PRATT, Kan.- Despite owning a 14-3 lead after four matches, the Beavers were unable to maintain their advantage against the 19th-ranked Cowley County Tigers, losing 25-18.
Starting at 125 pounds, Michael Spangler gave the Beaver Dome a jolt, winning by 18-2 technical fall over Cowley's Taywone McNack. Spangler scored a pair of takedowns in the first period, and continued to dominate position for most of the match. With 1:17 remaining in the third period, Spangler scored a near fall to secure the win.
At 133 pounds, Cowley's Austin Kincaid defeated Pratt's Max Bazan by a 5-1 decision in a tightly-contested match. Pratt led 5-3 following the first two bouts.
The 141-pound matchup between Jacob Mitchell and Reuben Arredondo fell in favor of Mitchell, who won via a 16-9 decision. With just under two minutes to go in the first period, Mitchell secured top position, grabbed Arredondo's ankle, and drove him to the ground to score the first two points. Mitchell then scored a takedown 30 seconds into the second period to establish a 5-2 lead, then using a dominant position to score a four-point near fall. Arredodndo makde things interesting late in the third period, as he managed to reverse position and keep Mitchell's shoulders off the mat, though Mitchell escaped and rode the time out to a decision win.
Jacob Beeson and Gabriel Capp met at 149 pounds, a match twice stopped for blood. Up 5-0 in the third period, Beeson wore out Capp before putting an exclamation on his performance. With Capp's head exposed, Beeson locked him into a cradle before eventually pinning him with 30 seconds in the third period. The Beavers lead extended to 14-3.
However, Cowley went on a run. A technical fall win by Liam Corbett over Juan Urbina at 157 pounds cut into Pratt's lead, which was followed by a technical fall win for the Tigers' Garrett Lange at 165 pounds over Pratt's Luke Culbertson. At 174 pounds, Cowley's Jesus Nunez gritted out a 9-7 decision win over Misael Monarrez, giving the Tigers a 16-14 lead.
#2 Ottis Peeler followed Nunez with a first period pin fall over Pratt's Bobby Williams at 184 pounds, though a Bryce Westmoreland 15-2 majority decision win gave the Beavers an opening, then trailing 22-18 with the heavyweights to close.
Wrestling incredibly defensively, Cowley's Tyler Shannon was engaged with Pratt's Luis Rodriguez for most of the seven minutes, not allowing Rodriguez to find any openings to score. Shannon's 3-0 decision win secured the dual win for Cowley.
The Beavers will have ample time to prepare for the KJCCC Jayhawk Duals on February 9-10 in Colby.