Wildcats pin Panthers in opener

MT. PLEASANT - Some said it wasn't to be, but the first night of wrestling was done in full on Tuesday night in Mt. Pleasant, and the Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union Wildcats picked up their first win.

The Wildcats were too much for the Panthers in the season-opening dual, defeating Mt. Pleasant 58-24 in nonconference action.

The night started at 220 pounds, where Columbus' Kai Malone earned the first of four Columbus/W-MU pinfalls, topping Mt. Pleasant's Frank Tousignant in just over three minutes. After a couple of Panther forfeits, Lane Scorpil gave the Wildcats another pin, defeating Mt. Pleasant's Abby Blint in 1:12 in the 113-pound match to give Columbus/W-MU a 24-0 lead.

After a Wildcat forfeit at 120 pounds, Triston Miller picked up a major decision over Bowen Davis in the 126-pound match.

The Panthers cut lead to 36-18 after winning via forfeit at 132 pounds and gaining six more at 138 when Reean Seberg pinned Wildcat Trenton Hoback in 3:29.

The Wildcats closed the night out with three-straight wins, including pins from Will Hotzz at 170 pounds and Trent Wilkerson at 195 pounds, and Columbus/W-MU moved to 1-0 on the season.

'We've still got work to do,” said Wildcat co-coach Andy Milder. 'It's the first duel, and we're still trying to get them to buy in to what the process is, but some of our younger kids did a nice job.”

The Panthers fell to 0-1 with the opening loss, but Mt. Pleasant coach Anthony Blint said wrestling Columbus/W-MU in the opener gave his kids a good challenge.

'This year in particular, we didn't know if we were going to get the first match of the year in,” Blint said. 'To have an opportunity to come out here for the kids is great. They get that first match under their belt.”

Columbus/W-MU and Mt. Pleasant will continue to get to know each other this weekend, as both teams are set to take part in the Wapello tournament on Saturday.

COLUMBUS 58 vs. Mt. Pleasant 24220: Kai Malone (COCO) over Frank Tousignant (MOPL) (Fall 3:03) 285: Chance Malone (COCO) over (MOPL) (For.) 106: Ty Scorpil (COCO) over (MOPL) (For.) 113: Lane Scorpil (COCO) over Abby Blint (MOPL) (Fall 1:12) 120: Gannon McNamee (MOPL) over (COCO) (For.) 126: Triston Miller (COCO) over Bowen Davis (MOPL) (MD 14-6) 132: Carson Coleman (MOPL) over (COCO) (For.) 138: Reean Seberg (MOPL) over Trenton Hoback (COCO) (Fall 3:29) 145: Noah Sparrow (COCO) over (MOPL) (For.) 152: Cole Storm (COCO) over (MOPL) (For.) 160: Jarit Tapia (COCO) over (MOPL) (For.) 170: Will Hotzz (COCO) over Palmer Snavely (MOPL) (Fall 0:41) 182: Chayse Irving (MOPL) over (COCO) (For.) 195: Trent Wilkerson (COCO) over Dylan Cowick (MOPL) (Fall 1:48)