Warriors lose to Minneapolis, 36-15, in exciting matches
Staff writer
After the dust cleared Thursday at Minneapolis, Marion’s two undefeated wrestlers remained unbeaten.
Even though he wrestled up a class at 152 pounds, senior Dillon Wildin defeated Adam Klein with only 11 seconds left in his match. Wildin found himself down 3-2 in the third round to Klein in what had been a cautious, defensive match by both parties. Wildin — possibly bested for the first time all year in strength — was unable to get underneath Klein to lift his opponent for a throw.
With time draining off the clock, Klein had the advantage, pressing his body on top of Wildin who was face down on the mat. But, Wildin was able to fight to his feet, maneuver around Klein, and grip around Klein’s stomach for a two-point turnaround. Wildin won the match, 4-3
Marion’s other undefeated wrestler is junior Randy Regnier. After winning the 119-pound class at the Hesston invitational tournament, Regnier was able to defeat Weston Penn on Thursday.
Regnier also had to come from behind to win his match. After spending the majority of the first round with Penn heaped on top of him, Regnier found himself down 1-0. But, Regnier started on top at the beginning of the second round and he remained in that position for the rest of the match.
Regnier was able to grind away at Penn’s strength by wrapping the Minneapolis wrestler’s left arm around his head. Regnier nearly pinned Penn at the end of round two and eventually won the contest, 8-5.
“He’s moving really well on bottom and he’s transitioning well to his finishing moves,” Marion head coach Chad Adkins said. “He beat a good kid tonight.”
Cody Wildin and Tylor Neil also recorded victories on the night, but the rest of the Warriors were not as lucky.
Marion lost the dual meet with Minneapolis, 36-15. Adkins said the disparity in pins was the staggering difference.
Five Marion wrestlers lost by pin; Cody Wildin was the only Warrior to win by pin.
“We can’t get pinned,” Adkins said. “We didn’t lose a lot more matches; they just had more pins.”
Adkins was not entirely disheartened by the loss.
“I thought we might win more convincingly,” Adkins said. “Lyons and Minneapolis were two of our toughest scheduled duals all year,” he said.