Prep Wrestling Notes: Graham reloads after tough meet

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By Kermit Rowe, Staff Writer 10:43 PM Wednesday, January 4, 2012

ST. PARIS — Graham didn’t exactly have the weekend it was hoping for when it left for Minnesota last week to ring in the New Year at “The Clash” dual meet tournament.

But one thing’s for sure: The Falcons have little time to worry about it.

They will host Mason for a dual meet tonight before hosting the annual Division II State Duals on Sunday.

Mechanicsburg will also compete in the state duals, in the D-III meet at Evergreen in Metamora.

“It was some good, some bad and some ugly,” Graham coach Jeff Jordan said with a laugh of his team’s Minnesota experience. “We had a good time. And we saw some quality competition.”

Jordan and his Falcons ran into a problem, though.

“Here’s the bottom line: This year, we don’t have as good of a dual-meet team as we’ve had in the past,” Jordan said. “Eight of my wrestlers went 42-6; that’s really good. Unfortunately, our other six wrestlers went 1-35 and were pinned 26 times.

“Once you start losing against competition like that, it is very difficult getting back on track.”

The Falcons went 4-2 as a team, with one loss coming to national third-ranked Clovis, Calif., in the closest of ways. The teams tied 36-36, but Graham lost on the fifth criteria — most pins — making the score officially 37-36.

They won 46-20 and 43-28 on Friday night. On Saturday, they beat Cincinnati Moeller 36-32 and No. 6-ranked Simley, Minn., 39-34, but lost to unranked Christiansburg, Va., 38-27, and settled for seventh place.

“Right now, I’ve got some guys who need some confidence,” said Jordan.

The Falcons will have to find it while facing teams like Walsh Jesuit, Padua and Urichsville Claymont on Sunday

“I’m excited. We’ve got some good teams coming in,” said Jordan. “I think it is going to be exciting.

“The competition is not going to be as fierce as it was in Minnesota, though. I’m looking forward to this weekend.”

Action will begin at noon, with semifinals at 2 p.m. and a final round at 4.

Time changed: The starting times for tonight’s Graham dual with Mason have been adjusted. The junior high match is at 6, with the varsity starting at 7. One hundred free T-shirts will be given to fans in attendance.

The undefeateds: There are still seven local wrestlers who are undefeated as we head into the New Year, and three are from Graham: Bo Jordan (16-0, 152 pounds), Isaac Jordan (15-0, 160) and Huston Evans (15-0, 182).

Two more wrestle for Mechanicsburg: Austin Reese (14-0, 120) and Max Erwin (14-0, 160). The other two are Springfield’s Devin Nye (21-0, 220) and Catholic Central’s Cameron Luther (22-0, 160).

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