Nevada gets pinned by Carthage at matwarming

Friday, January 14, 2005
Nevada senior John Christie works to pin Carthage's Justin Maggard in the 140-pound class during Thursday's match at Wynn Gymnasium. Christie needed 2:16 in the first period to finish-off Maggard, but Nevada still lost to Carthage, 48-27.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

Before the Nevada Tigers knew what hit them, they were down 24-0. That's what happened Thursday night as the Nevada wrestlers hosted Carthage at Wynn Gymnasium.

Nevada held matwarming festivities before the match, then struggled to overcome the defending co-champions of the Southwest Conference when the action hit the floor.

The match started at the 112-pound weight class, which featured Nevada's Drew Shepherd against Carthage sophomore Justin Sanderson.

Sanderson was able to control the match, taking a 12-4 lead before finally getting the pin at 1:50 of the second period.

That gave Carthage a 6-0 lead.

The next two weight classes were both given to Carthage, since Nevada did not have a wrestler for the 119-pound and 126-pound classes.

That gave the visitors an 18-0 lead.

Joe Roberts wrestled Aaron Groom at 130 pounds, and the match was tied at two going into the second period.

Groom had a near-pin in the second period but got the job done early in the third to give Carthage a daunting 24-0 lead.

Nevada made a little comeback in the next two matches, as seniors David Hawks and John Christie both earned pins to cut the lead in half.

Matt Kennedy looked as if he was going to continue the upswing for Nevada at 145 pounds. Kennedy registered a takedown of Carthage's Chad Williams to start the match and almost got Williams into position for a pin. Williams rallied, getting an escape and a takedown before the end of the first period.

In the second period Kennedy had a quick lapse and Williams took advantage, getting the Nevada sophomore onto his back then finishing with a pin.

The pin ended up being huge for Carthage, since Nevada did not have anybody in the 152-pound class, giving Carthage a 12-point swing to go up 36-12.

At 160 pounds Spenser Daniels started strong, getting a takedown early, but his opponent, Carthage senior Kyle Molina, escaped and registered a takedown of his own.

A Daniels escape made it 4-4 and the freshman again looked to have the advantage when he took Molina down again in the second period.

Molina got a reversal though, and appeared to wear down the younger counterpart in the third period to earn a 7-5 win.

The decision gave Carthage a 39-12 lead and meant Nevada would have to win the final five matches with at least four pins to have a chance.

Jerrod Alexander, another Nevada freshman, was pinned by Carthage's Jeremy Bland at 171 pounds to clinch the dual for Carthage.

Ryan Herda lost 8-2 at 189 pounds to give Carthage a 48-12 lead.

Tyler Shouse won by forfeit at 215 pounds and Klayton Leonard got a pin in the heavyweight match to make the score 48-24.

The final match of the night was probably the most exciting, even though the team results had been decided, Nevada freshman Mason Heard avenged a loss earlier this season to Carthage's Terron Roland by putting together a 9-7 decision. Heard outscored Roland 5-1 in the third period to get the win.

"They competed, that's all you can ask when you're in a wrestling match," Nevada coach Larron Hurst said of the 48-27 loss. "How hard they fought, I'm real proud of them."

Nevada fell to 3-6 in dual matches this season, 1-2 in Southwest Conference play.

The Tigers wrestle at home Monday against Webb City.

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