Morrison High School Varsity Wrestling Coach Tony Wright submitted this report.
The Mustang Wrestling team continued their storied dual team run Wednesday evening, January 29, 2014, at Rock Falls, IL, High School against the Rockets. In an electric evening and celebrating Rock Falls’ Senior Night, the Mustangs played spoiler to the host team.
The dual started off wrong for the wrestlers as they gave up a pin at 138 lbs. Then the Mustangs got going with consecutive pins from Hunter Ferguson and Austin Keller. Rock Falls tied the dual with a pin at 160 lbs. Thomas Dykema, fresh of a seven week lay-off due to injury, stepped in and gave the Mustangs the lead again with a pin.
In the most anticipated bout of the evening, Austin Shoup squared off against Rock Falls’ lone Senior, State-ranked, Lucas Newburgh. In a crazy see-saw match Shoup was able to pull out the victory in overtime.
The Mustangs would lose the next three bouts and fall behind 21-24. Joe Eads picked up his team-leading 36th win with a pin and regained the lead for the Mustangs. At 113 lbs. Cody Vanderlaan was losing 5-0. He clawed his way back and scored back points in the closing seconds to steal the match.
Tied 30-30 going into the last two bouts, Ethan Fischbach locked in a pin ensuring at least a tie for the wrestlers. The Mustangs would lose the final match and end the meet in a 36-36 tie.
The meet was won on fifth criteria as Rock Falls had a wrestler penalized for unsportsman-like conduct.
The Mustang Wrestlers improve to 21-9 on the season.