By Fred Kroner
The Bulldogs opened their wrestling season on Saturday (Nov. 27) by splitting two dual meets at Edwardsville. Five M-S competitors were 2-0 for the day.
Winning twice, without receiving a forfeit, were sophomore Tallen Pawlak, at 138 pounds, and junior Brennan Houser at 195 pounds.
Pawlak defeated his two opponents by a combined score of 19-1. Houser was dominant, posting a pin in 1 minute and 48 seconds to go with a 17-2 technical fall triumph.
Also finishing 2-0 for the Bulldogs were junior Caden Hatton, at 106 pounds, senior Stevie Pogue, at 182 pounds, and junior Mateo Casillas, at 220 pounds.
Hatton earned a 21-6 technical fall win. Pogue had a pin in 1:32 and Casillas recorded a pin in 2:51. Pogue’s pin was the team’s fastest for the day.
Five other Bulldogs were 1-1 at Edwardsville: sophomore Jonathon Hanley at 113 pounds, sophomore Gage Decker at 132 pounds, senior Logan Petro at 145 pounds, senior Braeden Heinold at 152 pounds, and junior Colton Crowley at 285 pounds.
Hanley picked up a forfeit win, Decker recorded an 8-6 triumph, Petro had a pin in 1:52, Heinold had a pin in 2:46 and Crowley registered a 6-2 decision.
M-S (1-1) defeated O’Fallon, 49-21, and lost to Edwardsville, 40-28.
The Bulldogs return to action on Friday (Dec. 3) and Saturday (Dec. 4) in the Sidney Montana Eagle Invitational.
