Knights sweep tri-dual over Cape Central and De Soto

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Knights hosted the De Soto Dragons and the Cape Central Tigers in a tri-dual meet with each team wrestling the other two. The Knights came out the big winner with a 50-30 win over Cape Central and a 63-15 win over De Soto. Cape Central defeated De Soto 45-31 in their dual.

“The kids pushed real hard during the last two weeks (Christmas break) and it paid off tonight in their first matches tonight,” said Coach Mark Krause of his team’s first wins of the new year.

Dakota Nopoli scored a fall in both of his 103 matches to get  Farmington off on the right foot for both contests. Nopoli made it quick in his match against Cape’s Dalton Wilson with a fall in 34 seconds. His fall over De Soto’s Michael Plymale was in 3:03

Todd Brackett (112), made a reversal to start the second period against Cape’s Caleb Yeargain, and then pushed it on to a fall at 2:56. Brackett lost by a fall to De Soto’s Gerald Fields at 2:32.

After comprising a 12-1 lead against Cape’s Thomas Fleming, Derek Moss (119) lost by a fall in 2:59, but he came back in his second match for a fall of De Soto’s Zach Binkinz in 1:12.

Matt Evans (125) had the same results, being pinned Cape’s Desmond Howard in 1:18, and then winning by fall over De Soto’s Robert Goll in just 27 seconds.

Brad Wisdom (130) collected two falls, with both coming in the first period. Wisdom pinned Cape’s B.J. Coleman in 1:07 and De Soto’s Caleb Dodd in 1:46.

Paden Sparks (135) put in a lot of hard work for his first win as he scored seven takedowns and two near falls in posting an 18-6 major decision over Cape’s Jawaun Howard. Sparks led 9-4 before pinning De Soto’s Jay Pinson 39 seconds into the second period.

Brandon McDowell won his 140 pound match with a 1:37 fall of Cape’s Johnte Tucker. McDowell wrestled at 145 in his second match and pinned Merle Gimmiam in the final period at 4:55.

Stanton Ketcherside (145) collected four near-falls to defeat Cape’s Clint Sargent with a 17-4 major decision. Josh Kelleher (140) won by fall in his only match at 2:52 against De Soto’s Josh Newberry.

Conner Kellogg (152) pinned Cape’s Ray Woldtvedt with only 14 seconds left in the second period (3:46). Kellogg had bit more problem with De Soto’s Zach Carver. Scoring only two takedowns and two escapes, Kellogg pulled off a 6-2 decision over Carver, who could only manage a reversal in the final period.

Greg Bonnell (160) gained an advantage over Cape’s Zach Wilson with a takedown that eventually led to a pin in 1:37. Kyle Sullivan wrestled the 160 pound match against De Soto’s Andrew Johnson and also recorded a fall in 3:36 after leading 10-4 on five takedowns.

Jon Gurule (171) scored six takedowns for a 12-4 major decision over Cape’s Kevin Flesher, but he found scoring a little harder in his next match. Gurule scored the very first point in his match against De Soto’s Neal Finch with an escape just as the horn sounded to end the second period. Finch tied the score with an escape 35 seconds into the third period, and he went on to win the match, 3-1, with the only takedown.

Justin Heberlie (215) pinned Cape’s Carl Lathum in 1:42, and he won the 189 match against De Soto by forfeit.

Ethan Hennes (189) lost by fall to Cape’s Ian Fitzgerald in 40 seconds, Ethan Hedrick (215) lost by fall to De Soto’s Dakota Smith in 33 seconds.

Les Thilking (275) lost by fall with 15 seconds left in the second period to pin Cape’s Trey Grovenor. Thilking won his match against De Soto by forfeit.

Farmington will wrestle next in the Oakville Gateway Duals this Saturday.