Fairfield reels off two wins in opener; Van Buren gets started

BLOOMFIELD ? A winning dual record is one of the Fairfield wrestling team?s goals this winter, and the Trojans took two big steps toward that goal Thursday.

The Trojans kicked off the season with a pair of wins in Bloomfield, edging Centerville 33-31 and topping the host Mustangs 41-36 to bring their early dual record to 2-0.

?Last year at this point we were 0-2. We lost to these teams by just about the same scores,? said Steve Miller, who is in his second season as Fairfield head coach. ?That?s a pretty good swing.?

In last winter?s season opener in Centerville, the Trojans lost to the Big Reds 42-39 and were edged by Davis County 40-39. This time, however, the Trojans earned the key victories, led by their four senior leaders.

?Looking up and down the lineup, the senior leadership with Ammon Shaner, Jake Mineart, Aaron Gevock and Seth Davisson came through,? said Miller. ?They went out and took care of business, got the bonus points and got us big wins.?

All four wrestlers went 2-0 on the day. At 138, Shaner won by fall and decision. Aaron Gevock won by fall and 20-5 technical fall at 145, and the 182-pound Davisson won by fall and received a forfeit. Mineart pinned Davis County?s Ben Kincart at heavyweight, and he went back down to 220 pounds in the Centerville dual to pick up an 11-6 decision against No. 2-ranked wrestler Riley Denny.

A fifth wrestler, junior Brett Scott, picked up a pair of wins, as well. In the dual with Davis County, Scott won by fall against Colton Kincart at 220 pounds. He earned a forfeit at 195 vs. Centerville.

Also vs. Centerville, Fairfield?s Bryce Lunsford won by 10-4 decision at 160 pounds. Austin Francisco stuck his opponent in the 170-pound match.

In the dual with Davis County, sophomore Dalton McCarroll and senior Adam Gevock picked up a pair of pivotal forfeits at 126 and 195 pounds, respectively.

?We?re still piecing the lineup together, and as a whole I?m very pleased with the win. The guys fought out there and got the team two wins,? Miller said.

In JV action, Fairfield wrestlers went 5-1 with Max Spalla and Luis Jimenez earning two victories apiece. Alex Hahn won a match by decision.

The Trojans look to carry their momentum into Saturday?s tournament at West Delaware. The JV squad is at Wapello today.

Fairfield 41, Davis County 36

106 ? Smith (DC) win by fall vs. Robinson (FF); 113 ? forfeited; 120 ? forfeited; 126 ? McCarroll (FF) win by forfeit; 132 ? forfeited; 138 ? Shaner (FF) win by fall vs. Johnson (DC); 145 ? Aaron Gevock (FF) win by tech fall vs. Baird (DC) 20-5; 152 ? Bassett (DC) win by OT dec. vs. Leonard (FF) 7-5; 160 ? Fullencamp (DC) win by dec. vs. Lunsford (FF) 7-2; 170 ? Boas (DC) win by fall vs. Francisco (FF); 182 ? Davisson (FF) win by fall vs. Dekraai (DC); 195 ? Adam Gevock (FF) win by forfeit; 220 ? Scott (FF) win by fall vs. C. Kincart (DC); 285 ? Mineart (FF) win by fall vs. B. Kincart (DC).

Fairfield 33, Centerville 31

106 ? Bogle (CV) win by fall vs. Robinson (FF); 113 ? forfeited; 120 ? forfeited; 126 ? Coatney (CV) win by major dec. vs. McCarroll (FF) 12-2; 132 ? forfeited; 138 ? Shaner (FF) win by dec. vs. Irwin (CV) 10-4; 145 ? Gevock (FF) win by fall vs. Cowan (CV); 152 ? Brown (CV) win by dec. vs. Leonard (FF) 4-1; 160 ? Lunsford (FF) win by dec. vs. Walker (CV) 10-4; 170 ? Francisco (FF) win by fall vs. Cochran (CV); 182 ? Davisson (FF) win by forfeit; 195 ? Scott (FF) win by forfeit; 220 ? Mineart (FF) win by dec. vs. Denny (CV) 11-6; 285 ? double-forfeit.

Van Buren opens season

KEOSAUQUA ? Van Buren?s wrestling team dropped a pair of duals in its season opener Thursday in Keosauqua.

The Warriors fell 48-30 to Albia, and they were blasted by Eddyville-Blakesburg by a final score of 72-0.

In the dual with Albia, senior Curtis Thomas earned the lone pin for Van Buren at 182 pounds. Forfeits were also earned by Unity Daugherty (106), Tyler Runyan (113), Dakota LaRue (195) and Mitch Garrels (220).

The Warriors are at Pekin?s annual tournament Saturday.