Panthers pin Columbus/W-MU

The Mt. Pleasant matmen started the year off on the right foot on Thursday night. The Panthers handled Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union in their season opener, defeating them 55-18.

The Panthers began the meet with five straight wins. Abe Wilson won a 9-3 decision at 152 lbs. Jeff Taylor won at 160 lvs. via major decision. Jayden Davis and James DeMeyer both picked up pins in the second period at 170 lbs. and 182 lbs. respectively, and Brennen Bender won a back-and-forth match 5-2 at 195 lbs.

Luis Guerrero was the first Columbus/W-MU winner of the day, at 220 lbs. He was the first of three Wildcat pins, winning in the third period.

Mt. Pleasant responded with five more wins in a row. At 285 lbs., Zach Beason won by pin fall in the second period. Carson Coleman won at 113 lbs. via a 9-2 decision and Dalton Moyle picked up a pin in just 51 seconds in the 126 lbs. match. Sandwiched between those three games were two forfeit wins, one for Corbin Broeker at 106 lbs., and one for Brayden Ackles at 120 lbs.

Columbus/W-MU did string together a couple of wins at 132 lbs. and 138 lbs. Bright picked up a pin in the secodn period of the 132 lbs. match, and Jarod Kadel won via pin fall in the first period of the 138 lbs. match.

'We did a really good in those matches of moving our feet,” said Columbus head coach Joel Keller. 'We didn't stop wrestling. We were flowing and looking to improve our position and score points”

The final match of the night was the shortest. Nathan Wallace stepped up in the 145 lbs. match and won in just 30 seconds.

After the dual, assistant coach Kevin Yeoman spoke about what it means for the Panthers to start the year off strong.

'They've been putting in a lot of hard work,” Yeoman said. 'To get out here in the home opener and get a win and see their hard work pay off, it's always good.”

Mt. Pleasant will continue its season on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Wapello Invitational. Columbus/W-MU will be at WACO for a triangular on Thursday, Dec. 6, with the hosting Warriors, as well as New London.

Full results for Thursday night's dual can be found below.

MT. PLEASANT 55 COLUMBUS/W-MU 18: 152: Abe Wilson (MP) dec. Jose Cerezo (C/W-MU) 9-3. 160: Jeff Taylor (MP) major dec. Noah Freeman (C/W-MU) 16-5. Jayden Davis (MP) pins Robert Loveless (3:58). 182: James DeMeyer (MP) pins Gabe Alcala (C/W-MU) 2:12. 195: Brennen Bender (MP) dec. Chance Colby (C/W-MU) 5-2. 220: Luis Guerrero (C/W-MU) pins Sam Carrasco (MP) 4:56. 285: Zach Beason (MP) pins Chance Malone (C/W-MU), 2:40. 106: Corbin Broeker (MP) wins by forfeit. 113: Carson Coleman (MP) dec. Isaac Acosta (C/W-MU) 0:51. 120: Brayden Ackles (MP) wins by forfeit. 126: Dalton Moyle (MP) pins Chase Wheeler (C/W-MU) 0:51. 132: Tucker Bright (C/W-MU) pins Avante Henley (MP) 3:08. 138: Jarod Kadel (C/W-MU) pins Tyler Raub (MP) 1:29. 145: Nathan Wallace (MP) pins Felix Solis (C/W-MU) 0:30.