Domination application: Dukes go up 36-0 on way to NCIC thumping
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| Dixon's David Goad celebrates on Thursday evening's wrestling match after besting Jason Huebbe of LP. (Chris Padgett/cpadgett@svnmail.com) |
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DIXON – Three quick pins fired up Dixon’s wrestlers and their fans Thursday night at The Pit, but two decisions keyed the Dukes’ 54-16 victory over LaSalle-Peru.
Dukes heavyweight David Goad earned the first big one, outlasting Jason Huebbe 3-2 in triple overtime. Five weight classes later, Zach Lehman turned a 5-4 second-period deficit into an 8-4 win to seal the win for Dixon.
“We usually do a lot of takedown work in practice,” Dixon coach Evan Thorpe said, “but lately we’ve really been working hard and getting the guys to go out and get quick pins. Both of those have worked out well so far this season.”
Ricky Laskowski started the match for Dixon with a pin at 171 pounds, just finishing it in the final second of the second period. Blaine Greenwalt then dominated his 189-pound match, scoring back points in the first and third periods.
After George Canales got a headlock takedown and 40-second pin at 215, the stage was set for Goad.
Goad and Huebbe scored only on escapes. Goad, 43 pounds lighter than his opponent, got one early in the second period. Huebbe matched it early in the third, and after a scoreless extra period, they traded escapes in double overtime. Because Goad scored first, he chose positions in sudden death, and he took down. It took him 18 seconds to break Huebbe’s grip and send Dixon to the lower weights with an 18-0 lead.
“Usually it’s fun to be part of exciting triple-overtime matches,” Goad said. “But it was probably kind of boring for the fans to watch two heavyweights score only five points in 11-and-a-half minutes.”
Austin Rhodenbaugh scored a 40-second pin of ... at 112, and halfway through the dual the Dukes led 36-0.
“I came out really fast, went right after him,” Rhodenbaugh said. “Before I knew it, I flew over top of him and just got him on his back. I just wanted to finish it off quick, keep the guys riled up.”
Zach Lehman’s win at 130 put the score out of reach. He led 2-1 after one period. After giving up three back points, Lehman erased a 4-2 deficit with an escape and immediate takedown of L-P’s Mike Butterfield, then added tthree back points of his own in the third.
“I started strong, then stayed with it,” Lehman said. “He caught me on my back with a cradle, but I was able to roll out of it and pop the leg out for an escape, then get him back with a single-leg takedown. The third period, I just wanted to ride him out and try and turn him for the pin.”
The pin chance escaped when Lehman’s lip started bleeding, halting the match briefly and prompting Thorpe to jokingly admonish his 130-pounder.
“When you’re on top and winning, don’t let the referee see you bleed,” Thorpe said as he offered a paper towel.
Lehman’s win made it 39-6 Dixon, without enough matches left for the Cavaliers to catch up. The Dukes weren’t done, though, as Nile Baker won by first-period pin at 140 and Nick Sutton won 7-3 at 145. Wes Dempsey finished things in style, pinning L-P’s Marcos Galindez in 38 seconds.
“If you asked me to choose where to start the match, I would always go with the upper weights,” Thorpe said. “We’ve got some heavy hitters up there, and they set the tone for us. It was great for us that we pulled out 171, and we just took advantage of it.”
Star of the meet: Zach Lehman, Dixon, rallied for 8-4 win at 130 pounds to seal win
Key performers: Wes Dempsey, Dixon, 38-second pin at 152; George Canales, Dixon, 40-second pin at 215; Austin Rhodenbaugh, Dixon, 40-second pin at 112
Up next: Dixon Duals, 9 a.m. Saturday
