Craig wrestlers down Parker
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JANESVILLE — Bragging rights go to the Cougars.
Thanks to key victories from Ben Rolon and Troy Davis, Janesville Craig High’s wrestling team upended crosstown rival Janesville Parker, 40-31, in a Big Eight Conference thriller Tuesday in the Cougar gym.
With Parker leading 31-30 and with only two matches left, Rolon picked up four critical points with a 9-1 major decision at 112 pounds. Rolon’s win gave Craig (6-1) a 34-31 lead, and with Parker’s Evan Cavey nursing a sore knee, Parker coach Ron Cramer wasn’t about to take a chance on Cavey further injuring the knee against the Cougars’ state-ranked Siven Furseth. The Vikings forfeited the match and the Cougars had their victory.
“I think it was exactly the kind of match everyone expected,” Craig coach Jeff Kaster said. “It came down to the end like it usually does, and our kids got the job done.
“I can’t say enough about the way we wrestled. We really got after them, and in a couple of matches where we weren’t sure what to expect, we scored points.”
None of those points were more valuable than the six Davis picked up at 152 pounds. Trailing 4-1 after one period, Davis surprised Lucas Comstock with a quick reversal to start the second period. After the two both attempted a head steal, Davis landed his and put Comstock on his back. The Craig senior hung on long enough to get the pin and push Craig’s lead to 21-9.
“As a senior, I just wanted to go out with a win in my last home meet,” Davis said. “I didn’t think I would be wrestling Comstock, but when I found out I was going to, I knew it was going to be a tough match.”
Starting at 125, Craig jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two bouts. In the best match of the night, Craig sophomore Chris Pierce edged sophomore Brennan-Casey Schmidt, 6-5, at 125. Jamie Kumlien then pinned Anthony Serrano in the second period to push the lead to nine.
Parker (5-2) got on the board with Travis Rucinski’s win at 135, but Craig’s Jesse Davila made it 15-3 with a pin at 140.
Cody St. Michael picked up a pin for Parker at 140, but Davis responded with a pin at 152.
“It came down to holding our own in the upper weights, and we were able to do that,” Kaster said.
The Vikings got a major decision from David Arndt at 160 and a pin from Jacob Bailey at 171 to cut the lead to 21-19, but the Cougars responded with Drilon Grajcevci’s 7-6 win at 189 and Mike Spaulding’s pin at 215 to push the margin back to 11 at 30-19.
Parker took its only lead of the night thanks to back-to-back pins from Alex Craker at 275 and Adam Cavey at 103, but once again, the Cougars had an answer.
Longtime Parker coach Ron Cramer was offering no excuses afterward.
“Tonight, they were the better team,” Cramer said. “That’s all there is to say.”
CRAIG 40, PARKER 31
103—Adam Cavey (P) pinned Kyle Upmann, 4:43; 112—Ben Rolon (C) major dec. over Ryan Riley, 9-1; 119—Siven Furseth (C) won by forfeit; 125—Chris Pierce (C) dec. Brennan Casey-Schmidt, 6-5; 130—Jamie Kumlien (C) pinned Anthony Serrano, 3:05; 135—Travis Rucinski (P) dec. Chirs Simonson, 13-9; 140—Jesse Davila (C) pinned Josh Lindaas, 2:22.
145—Cody St. Michael (P) pinned Ryan Coleman, 1:04; 152—Troy Davis (C) pinned Lucas Comstock, 3:52; 160—David Arndt (P) major dec. over Ian Kopp, 11-2; 171—Jacob Bailey (P) pinned Zak Kurtz, :59; 189—Drilon Grajcevci (C) dec. Aaron Polzin, 7-6; 215—Mike Spaulding (C) pinned Tom Ailport, 1:02; 285—Alex Craker (P) pinned Mitch Flewelling, :19.
Starting weight—125.
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