Bulldogs have good showing at conference meet

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Patti Thieszen  Sports Correspondent

January 19, 2009

 

CLOVERDALE

 

The Monrovia Bulldog grapplers traveled to Cloverdale for the West Central Wrestling Conference with varying degrees of success but a solid overall effort.

 

The Bulldogs proved hard to beat in the first round. Eight wrestlers advanced, with five wins by falls. The quickest pins in the round were by freshman Alex Voss at 103 pounds and senior Austin Cecil at 119 in 32 and 34 seconds.

 

In the 125 pound weight class, freshman Kevin Giza was in control the whole match and pinned his opponent in 1:21. Brandon Gardiner, wrestling for the injured Tanner Sizemore in the 130 weight class, came out aggressive and pinned North Putnam?s Josh Eising in 1:30. Dalton Clements at 140 also won by fall in :52. The 112, 152 and 215 weight classes were won by forfeit.

 

The Bulldogs suffered only two losses the round ? Tony Patterson at 135 and Chandler Joyner at 145.

 

?Overall we did well and continue to get in better shape,? Monrovia coach Todd Fakes said.

 

?I?m especially happy with Kevin Giza in our 125 weight class and our 140 pound weight class wrestler, Dalton Clements,? Fakes said. ?We had a good first round, we just need to keep it going.?

 

Giza and Clements went on to the wrestle backs and due to a bye and another forfeit, both advanced to the second consolation round.

 

In the semifinal round, the Bulldogs did not fare as well with seven wrestlers out of eight failing to advance to the championship round. Giza was the only winner this round with a 10-4 decision against North Putnam?s Joe Mindiola.

 

The highlight of the semifinal round was at 140 pounds. It pitted Monrovia?s sophomore, Dalton Clements, against Cascade senior, Garrett Smith. Both were aggressive and driven and the two racked up points against each other. It was tied 8-8 with 25 seconds left in the third period with both wrestlers scrambling to score. Unfortunately, Cascade prevailed and the match went to Smith 10-8.

 

The second round of consolations followed with wins by Voss, 103, by decision 5-3; Patrick Hollcraft, 112, by forfeit; Cecil, 119 by fall (59 seconds); Gardiner, 130, by forfeit; Clements at 140 by pin (3:52), Kenny Hollcraft, 189, by fall (3:42); and Kurtiss Faulkenberg, 215, also by fall (44 seconds).

 

Coming out of the last consolation round, the Bulldogs advanced seven of eleven wrestlers to the final round and one, Giza, to the championship round. Giza had the Bulldogs best outcome for the day, finishing second.

 

?Kevin controlled the tempo in his final match, but he?s young and he just got caught,? Fakes said.

 

Giza was pinned by Trevor Teal, Greencastle, in the second period.

 

Monrovia placed sixth for the day with Voss, P. Hollcraft, Gardiner, and K. Hollcraft finishing in fourth place. Cecil took third place for the day by pinning South Putnam?s T.J. Franklin in 42 seconds. Also taking third place was Clements by fall in 1:51.

 

?Clements should have been in the championship round. He got seated fourth and that put him at a disadvantage for the day,? said Fakes.

 

Sophomore Faulkenberg also took third place in the 215 weight class. He pinned Cascade?s Ryan Foncannon in 51 seconds.

 

The Bulldogs host Indian Creek Tuesday for a dual meet.