The Redmond wrestling squad showed strength and purpose, handling Newport with ease, 51-24, in a 4A Kingco Conference win last Thursday at Redmond High.
Redmond co-captain Nolan Thomas, who wrestled at 135 pounds, and heavyweight Esteban Herrera each recorded impressive pins in the win. Teammate Sean Holt, wrestling at 140 pounds, also earned a decisive first-round pin in 1 minute, 34 seconds.
“Holt and Thomas came out ready to wrestle, said Redmond head wrestling coach Paul Mullen. “I thought this was one of our better performances of the year. We came out and we wrestled hard.”
COMEBACK KIDS
Redmond’s Catherine Kelly (112) and Alex Lodge (103) each won by forfeit, but the Mustangs fell into a 18-6 hole early after two quick pins in the 119 and 125-pound weight classes.
Tim Baker, wrestling at 130, turned the momentum in Redmond’s favor with a thrilling 9-7 overtime win over Newport’s Kris Koegel, and the Stangs went on to win five of the next six bouts, including four pins.
Thomas ended his match in a lightning-fast 49 seconds, a season-best for the senior, who is undefeated in league matches and 14-3 overall.
“I went out just trying to control the guy, control my match and take what was there, don’t try to force anything,” he said. “I wanted to get him on his back quick and get the six (points).”
Herrera, the only wrestler on the team to make the Class 4A state tournament last season, pinned Newport’s Philbert Lin in 1:49, but not before getting some extra work on his take-down move.
Three times Herrera got put Lin to the floor and immediately let him back up, which gave Lin one point for an escape, but it allowed Herrera to fine-tune his technique.
“I needed to improve on takedowns, so that’s why I took him down and let him back up,” Herrera said. “I think I need a couple more weeks, but I’ll be ready for the postsesason.”
BROOKMAN BODY-SLAMMED
The Mustangs had one of their most frightening moments of the season when team co-captain Jimmy Brookman (152) and Newport’s Kevin McCanta were locked in a fierce battle.
McCanta got a hold of Brookman, threw him to the mat and the Redmond senior landed awkwardly on his right arm.
Brookman, writhing in pain, was unable to compete further and McCanta was disqualified for using an illegal move.
“It was scary, he hit pretty hard,” said Mullen on Brookman’s unfortunate injury. “I don’t think the kid was trying to hurt him, he just didn’t bring him down under the control he was supposed to.”
Brookman, who has been wearing his arm in a sling since Thursday’s meet, will see his doctor on Tuesday after the Reporter’s deadline.
“He is still sore from the other night,” but we are being safe and keeping it in a sling until he is able to see his doctor,” Mullen said.
INCREASED INTENSITY
All in all, Mullen was very happy with the meet and he is excited to see what his wrestlers will do at the 4A Kingco Championships on February 6 and 7.
Against Newport, the Mustangs managed six pins in total, only one off their season-high mark of seven against Garfield back on Jan. 7, but Mullen believes his squad still has work to do in order to make a splash in the postseason.
“We’ve still got corrections to make,” he said. “We made mistakes, and there are little things we can improve at, but tonight was very encouraging.”
The win boosted Redmond’s league record to 4-2 on the season and 4-3 overall.
