GREENFIELD — The Creston/O-M wrestling team picked up a pair of victories over traditional Pride of Iowa Conference powers here Tuesday night to open the 2010-11 campaign.
The Panthers drubbed Interstate 35 by a 50-21 score and edged host Nodaway Valley, 36-32, in the closest of the night's four meets. The Wolverines went 1-1 on the night with a 43-24 triumph over Winterset. The Huskies finished 0-2 with a 41-27 loss to I-35.
Nodaway Valley jumped out to a 12-0 lead over Creston/O-M with pins at 171 and 189. Clay Ramsey decked freshman Jacey Glynn in 42 seconds and Mikel Feick also earned a first-period fall over Cole Tanner. Glynn was subbing for Keaton Hulett, who fell ill after the first dual.
The Panthers rallied for a 16-12 lead with a pin by top-ranked Collin Bevins at 215, a 10-2 major decision victory by heavyweight Jordan Hayes and Kruz Adamson picked up a forfeit at 103.
The Wolverines took the lead back at 18-16 with a pin by 112-pounder Dustin Ford.
A key match of the meet was at 119, where Creston/O-M's Gage Cheers slipped past Jacob Schliessman, 4-3, for three big team points. Cheers led 2-1 after two periods and took a 4-1 lead with a reversal in the third. Schliessman earned a reversal of his own late in the match, but was unable to get a turn for the winning points.
"When Gage got that close win, it was one of the difference makers," Creston/O-M coach Darrell Frain said.
Kevin and Kaleb Wessel followed with wins by technical fall and fall to give the Wolverines a 29-19 lead. Peter Nagy won by major decision at 135 for the Panthers and Nodaway Valley forfeit at 140 to top-ranked Jake Marlin, to knot the team score at 29-29. Kolby Baier won by decision at 145, but Trevor Frain earned a 9-3 decision at 152 to tie the meet once again heading into the final bout of the dual.
For more on this story see the Dec. 1 edition of the Creston News Advertiser.