New Kent prevails in clash of wrestling heavyweights

By Alan Chamberlain | December 18, 2014 4:29 pm

New Kent’s Duncan Johns takes control of Poquoson’s Will Campbell on the way to an 8-0 major decision win.

Alan Chamberlain photos

In an early season match-up of the area’s two best wrestling programs, New Kent’s host Trojans sailed past Poquoson’s Islanders 40-25.

Wednesday night’s clash could have ended considerably closer, but two Poquoson forfeits (190 and 220 pounds) in the final four matches handed New Kent an insurmountable lead. And in wrestling, a competitor that steps on the mat is not penalized if the opposition fails to respond. A forfeit is worth six points, same as a pin.

“I didn’t understand the forfeits,” said Trojan coach Mike Faus afterward. “They had wrestlers at those weights at weigh-in, but I put our kids out there to wrestle.”

The Islander forfeits came just after the visitors had won three straight matches to whittle a 25-10 New Kent lead down to 25-21. The forfeits, however, put the Trojans comfortably ahead at 37-21.

At the start, Duncan Johns’ (113) decision win over Will Campbell and Bryson Mitchell’s pin of Hunter Darouse at 120 pounds opened a 10-0 New Kent lead. Then the Trojans’ Nathan Myatt thrilled the home crowd, scoring five points in the final seconds to overcome a one-point deficit and claim a decision over Casey McCullen.

“Nathan got a takedown and was able to put their kid on his back to get back points,” Faus said. “That was the turning point of the match and really got momentum on our side.”

But Poquoson won the next two weight divisions, closing the gap to 13-10. Pins by B.C. LaPrade (145) and Blake Hohman (152) extended the hosts’ lead to 25-10.

In other matches, New Kent easily turned back Dinwiddie and Smithfield with respective 60-18 and 59-19 finals. With the wins, New Kent improved to 6-1 in dual matches.

“I’m pleased,” Faus said looking back on the night’s action. “We’ve got a lot of young guys who stepped up. Slater [Gammon] is a freshman who was taking on a senior and didn’t get pinned, and [Shane] Weimer was up against a kid that’s been wrestling all around. Then [Michael] Dorer got a real nice win against their heavyweight.

“The guys I can depend on went out and did real well,” the coach added. “This was a good team effort.”

New Kent 60 Dinwiddie 18
106- Plutro (D) dec. Weimer 9-5; 113- Johns (NK) forfeit; 120- Mitchell (NK) pin Prosise 1:15; 126- Myatt (NK) pin Thomas 5:00; 132- Rogerson (D) dec. Gammons 4-2; 138- Frizzell (NK) pin Daulton 1:24; 145- LaPrade (NK) pin Burrow 1:49; 152- Hohman (NK) forfeit; 160- Sanders (NK) pin Smith 2:50; 170- Ragland (NK) pin Miles 2:02; 182- Gray (NK) pin Tyson 3:46; 195- Taylor (NK) pin Martin 2:56; 220- Mills (D) pin Elswick 2:53; 285- Wilkins (D) pin Dorer 2:45.

New Kent 40 Poquoson 25
106- McCormick (P) md. Weimer 10-1; 113- Johns (NK) md. Campbell 8-0; 120- Mitchell (NK) pin Darouse 1:09; 126- Myatt (NK) dec McCullen 13-9; 132- Lynch (P) md. Gammon 10-2; 138- Dunagan (P) pin Beasley :38; 145- LaPrade (NK) pin Burress 1:11; 152- Hohman (NK) pin Bleeker 1:52;
160- Poultney (P) dec Sanders 9-6; 170- Graham (P) tech fall Gray 17-2, 3:50; 182- Hennessey (P) dec Ragland 5-3 OT; 195- Campbell (NK) forfeit; 220- Taylor (NK) forfeit; 285- Dorer (NK) dec. Buchanan 6-4.

New Kent 59 Smithfield 19
106- Weimer (NK) pin P. McGowan 1:02; 113- Johns (NK) pin S. McGowan :16; 120- DeVault (NK) forfeit; 126- Mitchell (NK) pin Wenland 3:57; 132- Gammon (NK) pin Easter 1:29; 138- Schwartz (S) dec Frizzell 4-0; 145- LaPrade (NK) tech fall Sharon 17-1, 3:00; 152- Hohman (NK) pin Walker :12;
160- Smeltzer (S) md Sanders 16-6; 170- Jones (S) pin Ragland :56; 182- Gray (NK) injury default Taylor; 195- Taylor (NK) pin Carr 1:09; 220- Campbell (NK) pin Pope 3:21; 285- Manfred (S) pin Dorer 1:49.

Bryson Mitchell has Dinwiddie’s Davion Prosise in trouble second before registering a pin.

Nathan Myatt checks time on the clock as he struggles to take down Dinwiddie’s Mason Thomas before eventually winning by pin.

Trent Ragland works to turn Dinwiddie’s Cody Miles en route to a pin.

Brian Gray overcomes Dinwiddie’s Omar Tyson on the way to a pin.

As the ref watches, B.C. LaPrade has control of Poquoson’s Ian Burress just seconds before gaining a pin.

Blake Hohman takes Poquoson’s Alec Bleeker to the mat on the way to a pin.