HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt High wrestling team hosted Parsons and Jayhawk-Linn for a triangular meet on Thursday night.
Cole Mathes, Curt Shannon and Andrew Blevins took to the mat for the Cubs. Mathes was the lone Humboldt wrestler to take part in the matchup against Parsons in his 165-pound weight class.
“I’m super excited that we didn’t lose a match tonight,” said Humboldt head coach Kent Goodner. “We practice to win. We put ourselves in those situations and then fight out of them so we’re in those positions all the time.”
Mathes began by taking down Parsons’ Gannon Friess for two points, before he won by a near fall for another three points. Mathes led Friess after the first, 5-0.
The Cub then made a takedown for two points, a near fall for three and another takedown for a couple of points to lead Friess at the end of the second period, 12-0. Mathes finished off Friess with a reversal for two points and a pin to secure the victory.
Mathes then took down Jayhawk-Linn’s Andres Flores, who is ranked No. 3 in the state, by a technical fall, 10-5. He began by being flung down on a takedown but earning an escape for two points of his own. Flores then earned another three points to lead by 5-2 at the end of the first period.
“That’s awesome for Cole because it’ll move him up in the rankings,” said Goodner “It’s a big confidence-booster when you beat somebody like that,” said Goodner. “If he keeps his head on and keeps working hard there’s no reason why he can’t be a podium winner this year.”
The sophomore escaped for a single point and had a takedown in the second period to claw back and knot the match at 5-5. Mathes then won his match with Flores when he registered a reversal for two points and a near fall for three points.
Humboldt’s Curt Shannon went down 5-0 to Alex Lowe in the first period after being taken down on a takedown and a near fall in the 113-pound weight class. Shannon then cut into the deficit when he had a pair of cautions for two points but still trailed, 7-2.
Shannon was able to tie it up by the end of the third period on a takedown and a near fall. The match went into a sudden victory and was decided on a takedown.
Bradley Lowry grabbed the second individual victory of the night for Humboldt very quickly as he registered a quick takedown and a pin in the first period to knock off Jayhawk-Linn’s Cooper Johnson. Lowry won his 144-pound weight class in an efficient manner.
“Bradley was able to wrestle phenomenally, he came in and got the takedown, covered hips and went straight in for a near side cradle and pinned the kid,” Goodner said. “He did everything like he was supposed to so he’s another one who’s a leader on the team.”
Humboldt’s girl wrestlers travel to Bluestem on Tuesday.
