The Marion High School wrestling team opened its season with an unexpected loss to Lyons, 42-39, on Thursday.
?This was a disappointing start for us because we were three varsity wrestlers short this week,? coach Chad Adkins said. ?We need to be full to be as good as we can be. We had to wrestle a lot of freshmen tonight. They did well but we need our varsity wrestlers on the mat. We didn?t match up very well in the lower weights.?
Lyons scored six points at each of 103, 112, 119, 125, and 130?a total of 30, which became decisive with two other wins. Josh Voth pinned Evan Slater in 1:00 at 215 and Gavin Miller pinned Brent Jones in 1:28 at 189.
Marion took open wins in 152 and 171, and scored on victories in the following matches: Brady Carroll (135) beat Ryan Thurston 3-1; Cody Wildin (140) pinned Travis Diener in 3:25; Dillon Wildin (145) pinned Evan Barber in 1:38; Colton Johnson (160) pinned Nathaniel Cline in 1:43; and Nick Klenda (285) pinned Kinsley Kroesch in 3:27.
?We wrestled well in this dual, we just came up short,? Adkins said.
Nickerson?In their second dual of the night, the Warriors? 72-12 team victory showed just how tough Marion can be when its lower weight classes hold their own.
?We wrestled very well this dual,? Adkins said. ?Our young kids had a match under their belt and picked up some wins. This was a good rebound from the Lyons dual.?
Starting at 112, the Warriors scored six points in every weight class until Kaleb Westmoeland pinned Evan Slater in the 215 match.
Brayden Putter (112), Tyler Wildin (125), Galen Funk (152) and Andrew Kjellin (189) went unchallenged.
On the mat: Eric Regnier (119) pinned Dillon Whittier in 45 seconds; Cole Lewman (130) pinned Tanner Kelly in 1:16; Carroll pinned Shane Wheeler in 3:15; Cody Wildin pinned Jordan Newton in 3:54; Dillon Wildin pinned Xavier Lyon in 1:01; Tylor Neil (152) pinned Kacy Warner in 1:17; Johnson pinned Billy Smith in 1:00; and Klenda pinned Aaron VonLintel in 43 seconds.
?We will keep getting better, and will be really good this season,? Adkins said.
Coming?Marion?s next outing is the Hesston Invitational on Dec. 12.
