Independence’s wrestling team earned a dual meet split at Northwestern High School on Wednesday.
The Blue Devils defeated the host Huskies, 60-15, but lost several swing matches in a 48-42 setback to Mapleton.
“Thank goodness it’s such a long season because we have a lot of work to do,” Independence coach Ken DeAngelis said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys who need to learn how to be tough. In the Mapleton match, we had the lead in three matches that we ended up getting pinned in. That’s at least a 27-point swing. All the credit goes to them. They just kept wrestling and out-toughed us. We bounced back nicely against Northwestern.”
Nick Rossi, Vinnie Bucci, Brian Vollman, Luke Clymer and Braden Sears all went 2-0 for the Blue Devils.
Rossi won by pin and collected a forfeit, Bucci drew two forfeits, Vollman flattened both of his opponents, Clymer earned a pin and a forfeit and Sears pinned his way to two wins.
“Braden Sears and Brian Vollman both wrestled well tonight recording two pins each,” DeAngelis said. “It’s been two years since Braden has competed and it’s exciting to watch him figuring things out. He’s been a great addition to the team both in the way he wrestles and his leadership in the room. Brian is just an outstanding athlete who we hope to turn into a wrestler. It’s a process but it’s a fun one.”
Richie DiGeronimo, Collin Patton, Michael Kucera, Liam Walker and Lucas Martinez each finished 1-1 while Jack Valenti won by forfeit to finish the night 1-0.
The Blue Devils travel to Waterloo on Friday and Saturday for the Division III Classic.
Independence 42 Mapleton 48
106 Dbl Fft
113 Sas (M) fall Patton (I)
120 Frederick (M) fall Botzman (I)
126 DiGeronimo (I) fall Case (M)
132 Rising (M) fall Kucera (I)
138 Kline (M) fall Walker (I)
145 Tracy (M) fall Martinez (I)
152 Gast (M) fall Coudriet (I)
160 Lefever (M) fall Vitron (I)
170 Rossi (I) fall Kline (M)
182 Bucci (I) ff
195 Vollman (I) fall Murray (M)
220 Clymer (I) ff
285 Sears (I) fall Shoup (M)
Independence 60 Northwestern 15
106 Dawson (NW) ff
113 Patton (I) ff
120 Valenti (I) ff
126 Adams (NW) dec DiGeronimo (I) 9-5
132 Kucera (I) fall Dawson (NW)
138 Walker (I) fall Markley (NW)
145 Martinez (I) ff
152 DuVall (NW) fall Coudriet (I)
160 Huber (NW) fall Presot (I)
170 Rossi (I) ff
182 Vollman (I) fall Nussbaum (NW)
195 Bucci (I) ff
220 Clymer (I) fall Amlotte (NW)
285 Sears (I) fall Ott (NW)
