The Guthrie Wrestling program was attempting to stamp their name into the 2013 Dual State Tournament for the first time since 1996, but once again the Deer Creek Antlers did not allow that to happen.
In front of the largest crowd in the last two seasons, Deer Creek took advantage of bonus points with six pins while collecting the last two decisions of the night for the 44-24 win on Senior Night. The Antlers have now taken the dual five years in a row and advances to the Dual Tournament later in the season.
Guthrie collected one pin and five decisions.
Deer Creek started the dual with a 12-0 advantage with pins at 113 and 120 pounds, but Jays sophomore Alex Nelson was able to get the Jays on the scoreboard with a 9-0 decision over his 126 pound opponent. Nelson got the opening take down 33 seconds into the match and later added a reverse in the third period to go with three back points in a match he controlled from the beginning.
After a scoreless first period in the 132 pound match, Timothy O’Connor needed 14 seconds to get an escape and 33 seconds later scored a take down to go up 3-0. O’Connor added another take down early in the third and finally won 6-0 after a stalling penalty.
Guthrie took a 13-12 lead with a tough, gritty performance from Austin O’Connor, who has been battling injures all season and has been limited in the amount of matches this season, was not going to be denied for his final match inside the GHS gymnasium against the rival Antlers.
The senior went up 1-0 after a stalling penalty in the second period and later went up 2-0 after an escape, but the matched was tied when his 138 pound opponent scored a take down. However, O’Connor reversed him and took a 4-2 lead into the final period. O’Connor secured the match with three back points with 37 seconds left in the match and pushed the score up , but the senior scored the pin with just 4.9 left on the clock to score the six much-needed points.
Tyler Mahan extended the lead, 16-12, when he took down an 8-5 win in the 145 pound match and never trailed.
Guthrie’s Bryan Dutton extended the Jays lead (21-12) with a dominating 18-4 win that came early in the third period. Dutton gave his Antler competitor all four points by allowing him up after several take downs.
Deer Creek opened the dual up in the next four matches with 24 straight points on four pins to grab a 36-21 advantage they would never relinquish.
Junior Conner Howard got the BlueJays back on the scoreboard with a 4-2 decision over Austin Loomis. Loomis got a take down 1;07 into the match, but Howard scored the next four points with two escapes and a take down. The match did not have one point scored in the final period.
The win pulled Guthrie with striking distance, 36-24, but needed two pins in the last two matches for the win, including the nights most anticipated match-up in the heavyweight division.
After scoring a win in the championship match in the Cushing Tournament, Guthrie’s Blake Finley was hoping to make it two in a row over Follis, but the Antler came out aggressive and by the end of the opening period had a 3-0 advantage.
Follis controlled the match as Finley could manage just two escapes in an 8-2 setback to seal the dual.
Deer Creek 44, Guthrie 24
106 – West tech fall (15-0) decision Hunter Betchan
113 – Cooper pinned Jerron Rose (3:31)
120 – Banks pinned Kevin Mahan (1:25)
126 – Alex Nelson 9-0 decision over Smith
132 – Timothy O’Connor 6-0 decision over Cooper
138 – Austin O’Connor pinned O’Brien (5:54)
145 – Tyler Mahan 8-5 decision over Schimmels
152 – Bryan Dutton tech fall (20-4)
160 – Draper pinned War Mothershed (2:39)
171 – Hooks pinned Idae Alexander (3:32)
182 – Cole Pacheco pinned Andrew Toney (3:40)
195 – Johnson pinned Vincent Norris (1:49)
220 – Conner Howard 4-2 decision over Austin Loomis
Hwt – Follis 8-2 decision over Blake Finley
Damn, Pacheco had a growth spurt! All the way up to 182??? That kid will get throttled at that weight at the collegiate level………
I’m wondering if he was wrestling up a weight or two for match ups?