Demon wrestling takes down the Trojans

WASHINGTON -- The Washington wrestling team held down the fort, picking up a huge early season Southeast Conference dual win against Fairfield Thursday night, 49-27, their first of the season.

Out of the nine matches that the Demons won, four were won by fall.

“I thought we wrestled pretty well,” Washington head coach Brent Van Weelden said. “On Tuesday, I thought we looked a little flat and tonight I thought we looked a little bit better. The kids that should have done well did. I was pretty impressed. We did some shuffling around and it worked out for us.”

The Trojans were down straight out of the gate. Washington got 12 early points from two Fairfield forfeits at 113 and 120. Fairfield also gave away six points at 106 pounds. The Demons only forfeited one weight class, 145.

Washington picked up two big wins at 126 and 132 with Aaron Boon winning by major decision, 8-0, over Zach Westercamp and Jude Carter over Richard Curtis by fall in just under four minutes.

Those two matches were ones that Fairfield head coach Steve Miller thought they should win.

“I’m happy with how we performed, we knew what was going to happen coming into the competition,” Miller said. “Bottom line is we kinda shot our self in the foot early at 26 and 32, but one of those guys is making weight for the first time, he’s already out of gas. All in all, really proud of the guys.”

The Trojan’s were also down a few wrestlers with injuries that were sustained in the previous weekends tournament Miller said.

Fairfield would bounce back and pick three straight wins from Ben Sirdoreus at 138, a forfeit at 145, and a fall from Cam McClain at 152.

From there on out the Demons would solidify their victory with three straight pins at 160, 170, and 182.

Fairfield’s Theodore Metcalf capped off the Trojans night with a pin over the Demon’s Colley Billingsly.

One of the most excited matches of the evening was that at 285 between Washington’s Brayden Hartman and Fairfield’s Nick Kaska.

Kaska, who is usually slotted in the 220 weight class, moved up to fill in the spot. Kaska and Hartman went the distance with Hartman picking up two early points from a take down before Kaska tied it with a take down of his own. Hartman pulled out the victory with a take down in the final seconds of the match.

Both teams will have a quick turnaround with weekend tournaments.

Washington will head Mount Vernon on Saturday for the Mount Vernon Invitational.

Fairfield will be traveling to the Knoxville Invitational.

Washington (WASH) 49, Fairfield (FAIR) 27

113: Eddy Rodriguez (WASH) over (FAIR) (For.) 120: Jace Sanders (WASH) over (FAIR) (For.) 126: Aaron Boone (WASH) over Zach Westercamp (FAIR) (MD 8-0) 132: Jude Carter (WASH) over Richard Curtis (FAIR) (Fall 3:55) 138: Ben Sirdoreus (FAIR) over Lane Schrock (WASH) (Dec 6-2) 145: Blake Sobaski (FAIR) over (WASH) (For.) 152: Cam McClain (FAIR) over Fredy Aguilar (WASH) (Fall 5:33) 160: Chase Greiner (WASH) over Landon Pilcher (FAIR) (Fall 1:14) 170: Lukus Rickey (WASH) over Konnor Gory (FAIR) (Fall 5:02) 182: Logan Frazer (WASH) over Hunter Abbott (FAIR) (Fall 0:50) 195: Dre Smithburg (FAIR) over Teegan Sulentich (WASH) (Fall 3:45) 220: Theodore Metcalf (FAIR) over Colley Billingsly (WASH) (Fall 3:55) 285: Brayden Hartman (WASH) over Nick Kaska (FAIR) (Dec 4-2) 106: Nate Edmonds (WASH) over (FAIR) (For.)

Comments: hunter.moeller@southeastiowaunion.com