Heights keeps winning Posted on Fri, Feb. 06, 2009
Heights keeps winning
BY MATT BROWNING
Wichita Eagle correspondent
Heights wrestling coach Mike Church has never been one to hold back his emotions.
Whether it's high-fiving his wrestlers, pacing around the mat or giving fist pumps after big wins, Church fills a gymnasium with energy.
However, after the Falcons' 38-29 victory over Northwest on Thursday night, Church was calm. Beating the Grizzlies was just the first step toward success in the coming weeks.
"This is where we need to be right now as a team," Church said. "It was a great overall night for the Falcons."
The showdown is now set for next week against Bishop Carroll, which has won 103 consecutive duals.
Church said his staff never mentioned Carroll until now. They knew Northwest, Class 6A's fifth-ranked team, would give them a battle.
"These two weeks are real important to the seniors," the Falcons' Chase Nelson said. "As a sophomore they (Carroll) dominated us and last year they beat us. It would be good to come back and beat some teams we've lost to in the past."
Northwest didn't have any pins against Heights. The one weight class that was particularly worrisome for Church was 152, where the Grizzlies' Sean Gaither is ranked in the top six in Class 6A. Gaither never shook Dominique Henderson. After two periods it was 5-5 and at the end of regulation it was 8-8.
Gaither recorded an escape with five seconds left to force the extra period and recorded a takedown in overtime to win 10-8.
"Not letting them pin us at 152 and even at 160 -- guys stepped up for us," Church said. "That gave us points that we could have easily lost."
The turning point in the dual came at 135 pounds. Northwest's Antonio Terrell jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on a near fall. Terrell came within seconds of the pin.
Scheimscher rallied in the second period to remarkably pin Terrell with 41 seconds remaining.
Before the 135 match, Heights led 20-4; a pin from Terrell would have put the Grizzlies back in the dual. Instead, the Falcons extended their lead to 26-4.
"It's a 12-point swing if we lose, then we have to wrestle the 215 and 285 classes," Church said. "If all that happens, we lose the dual."
"We both won seven matches," Northwest coach Eric Prichard said. "We knew a match like 135 would be the difference. Obviously, it would have been different if we would have gotten that pin."
Heading into the 171-pound match, Heights led 32-13 and needed a pin to mathematically end the dual. There was nobody more up to the challenge than Nelson, a two-time state champion.
"He loves the spotlight," Church said.
Nelson pinned Domonique Terrell in the second period and put the Falcons in position to win their first City League wrestling title in 12 years.
Heights 38 Northwest 29
103--Grant, NW, def. Neal, H, 8-0.
112--U. DeShazer, H, def Walker, NW, 14-4.
119--Davis, H, pinned Stone, NW, 3:18.
125--D. DeShazer, H, pinned Lewis, NW, 1:59.
130--T. Nelson, H def Lindlar, NW, 10-4.
135--Sceimscher, H, pinned A. Terrell, NW, 3:19.
140--Maple, H, forfeit.
145--Witcher, NW, def Reed, H, 3-2.
152--Gaither, NW, def Henderson, H, 10-8.
160--Power, NW, def Jameson, H, 4-2.
171--Nelson, H, pinned D. Terrell, NW, 3:46.
189--Duckens, H, def Kendall, NW, 13-4.
215--Caylor, NW, forfeit.
285--Page, NW, forfeit.
Northwest 44 Southeast 24
103--Grant, NW, pinned Wegener, SE, :45.
112--Davis, SE, pinned Walker, NW, 1:53.
119--Stone, NW, def J. Hong, SE, 4-2.
125--Johnson, SE, pinned Lewis, NW, 1:45.
130--Lindlar, NW pinned , Triana, SE, 1:18.
135--White, SE, def A. Terrell, NW, 8-5.
140--Burden, NW, pinned Daley, SE, 3:04.
145--Turner, SE, def Witcher, NW, 3-1.
152--Gaither, NW, pinned Eiring, SE, 1:09.
160--Power, NW, def Chaparro, SE, 5-4.
171--Mosley, SE, pinned D. Terrell, NW, 1:51.
189--Kendall, H, def D. Hong, SE, 12-0.
215--Caylor, NW, forfeit.
285--Page, NW pinned Chebeli, SE, :19.
Heights 57 Southeast 21
103--Neal, H, pinned Wegener, SE, :56.
112--U. DeShazer, H, pinned C. Davis, SE,.
119--D. Davis, H, pinned J. Hong, SE, :13.
125--D. DeShazer, H, def Johnson, SE, 5-3.
130--T. Nelson, H pinned Triana, SE, 2:15.
135--Maple, H, pinned White, SE, :41.
140--Scheimscher, H, pinned Daley, SE, 1:28.
145--Reed, H, pinned Turner, SE, 2:26.
152--Henderson, H, def Eiring, SE, 3:09.
160--Chaparro, SE, def Jameson, H, 4-3.
171--Mosely, SE pinned Haskins, H, :24.
189--Duckens, H, pinned D. Hong, SE, :48.
215--Conner, SE, forfeit.
285--Chebeli, SE, forfeit.
