Cardinals wrestle at Forest City and Newman

The Garner-Hayfield/Ventura wrestling team struggled with some tough competition last week.

Forest City Triangular

It was a disappointing night for the GHV wrestling team when they traveled to Forest City for a triangular with Forest City and Central Springs on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

“We wrestled very flat.  I felt we could have competed better,” said Coach Steve Smith.

AJ Arnold and Colby Reid were the only Cardinals to record wins against Central Springs.  Arnold, at 138 pounds, pinned Chris Holt in 1:00.  Reid, at 145 pounds, pinned Hunter Lipp in 1:36.  Nic Tusha and Connor Shaw both won by forfeit.  The Panthers won the match, 60-24.

Forest City topped GHV 57-18.  Shaw, at 152 pounds, won by fall against Jeff Anderson in 2:29.  Tusha also picked up a pin at 220 pounds against Alex Paulson in 1:18.  Austin Case won by forfeit.

Newman Quadrangular

It was a better night for the Cardinals on Thursday, Dec. 19.  The team went 2-1 at the Newman Quadrangular, picking up wins against West Hancock and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock, but falling to Newman.

The highlight match against West Hancock came at 160 pounds, when GHV’s Cade Baker won by decision against Jordan Weiland, 4-3.

Colby Reid, AJ Arnold and Connor Smith all won by falls.  Reid pinned Sam Smith in 3:11; while Arnold stuck Dakota Peterson in 3:46 and Smith won by fall against Brice Kudej in 1:02.  Jacob Meier, Austin Oborny, Connor Shaw, Tucker Datema, Nic Tusha and Brady Baker all won by forfeit, for the final 57-24 Cardinal victory.

“We kept things rolling in the second match against RRMR,” said Coach Steve Smith.

Arnold, Reid, Shaw and Smith all won by pins against RRMR.  Jacob Meier, Tusha and Brady Baker won by forfeit.

Tucker Datema, at 170 pounds, had the most exciting match, picking up his first varsity victory with a pin over Heath Farr in 6:46.

“I am very proud of Tuck, he just kept pushing and wrestling hard,” said Smith.

GHV topped RRMR, 52-30.

The final match of the night against Newman was tougher, with the Knights capturing the 43-35 victory.

Cade Baker won by technical fall, 19-4, against Brenden Weber.  The rest of GHV’s points came from forfeits collected by Shaw, Datema, Tusha, Brady Baker and Austin Case.

“All in all it was a pretty good night,” said Smith.  “We are off until after Christmas break.  It will be nice to be able to slow things down and work on the little things that we need to correct.”