Hot start helps LCC hold of Neosho
CHANUTE - Riding the wave of a strong start, the Labette Cardinals wrestling team took the early momentum and held on for a 22-15 dual victory against rival Neosho County Community College on Thursday night in Chanute.
David Parker's 12-3 major decision of Jared Spoon at 141 pounds started the Cards off on the right note, and Labette proceeded to win six of the night's first seven matches to open a 22-3 lead.
Neosho took the final three matches of the dual, but it was too late for the Panthers to come back. Even with three pins, the Panthers would have fallen short at that point, and they got two wins by decision and one by fall to pull within 22-15 for the final margin.
After Parker's victory, 149-pounder Luke Elmore kept the momentum going with a 5-3 decision over Greg Smith. Matt Dukes gave the Panthers their first win of the dual, a 6-1 decision of Alvin Metcalf at 157 pounds, but 165-pounder Donnie McMillin stopped the potential momentum swing with a 9-4 decision and Blake Hohensee (174) and Alex Saunders (184) also won their matches by decision for a 16-3 lead.
Jared Shelton then pinned Jon McGill in the second period, sealing the win for the Cardinals with three matches left.
Parker and Saunders remained undefeated for Labette, moving their records to 3-0. Elmore, in his first appearance in the starting lineup this season, and Shelton, who had received forfeits in the Cards' first two duals, earned victories in their first official matches, moving to 1-0. Metcalf (2-1), heavyweight Shane Grant (2-1) and 125-pounder Joey Heersche (1-1) suffered their first defeats. McMillin improved to 2-1, Hohensee got his first win to move to 1-2, and 133-pounder Brandon Pigorsch dropped to 1-2.
Labette coach Joe Renfro was excited to get a win against the Panthers, and the two rivals will meet again Jan. 20 at the Cardinal Gym. The Cards are 3-0 in duals and head to their first tournament Saturday, competing in the Kauffman Open in Omaha, Neb.
LABETTE 22, NEOSHO 15
141 lbs. - David Parker (LCC) won by major decision over Jared Spoon (NCCC), 12-3
149 - Luke Elmore (LCC) won by decision over Greg Smith (NCCC), 5-3
157 - Matt Dukes (NCCC) won by decision over Alvin Metcalf (LCC), 6-1
165 - Donnie McMillin (LCC) won by decision over J. Gaudette (NCCC), 9-4
174 - Blake Hohensee (LCC) won by decision over David Mullins (NCCC), 6-1
184 - Alex Saunders (LCC) won by decision over Jasper Lockett (NCCC), 8-5 OT
197 - Jared Shelton (LCC) won by fall over Jon McGill (NCCC), 4:28
HWT - James Albertha (NCCC) won by decision over Shane Grant (LCC), 3-2 OT
125 - Ronnie Smith (NCCC) won by decision over Joey Heersche (LCC), 8-2
133 - Mark Frey (NCCC) Brandon Pigorsch (LCC), 0:57
