(Atlantic) Devin McKay’s overtime win sealed the 39-34 victory for Atlantic/CAM over Underwood in a non-conference dual wrestling meet at Atlantic on Thursday night.
Atlantic/CAM held a 36-28 lead with the (220) and (285) pound matches still to go. McKay needed a decision to seal the win, and he got it done with a 6-4 decision in overtime over Thomas Huneke.
“Devin McKay gutted it out on “effort” and “want to,” said Atlantic/CAM Head Coach Tim Duff. “It was nice to see a senior leave it all out on the mat to seal the victory.”
Atlantic/CAM fly-weight Clevi Johnson won by forfeit to give the home team an early 6-0 lead, but it didn’t last long. Underwood won four straight matches and racked up 18-straight points to grab an 18-6 lead through five matches. At (113), defending Class 1A State Champion Gable Porter defeated Cruz Weaver by a 17-2 Technical fall in 2:20. At (120), Blake Allen followed with a fall over Ethan Follman in 1:26. At (126), Stevie Barnes edged Joe Weaver by a 6-4 decision in a marquee matchup, and at (132), Weston Allen won by a 14-2 major decision over Easton O’Brien.
Jaxson Bell stopped the Eagle’s run in the (138) pound match. Bell rallied and pinned Nick Stephens in 3:48 to close the gap to 18-12.
“Jaxson Bell picked up a huge pin for us which was probably the difference in the dual,” said Duff.
The Eagles responded with a fall from Kadyn Fleek at (145) to give the visitors a 24-12 lead. But the Trojans picked up three straight wins at (152), (160), and (170). At (152), Tanner O’Brien hammered out a:60 pin over Raymond Patomsen, Jarrett Armstong won by Forfeit at (160), and at (170), Kadin Stutzman muscled out a pin over Graham Jensen in 1:26 to boost Atlantic/CAM to a 30-24 lead.
The Eagles battled back, Carter Davis at (182) narrowed the score to two-points with a 15-2 major decision over Payton Fewson, but Underwood was open at (195), giving a Brenden Casey the nod, and a 39-28 Atlantic/CAM lead. McKay’s 6-4 decision in overtime gave his team the three points needed to secure the early season win.
Underwood heavyweight Chris Gardner won by fall in :51 over Tristan Dorscher of Atlantic/CAM to end the match.
Atlantic/CAM travels to Humboldt for a Tournament on Friday.
