The 2016-2017 McDonald County High School wrestling team held its eighth annual Red/Black Dual on Nov. 22 at MCHS.
The scrimmage format called for the team to be split into two groups, coached respectively by Cody Factor for the back team and Shannon Kline and Blake Martin for the red team. Mustangs head coach Josh Factor served as referee for the matches.
The first match featured freshmen Caleb Misner and Keegan Spurgeon. Misner took a 12-4 led at the end of the first period before pinning Spurgeon 21 seconds into the second period.
Another matchup of freshman followed that featured Oscar Ortiz and David Lazalde. Ortiz outscored Lazalde 4-0 in the first period and led 10-2 after two periods before hanging on for a 12-8 win.
The third consecutive bout between freshmen featured Leon Zacarias against Kush Chaudhary, with Zacarias winning by pin in 35 seconds.
The next match featured Mustangs' returning state medalist Jakob Gerow. Gerow, who was fourth at 113 pounds last year as a sophomore, is ranked fifth in the state in preseason rankings.
Gerow took a 6-3 lead after the first period over talented sophomore Johann De La Cruz and led 8-4 after two periods before recording a pin with just over a minute left in the match.
Pins by Kevin Sackryas over Nathaniel Johnny, Timber Bowers over Wilson Menas and Lazalde over Misner followed before Chaudhary recorded a last-second 19-17 decision over Adrian Ocampo.
Returning letterman Christian Willmann pinned Jack Bowers late in the first period setting up the final match of the night between Truman Craig and Sackryas.
Craig, the lone senior on the squad, is ranked sixth in the state at 152 pounds heading into the season. Craig dominated the first period before pinning Sackryas with just a few seconds left in the period.
McDonald County's other returning state qualifier is Tinker Kinser, who is ranked third at 285 pounds in the preseason poll. Kinser did not wrestle at the scrimmage because of a lack of a teammate close to his weight class.
McDonald County opened its season on Nov. 29 against Rogers and Rogers Heritage at a quad in Seneca before returning home to host Diamond and Seneca on Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. The Mustangs' first tournament is set for Dec. 3 at Neosho.
Sports on 12/01/2016