Wrestling season underway for MFL MarMac boys
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The MFL MarMac boys wrestling team opened the season with a pair of dual wins last week.
That included a 1-2 night at an Upper Iowa Conference quad at Waukon on Dec. 2—the win coming 36-30 over Tripoli in a battle of forfeits. With two smaller squads, there were no wrestled matches and double forfeits at 113, 138 and 165 pounds.
In a 48-22 loss to Postville, the Bulldogs picked up three wins via forfeit—with Gavin Kishman (150), Christian Escobar (157) and Draven Stuckman (165)—while heavyweight Will Howes earned a 10-2 major decision over Antoni Solovi.
The Pirates benefitted from six forfeits, as well as decisions over MFL MarMac’s Ben Kite at 126 pounds and Maddox Hanson at 132. Six Pirate points came after a match between Michael Hill and Bulldog Parker Muras ended due to injury. There was a double forfeit at 175 pounds.
MFL MarMac also didn’t have the manpower to get past Waukon, who won that dual 78-6. Hanson, Escobar and Stuckman were pinned in their respective matches, as was Howes. Kishman had the only win for the team, after pinning Indian Ryan Mathis in 40 seconds.
The Bulldogs went 1-4 at the Cascade Dual Tournament on Dec. 5, highlighted by a 30-24 victory against Bellevue. Kite, Kishman, Tristan Hoopes (215) and Howes all won their matches by forfeit, while Hanson secured a fall at 132 pounds. Escobar was pinned at 157, in the only other contested bout of the dual.
Starmont defeated MFL MarMac 51-12 in another dual, with the Bulldogs’ points coming via forfeits for Hanson at 132 pounds and Howes at heavyweight. Escobar and Kite were both pinned and Kishman lost a 7-1 decision.
Howes and Kite each picked up falls and Hanson won due to forfeit to give the team its points in a 60-18 loss to Washington. Kishman, Escobar and Hoopes were pinned by their opponents in that dual.
Versus Wahlert Dubuque, the Bulldogs were again out-manned 54-15. Hanson and Kishman both earned falls, while Howes outlasted his opponent in a 6-0 decision.
Outside the win over Bellevue, MFL MarMac’s next closest dual came in a narrow 30-22 loss against UIC foe Clayton Ridge. There were double forfeits at five weights—106, 113, 120, 138 and 190—and MFL MarMac won two matches via forfeit with Kite and Howes while the Eagles tallied three wins in that fashion. Hanson earned an 8-0 major decision victory for the Bulldogs at 132 and Kishman got a pin at 150 pounds. Escobar and Hoopes were pinned in their respective 157- and 215-pound matches.
MFL MarMac now has a busy week with a conference triangular against New Hampton/Turkey Valley and North Fayette Valley on Dec. 9, then a home dual versus Lancaster, Wis., on Dec. 11. The team will compete in the Nashua-Plainfield Invitational on Dec. 13.
