Panther matmen mop Keokuk, Illini West

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant wrestling team took to their home mats for the first time all season on Thursday night, and the Panthers made the most of it, taking both duals in blowout fashion.

Mt. Pleasant swept through the night, beating Keokuk 49-24 in a Southeast Conference clash, and shutting down Illini West of Illinois 66-6.

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“The guys wrestled really well,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Anthony Blint. “They put a lot of hard work in the room, and it's really showing.”

The Panthers had two pins against Keokuk. Jackson Newman pinned his man in just 50 seconds at 157 pounds, and Franklin Tousignant picked up a pin in 1:14 in the heavyweight bout.

Keegan Birdsell picked up a major decision at 144 pounds against the Chiefs. Charlie Bohnenkamp won by decision at 132.

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A slew of forfeits had Illini West in trouble already, but the Panthers who did wrestle did plenty of damage on their own, starting with two pins by Newman at 157 and Jared Dorothy at 165.

Tousignant picked up his second pin of the night at 285. Bohnenkamp pinned his man at 132.

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“We're still young, but we're growing,” Blint said. “That's really good to see this early in the year.”

Paris Phosy and Katana Phangchanthong saw some action on the girls’ side. The Panthers had a few girls matches throughout the day, including a pin by Phosy in her match against Keokuk’s Natalie Baum.

Mt. Pleasant 49, Keokuk 24

144: Keegan Birdsell (MOPL) over Gavin LeMaster (KEOK) (MD 13-2) 150: Ramzy Davis (MOPL) over (KEOK) (For.) 157: Jackson Newman (MOPL) over Anthony Stice (KEOK) (Fall 0:50) 165: Xavier Johnson (KEOK) over Jared Dorothy (MOPL) (Fall 0:35) 175: Christian Falline-Ossman (MOPL) over Luke Meyers (KEOK) (Fall 4:21) 190: Kevin Joy (KEOK) over Payton Walker (MOPL) (Fall 0:57) 215: Will Birdsell (MOPL) over (KEOK) (For.) 285: Franklin Tousignant (MOPL) over Micah Kay (KEOK) (Fall 1:14) 106: Landon Beckler (MOPL) over (KEOK) (For.) 113: Double Forfeit 120: Rylee Moore (KEOK) over Sawyer Fulton (MOPL) (Fall 0:56) 126: Robert Howes (KEOK) over Ivan Guerrero (MOPL) (Fall 1:49) 132: Charlie Bohnenkamp (MOPL) over Joshua Baum (KEOK) (Dec. 8-3) 138: Jefferson Ramirez Avalos (MOPL) over (KEOK) (For.)

Mt. Pleasant 66, Illini West 6

157: Jackson Newman (MOPL) over Jorge Espinosa (ILINIWST) (Fall 2:43) 165: Jared Dorothy (MOPL) over Elijah Siverly (ILINIWST) (Fall 1:48) 175: Shawn Watkins (ILINIWST) over Christian Falline-Ossman (MOPL) (Fall 0:20) 190: Payton Walker (MOPL) over (ILINIWST) (For.) 215: Will Birdsell (MOPL) over (ILINIWST) (For.) 285: Franklin Tousignant (MOPL) over Nick Huls (ILINIWST) (Fall 1:54) 106: Landon Beckler (MOPL) over (ILINIWST) (For.) 113: Double Forfeit 120: Sawyer Fulton (MOPL) over (ILINIWST) (For.) 126: Double Forfeit 132: Charlie Bohnenkamp (MOPL) over Isaac Siverly (ILINIWST) (Fall 0:49) 138: Jefferson Ramirez Avalos (MOPL) over (ILINIWST) (For.) 144: Keegan Birdsell (MOPL) over (ILINIWST) (For.) 150: Ramzy Davis (MOPL) over (ILINIWST) (For.)