Farmington wrestlers win the whole week in one night

FARMINGTON — The Farmington Knights had to wait a week from last Saturday’s SEMO Conference Tournament on Saturday to finally get back on the mats. The week’s snow-outs on Tuesday with Ste. Genevieve and Wednesday with Rockwood Summit were combined on Friday for Farmington doubleheader with both duals coming out nearly the same for the Knights.

Farmington 55, Ste. Genevieve 17

What used to be a strong rivalry between the two MAAA schools was definitely not present in the first dual of the night. The Knights won all but three of the matches wrestled to post a 55-17 win over the Dragons. Farmington won five matches by fall, and Ste. Genevieve was open in three weight classes as well.

Dakota Napoli (103) got things started for the host team, but it took a two-minute period to do it. Tied 2-2 with Jesse Martinelli after the first period, Napoli controlled the match, posting two near falls to take an 11-3 major decision. Todd Brackett (112) posted the Knights first fall, clinching it with just four seconds left in the first period (1:56) over Gabe Bader.

No sooner than Brackett finished his match, Brian Harman (119) finished his. Harman with a bulldogging maneuver took Steven Basler to the mat and recorded his fall in just 17 seconds, the fastest time for both dual meets.

Bradley Wisdom (125) took control of his match with Kevin LeClere, scoring a takedown and three-point near fall, before turning LeClere one last time for a fall at 1:37, giving the Knights a 22-0 team score.

Ste. Genevieve made a small run at the Knights with Jordan Ritter (130) recording a fall midway in the second period (3:05) over Matt Evans, and Derrick Grieshaber (135) scored six takedowns and three near falls in posting a 19-4 tech fall of Farmington’s Derek Savage to make the score 22-11.

Jake Gegg (189) picked up the Dragons third win much later with a fall in 1:50 over Justin Heberlie.

Branden McDowell (140) started a string of six straight win by the Knights, giving up only three escapes to Zach Fallert for an 10-3 decision. Connor Kellogg (145) took only 1:22 to pin Justin Roth. Kyle Sullivan received a bye in the 152 match.

Greg Bonnell (160) had things well in control after two periods. With three takedowns, a reversal and three near falls the score was 15-1, but Daniel Baker would not go down easy. Scoring a reversal early in the third period, Baker was able to turn Bonnell twice for six back points, and Bonnell had to fight off being pinned each time to eventually escape and claim a 15-10 decision.

Jon Gurule (171) found a very evenly matched competitor in Ste. Genevieve’s Jon Vogt. Gurule made two takedowns or the early lead and then hung on to win a 5-3 decision. Justin Heberlie (189) had no opponent as did Les Thilking (285) for Ste. Genevieve opens.

Farmington 54, Rockwood Summit 15

Rockwood Summit had a full roster, but it made no difference to the Knights who still won 11 of the 14 matches  in their second dual meet of the night.

Napoli started the Knights out again with a win at 103, scoring a major decision over Aaden Aaden. Brackett (112) posted a a 12-5 decision over Michael Baer. Harman (119) lost an 8-1 decision to Jon Brinkmeyer, and Jesse Francis stepped into the line-up at 125 to record a fall of Nick Stauder just 26 seconds into the third period. The score was only 2-2 at the time.

Wisdom (130) recorded his second fall, this time it was in the second period at 2:34 of Dylan Heiney. Savage (135) lost by fall to Faud Aaden in 1:35, Josh Kelleher (140) recorded five takedowns before pinning Tyler Daniel in 1:48.

McDowell (145) was tied with Andy Mays by a score of 2-2 when he posted a fall with 13 seconds left in the second period. Kellogg (152) was only able to score one takedown in the first period of his match with Jake Baker, but he posted four more and allowed Baker only three escapes for an 11-3 major decision to give Farmington a 35-9 lead.

Sullivan (160) and Rockwood’s Drew Lance were scoreless after their first period of wrestling. Sullivan scored a reversal 23 seconds into the second period, but a couple of late takedowns by Lance gave him an advantage leading to a fall with just 12 second left in the match.

The meet was still in question when Gurule (171) took to the mat against Rockwood’s John Range, but Gurule was able to score two early takedowns for all the points he needed as he went on to post a 9-3 decision, clinching the meet for Farmington.

Heberlie (189) won by fall over Chris Jennings, scoring his only points of the match on a reversal in the third period that turned into a fall at 5:08. Hedrick (215) pulled off a 12-4 major decision over Jon Cardinaldi, and Thilking wrestled his first match of the night with a fall of Abram Reynolds in 2:54.