Matmen enjoy first win of season

No matter what venue the Abbotsford/ Colby wrestling co-op competes in, they’re always ready to give it their all. But there’s a special thrill when it comes to competing in front of friends and family that brings out the best in an athlete.

Perhaps that helps explain the dominant display the A/C matmen put on for their parents and friends on Tuesday, Dec. 29, in Abbotsford.

The night had added meaning, with the home dual serving as Parent Night and Senior Night both rolled into one. That gave the wrestlers some added fuel.

The victims on this night? The Osseo-Fairchild/Augusta/Fall Creek co-op. Abby/Colby wrapped up their conference foes in short fashion, winning their first Cloverbelt dual meet by a score of 48-12, with a few victories in uncounted exhibition matches that followed after.

This improves the co-op’s season record to 1-2, and puts Abby/Colby on a good path heading into the new year.

Duke Heberle got things started for Abby/Colby, dispatching his opponent in the 106 weight class by pinfall for six points. Neither team cashed in on any points in the following three weight classes, with both co-ops double forfeiting in the 113, 120 and 126 weight classes.

Jose Rodriguez extended Abby/Colby’s lead to 12-0 when he pinned Parker Coach in 29 seconds in the 132 pound division. This was followed by an even shorter match in the 138 weight class when Frankie Rodriguez pinned Sullivan Haskins in 28 seconds.

River Halopka made it a hat-trick for Abby/Colby when he pinned his opponent in the 145 weight class in 1:26 to push the co-op’s lead to 24-0.

Abby/Colby suffered its first set-back when Angel Manganda was pinned by Hunter Breaker in 3:31 of the 152 weight class, but Talon Severson stopped Osseo- Fairchild/Augusta/Fall Creek from gaining any momentum when he won his match in the 160 weight class by pin.

A double forfeit in the 170 pound division followed, but Brandon Vincente made it 36-6 with a pin over Kaden Moseley in the 182 weight class in 3:11.

Andrew Jeske won more points for Abby/Colby with a victory in the 195 weight class and Carter Grewe wasted little time in adding to the lead, plowing through Luke Fischer in the 220 weight class in just 64 seconds to make it 48-6.

The final match saw Levi Dommer pinned in 3:25 in the 285 weight class. There are likely to be scheduling changes in the future for the Abby/Colby co-op, but not because of COVID-19. The WIAA is now allowing triangulars and quadrangulars meets to take place.