Woodburn Independent Online

North Marion falls short of second straight dual title

Huskies lose first league dual of the year, against Cascade

• By: Alex Tam 
• Published: 2/9/2010 2:17:58 PM

Photo By: Alex TamNorth Marion High School junior Tyler Stigall (left) looks to take down Cascade's Ryan Dozler during the Huskies' 48-22 loss on Thursday night at home.

AURORA — It was as dejected as the North Marion wrestling team has felt this season.
 
The Huskies aimed for back-to-back Capital Conference dual meet championships but came up short to a much more determined Cascade squad, 48-22, last Thursday at North Marion High School.
 
The Huskies dropped to 3-1 in league dual play, while the Cougars improved to 4-0 to clinch the league dual title.
 
Unlike the previous week’s meeting against Estacada that saw North Marion win the toss-up matches, Cascade dominated by winning seven of the final eight matches of the night.
 
“It seemed there were a couple key matches … and we had guys on their back (but) this week, we lost those,” coach Mike Robinson said.
 
Robinson said he felt the turning point came at 135 pounds when senior Fortino Sanchez appeared to pin Cascade’s Chance Beggs in the first round. However, Beggs escaped and scored two near falls in the second round to take the momentum, before defeating Sanchez by fall in 5 minutes, 48 seconds.
 
“Fortino looked like he had an opportunity to pin the guy,” Robinson said. “We didn’t get the fall call there and later on, got pinned ourselves. That was a big turning point.”
 
At 140, Cascade’s Cody Crawford defeated sophomore Nick Kamis by 17-2 tech fall to give the Cougars an 11-10 lead.
 
The Huskies answered with two-time state champion Cody Randall, a senior, who dominated his match en route to a fall in 4:30 over Josh Dozler at 145 to give North Marion a 16-11 lead.
 
It was the Huskies’ last lead of the match.
 
“We felt confident earlier in the week,” Robinson said. “It was one of those deals where if it looked like we wrestled the way we were capable, we should be able to win the dual. But it was just one of those situations where things went the wrong way this time.”
Cascade won every match the rest of the way, excluding at heavyweight where the Cougars forfeited to senior Michael Torres.
 
During the stretch, Nikki Chhuon defeated senior Mark Cam by fall at 4:24 at 152; Dillon Davidson beat senior Blake Dunham by 6-1 decision at 160; Robbie Federico defeated Ryen Betzhold by fall in 1:00 at 171; Devon Harris beat sophomore Gary Card by fall in 3:14 at 189; Dustin Johnson defeated Matt Merrick by fall in 56 seconds; Travis Bledsoe beat Diana Escobar by fall in 31 seconds at 103; and Taylor Speer capped the dual with a 17-8 major decision over junior Sarafin Sanchez at 112.
North Marion won the first three matches of the night when sophomore Jake Stigall defeated Riley Beggs by 20-8 major decision at 119; freshman Lucas Randall beat Wade Humphrey by 5-2 decision at 125; and junior Tyler Stigall took down Ryan Dozler by 11-4 decision at 130 that gave the Huskies an early 10-0 lead.
 
“Hopefully they’ll take away that they need to work harder and try to redeem ourselves at district because we’ll wrestle the same kids over at district,” Robinson said. “And that’s the one that really matters in qualifying for state. Again, our goal is still — we said this all year long — is to obviously get a trophy at state so that’s still an achievable goal.”
This week, the Huskies travel to face Gladstone in the league finale on Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
“Hopefully we can boost our seeding records,” Robinson said, “And try to get everybody healthy and line up everybody at district for making a run at the district title there.”

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