Bulldogs split in five-way meet, three wrestlers go undefeated on the day

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MONROVIA

 

The Monrovia wrestling team hosted its annual five-way wrestling meet at Branch McCracken Gymnasium. The Bulldogs won two and lost two matches, and three Bulldog grapplers went undefeated on the day: Kevin Giza at 125 pounds, Dalton Clements at 140 pounds and Kurtiss Faulkenberg at 215. Monrovia coach Todd Fakes was happy overall with the team?s results. We have been working on conditioning and it showed today,? Fakes said.

 

In the first round, the Bulldogs went against Danville. The Warriors pulled out the win a tight match, 41-40. Monrovia had three pins in the ll9, 140 and 215 pound weight classes, the fastest by Faulkenberg at 215 in 47 seconds. The one win by decision (6-0) went to freshman Kevin Giza at 125. Chandler Joyner, 145, won by tech fall, 16-1, against senior Matt McKinley.

 

Monrovia went against Cardinal Ritter in the second round and lost 54-30. All the wins were by falls. Sophomore Tanner Sizemore at 130 pounds was in control throughout his match and pinned Ritter senior Justin Graff in 1:52. Dalton Clements, another sophomore, won by fall also. There was a fair amount of forfeits on both sides but the round against Ritter went to Monrovia with the final score of 54-30.

 

The team got a rest by having a bye third round.

 

In the fourth round Monrovia lost to Owen Valley 42-36. Owen Valley had three wins in a row in the 135, 140, and 145 weight classes. Alex Voss, at 103, took Owen Valley?s Austin Miller to the mat and on his back with minimal effort. He won his match by decision (17-3). Highlight of the round was in the 125-pound weight class. Kevin Giza at 125 went into overtime and scored 28 seconds in to win the match. It wasn?t enough to salvage the round with the final score of 42-36 to Owen Valley.

 

The Bulldogs took the fifth round against South Putnam with a final score of 42-36. Kenny Hollcraft had Monrovia?s fastest pin of the day in 25 seconds in this round. Other winners this round, all by falls, included Patrick Hollcraft in 1:02, Giza in 1:09, Clements in 1:40 and Faulkenberg in 41 seconds.

 

Fakes said the conditioning was what helped the Bulldogs today.

 

?They were not to happy about working on their conditioning this past week, but it showed in their performance and I am happy with how they all did today.? Fakes said.