On the surface and for those who might have just looked at the statistical report of the Jan. 7 Northeast A League wrestling match between Medical Lake and Deer Park the reaction might have been what a rout.
A 72-12 thumping will do that.
After seeing Ben Evans at 170-pounds and 182-pound Keoni Paikuli lose in second-round pins, the Cardinals found themselves in a huge and immediate hole with forfeits in the 195, 220 and 285-pound weights and trailed 30-0.
That’s when freshman Weston Thomas continued his dominant season, scoring the Cardinals’ lone win in competition with a pin with 1 minute, 6 seconds remaining in the third period of his 106-pound match with the Stags’ Joe Edwards.
“Weston Thomas was a hero that night,” head coach Josh Edmondson said. “He represented the idea that all of us have been working for this year, and that is with hard work and never giving up, anyone can be successful.”
Medical Lake’s only other win came via the forfeit at 120-pounds from Justin Warnick.
And the Cardinals might have had another opportunity had Nick Reed suited up at 113-pounds.
“Nick Reed was injured from an incident in practice, so Evan Peterson stepped in with no questions asked and wrestled his heart out,” Edmondson said. “Nick will be back for the rest of the league matches.”
Of the eight consecutive losses by pins following Thomas’s win two came in the third period and five took place in the second. It showed Edmondson a lot.
“One thing to note on all of the pins is that they each came from several different attempts and some of them took a few rounds of trying,” Edmondson said. “This is huge for a new coach and young team because it means my guys were fighting off of their backs.”
Team members knew they were up against some tall odds but they kept battling their coach said. “That is the culture we are building here at Medical Lake and that is exciting,” Edmondson said. “A loss is never OK for us, but an opportunity to reflect and see the growth so far in our program, that I will take every time.”
Missing those heavy weights will be something that will plague Medical Lake this season Edmondson said.
“We will be able to fill 195 by the end of this season but 220 and heavyweight are not going to be weight classes we will have wrestlers in this season,” Edmondson said.
Medical Lake hosted Colville for an NEA dual meet this past Tuesday and travel tonight (Jan. 14) to Newport for a 7 p.m. match. They compete this Saturday at the Apple Pie Tournament in Tonasket starting at 10 a.m.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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