PRATT, Kan.- After returning from Miami, Oklahoma after a weekend at the Northeastern Oklahoma Golden Norsemen Invite, the eighth-ranked Beavers had little time for rest and recovery. Though, that didn't seem to matter, as Pratt handily beat the Barton Cougars on Tuesday 36-9.
125 Pounds
#1 Michael Spangler has sustained his elite-level dominance since claiming a national championship last spring, though he was tested by Drew Liles for all seven minutes on the mat. Spangler opened the scoring with a takedown two minutes into the first period, and eventually turned top position into a two-point nearfall seconds before the whistle. Trailing 4-0 into the second period, Liles reversed position for the only two points of the period. In the final frame, Spangler managed a late escape and subsequent takedown to claim the decision win 7-2.
133 Pounds
Jason Henschel continues to open eyes as a freshman, as Henschel defeated Silas Pineda via pin fall with 50 seconds remaining in the opening period. Henschel scored a takedown 20 seconds into the period, and for the next minute, grinded his way to back position. His effort created the opening and subsquent pin.
141 Pounds
Jacob Mitchell and Drew Burgoon battled in barnburner, though Mitchell was unable to complete a late comeback, losing by a 7-6 decision. Burgoon managed an early takedown to take a 2-0 lead about 10 seconds after the initial whistle, and rode out most of the round on top of Mitchell. However, Mitchell managed a late escape, though he was taken down not long after, trailing 4-1 after the first three minutes. The second period was a slugfest, though Mitchell managed an escape and a late takedown, while Burgoon escaped Mitchell's grasp with less than five seconds left in the second period. Burgoon carried a 5-4 lead into an exciting final frame, as the two battled for position throughout much of it. Leading 6-4 after an escape, Mitchell managed a takedown with 10 seconds remaining to tie the score, but Burgoon's riding time advantage eventually led to a 7-6 decision loss for Mitchell.
149 Pounds
#1 Jacob Beeson is taking no prisoners in 2021, as Iziaha Delvalle was yet another victim on his hit list. A scoreless first period quickly turned in Beeson's favor with 30 seconds remaining, as he tied up Delvalle's head and legs, took back position, eventually turning his advantage into a pin fall.
157 Pounds
A transfer from Northern Iowa, Dayton Porsch hasn't kept his name much of a secret for the Beavers. Facing off against Dawson Chavez, Porsch needed only 30 seconds to kick off the scoring with a takedown, as he closed the first period with a 2-0 lead. Chavez reeled off a reversal a few seconds into the second period, but Porsch quicky escaped and created another takedown to lead 5-2 into the final period. The third period saw Porsch score an escape and his riding time add up to an extra point to claim the 7-2 decision win.
165 Pounds
Taidon Wills has been anchoring the 165-pound division for the Beavers, but his night didn't go according to plan. Wills was taken down by Stephen Duffy after the first 2:30 of the first period was scoreless. The takedown led to an out of bounds and eventual restart, where Duffy scored two near-fall points. Wills managed an escape to start the second period, but Duffy reversed a Wills shot for two more points. Wills was also hit with two stalling calls as the period came to an end, where Wills trailed 8-1. Only 15 seconds into the final period, Duffy charged in take Wills' back, inadvertently injuring Wills. The injury was later discovered to be a dislocated shoulder, and Wills was forced off the mat.
174 Pounds
Cayden Atkins is a grinder, and he proved that yet again on Tuesday. Against Bryan Ford, Atkins scored first with a takedown 80 seconds into the first period, the only points of the round. In the second period, Atkins reversed position on Ford and managed two additional near-fall points to extend his lead to 6-0 going into the last two minutes. An aggressive Atkins saw a shot turn into a Ford reversal and two near-fall points of his own, as the two were eventually separated after a stalemate. Restarting in bottom position, Atkins escaped and forced Ford into a stalling call to extend his lead to 8-4. The riding time advantage saw Atkins turn in a 9-4 decision win.
184 Pounds
Deston Miller faced off with Davontai Robinson, and you wouldn't know it from the final score, but Miller got off to a bit of a slow start. Robinson was credited with a takedown about 70 seconds after the opening whistle, but Miller escaped bottom position to half the lead 2-1 going into the middle period. Miller began in top position to start the second period, where his work slowly turned into back position and two near-fall points. Sustaining that position for much of the period, Miller again took Campbell down towards the end of the round, leading 5-2 going into the final two minutes. Campbell started the third period in top position, but Miller reversed him for two points, and began to dish out his own punishment. Miller scored 10 near-fall points while on Campbell's back, ending the match by way of a 17-2 technical fall.
197 Pounds
#7 Bryce Westmoreland and his opponent Trezen Doren wrestled to a scoreless first period, while Westmoreland escaped initial bottom position to take a 1-0 lead in the second period. Westmoreland began the third period in top position, as he eventually took leverage of Doren's back, slammed him, and quickly navigated to a pin fall.
285 Pounds
Devon Dawson is going to be a problem at heavyweight, and he showed why tonight. Dawson took down Ayston Perez 30 seconds into the first period, and scored another takedown shortly thereafter. Perez managed his own four points before Dawson's third takedown of the period saw him leading 6-4 after the first three minutes. Perez was awarded with an escape to start the period, but Dawson again took Perez down within the first minute of the period. The rest of the match saw Dawson control the back of Perez, leading to a 14-5 majority decision win.
The Beavers travel to Labette Community College next Tuesday to participate in their first road dual of the season.