Prep Wrestling: Bulldogs split to start wrestling season
It was a conversation that Greg Langley had and knew would happen.
The longtime Harrisburg head wrestling coach preached the importance of bonus points on major decision wins instead of regular decision wins.
Those points proved to be the difference as Harrisburg lost to Murphysboro 36-33 Tuesday night at Bonnell Gymnasium, while the Bulldogs split on the night, knocking off Herrin 46-30.
On the night, Landon Hicks (113 pounds), Kyle Cavender (120), Kody Cavender (126), Jimmy Hicks (138), Cody Rightnowar (152), Lucian Hicks (195) and Chase McDaniel (285) all went to 2-0 on the season with wins.
Hicks won both his matches via forfeit, while Kyle Cavender won with a 4-0 decision in his match with Murphysboro's Sammy Dietz and a 13-0 decision in his win over Herrin's Eric Frizzel. Kody Cavender won with an 8-5 decisions over Murphysboro's Ryan Chambers and pinned Herrin's Dalton Garrison in 49 seconds.
Hicks won with a 7-6 decision over Murphysboro's Tristen Newman and knocked off Herrin's Jace Hahs with a 13-7 decision. Rightnowar picked up a win, pinning John Digangi (MHS) at the 2:36 mark and had a 15-8 decision win over Herrin's Jason Antoine. Hicks pinned Murphysboro's Dalton Craig in 55 seconds and had another win via forfeit. McDaniel capped off the night with a pin over Murphysboro's Angel Acosta in 1:41 and pinned Herrin's Kameron Shadowens in 3:26.
"We had our chance to beat Murphysboro, which would have been a great win, we just came up a little short" Langley said. "it boiled down to bonus points and that's a conversation we had leading into the match. We wrestled well, but also saw a lot of things we need to keep improving on."
"Against Herrin, they are a little younger than they have been, but we were able to get a lot of guys out on the mat and get their feet wet."
Harrisburg will compete at the Lawrence County Invitational over the weekend and will not return home to Bonnell until its dual match with Marion and Paducah Tilghman on January 21.
Vs. Murphysboro lost 36-33
113 - Landon Hicks won via forfeit
120 - Kyle Cavender won with a 4-0 decision
126 - Kody Cavender won with a 8-5 decision
132 - Chandler Bowling lost with a 2-1 decision
138 - Jimmy Hicks won with a 7-6 decision
152 - Cody Rightnowar won with a fall at 2:36
160 - Gunnar Trammel lost via pin
170 - Ryan Ragsdale lost via pin
182 - Blane Satterfield lost with a 5-2 decision
195 - Lucian Hicks won with a pin in 55 seconds
220 - Alex Johnson lost via pin
285 - Chase McDaniel won with a pin fall in 1:41
Vs. Herrin won 46-30
113 - Landon Hicks won via forfeit
120 - Kyle Cavender won with a 13-0 decision
126 - Kody Cavender won with a pin in 49 seconds
132 - Chandler Bowling won with a fall at 2:33
138 - Jimmy Hicks - won 13-7 decision
145 - Cody Rightnowar - won 15-8 decision
160 - Gunner Trammel - lost by pin
170 - Ryan Ragsdale - lost via pin
182 - Blane Satterfield lost via pin
195 - Lucian Hicks - won via forfeit
220 - Alex Johnson - won via forfeit
285 - Chase McDaniel won by pin in 3:26