WEBB CITY, Mo. — The visiting Carthage Tigers won 12 of the 13 varsity matches on their way to a dominant 68-6 dual win on Tuesday over their rival Webb City at the Cardinal Dome.
Carthage won eight matches by pin, one tech fall, one decision, and three by forfeit (120 and 126 pounds). The Tigers scored the first 30 and the final 38 points of the dual Tuesday.
“The boys did a really good job,” Carthage coach Kenny Brown said. “Right now, it’s about getting ready for the conference tournament this weekend, which is going to be a meat grinder. We’re going to see some very serious competition, and everything’s about getting prepared for that. That’s why we wrestle three duals this week leading up to it. We want to try to get everybody to peak because we’ve got conference and in a couple weeks after that, we’ve got districts and then state. It’s time to get after it.”
Carthage returns to the Cardinal Dome on Saturday for the Central Ozark Conference Tournament, an event during which the Tigers placed fifth last season with 134.5 points and behind Ozark (178.5), Carl Junction (155.5), Nixa (149.5), and Neosho (138.5).
“Just at 165 alone, you’ve got three state finalists, a state placer, and another qualifier,” Brown said. “That’s five solid wrestlers, and that’s just one example. This is one of the tougher conferences in the state and a lot of times, matches we’ll see here might be tougher than the ones we actually see early in the state tournament. That’s one great thing about being in this conference, it helps prepare you for what’s down the road.”
The Tigers possibly travel Thursday to Springfield for duals against the host Springfield Central and fellow guest Waynesville.
“We’ve got a double dual with Springfield Central and Waynesville, which are two district opponents,” Brown said. “It’s important to get that one in, so hopefully the weather doesn’t stop that because it will be important for district seeding.”
In the dual Tuesday, Carthage’s Tanner Putt (106) pinned Tyler Pearish in 41 seconds, Alberto Salas (113) pinned Kyler Butler with 22 seconds remaining in the third period, Grady Huntley (120) and Israel Perez (126) each won by forfeit, and Bradyn Tate (132) pinned Colt Taylor in 3:15 for the first 30 points.
Kip Castor (144) pinned Carson Farmer in 47 seconds, Grey Petticrew (150) pinned Aidan Rose in 1:28, Trey Nye (157) won a 18-3 tech fall against Dominic Boles, Davion King (165) pinned Bronson Collard in 26 seconds, Gabe Lambeth (175) pinned Enrique Hernandez in 41 seconds, Esvin Gonzalez (190) won 7-4 against Jace Cartright, and David Recinos (285) pinned Garret Mathis in 1:56 to collect the final 38 points.
Webb City’s Aiden Moore (138) pinned Blayne Benefiel with 17 seconds remaining in the first period for the Cardinals’ lone points.
The Cardinals honored seniors Moore, Boles, Rose, and Kylie Jennings before Tuesday’s varsity dual.
TATE SETS RECORD
Coach Brown said Bradyn Tate set a new CHS 132-pound record for most falls with 25. The previous record of 24 was held and set by Jared Patrick (’97), Aaron Groom (’07), and Hunter Yust (’15).
