT; 125 - Zach Hurst (D) won by forfeit; 130 - Shane Blum (E) pinned Cory Carnahan, 5:18; 135 - Cody Manon (D) dec. Nate Painter, 9-5; 140 - Andrew Leis (E) major dec. Clay Roehrig, 15-5; 145 - Terry Wagenhauser (D) pinned Jeff Porter, 5:25; 152 - Pat Millen (D) pinned Andy Jahnz, 1:33; 160 - Cody Green (E) major dec. Desmond Yarnell, 20-9; 171 - Spencer Ladd (E) won by forfeit; 189 - Cody Wittkamp (E) won by forfeit; 215 - Glenn Ward (D) dec. Carl Miller, 12-8; 285 - Nollan Bachellor (D) won by forfeit.

Coldwater 48, Defiance 33

103 - Zack Jimenez (D) won by forfeit; 112 - B.J. Miller (D) pinned Matt Grandstaff, 5:18; 119 - Jordan Gonzales (D) won by forfeit; 125 - Brock Timmerman (C) dec. Zach Hurst, 5-4; 130 - Cory Carnahan (D) dec. Brian Hemmelgarn, 5-3; 135 - Trevor Kunk (C) pinned Cody Manon, 3:36; 140 - Trent Muhlenkamp (C) tech fall Clay Roehrig, 20-3; 145 - Terry Wagenhauser (D) pinned Jordan Grieshop, 1:59; 152 - Pat Millen (D) pinned Nate Harlow, 4:49; 160 - Alex Uhlenhake (C) tech fall Desmond Yarnell, 15-0; 171 - Tyler Kunk (C) won by forfeit; 189 - Nick Gabel (C) won by forfeit; 215 - Nick Uhlenhake (C) pinned Glenn Ward, 1:16; 285 - Greg Roessner (C) pinned Nollan Bachellor, :20.