Generals break the streak!

Well some good news to report from this weekend, as we won our first conference dual meet in over 2 seasons, beating Muhlenberg 24-21. It was only the second time this century that we've beaten the Mules, and it was an interesting matchup.

Fortunately for us, Muhlenberg had as many injuries as we did, but there was plenty of gamesmanship going on, as both teams weighed in more bodies than healthy wrestlers, but neither team knowing exactly who is and isn't healthy.

At 125, there was no contest as our injured guy could not make weight (hard to lose lbs when you've just had knee surgery).

At 133, first-year Sam Mason, who hasn't wrestled or practiced in over 2 months was called upon to step on the mat and actually wrestle. Muhlenberg had forfeited 133 for the last month, and in fact did not even have one on the roster, but lo and behold, they had one, and he was healthy. We brought Mason on the trip to take the forfeit, but the way it worked out, if we forfeited that weight, we would lose the match, so Sam went out there and wrestled his heart out. Leading for the first 4:30 of the match, he gassed hard in the third, but losing a major decision only gave the Mules 3 points instead of 6, which would be huge later. Team score 3-0 Mules.

Sam Campbell wrestled huge at 141 and went on the attack. Sam increased his team leading take-down total and finished it off with a huge throw for the pin. Team score 6-3 Generals.

Eric Fessel bumped up to 149 to wrestle Centennial Conference runner-up Kevin Homan. In a wild, scramble fest that was back and forth, Fessel was unable to score an escape late, and lost 7-6 on riding time. Team score 6-6.

HT Kotchinian also bumped up a weight to 157, and while he did not have the performance he was looking for, still kept it close and lost a minor decision, team score 9-6 Mules.

Here's where it got fun - We only had one more healthy guy left, but the Mules didn't know that. We sent out Igel at 165, who knew that the match would be left up to him to decide, and he wasted no time, getting a huge pin in :54. Team score 12-9 Generals.

Muhlenberg had no 174, so Dennis takes the forfeit at 174, Generals lead 18-9. However, the match was sealed when Muhlenberg presented to the mat their 184 before us, as we had weighed-in injured David McKennon, forcing their hand at 184. They presented, we forfeited, Generals up 18-15. The Mules also had no 197 (but they could have bumped up their 84 if we hadn't had McKennon) and Yost gets the win by forfeit. Generals up 24-15. We forfeited 285 to win 24-21.

Pretty exciting win, considering we only really won 2 matches. Campbell and Igel had great days, both also winning against Ursinus. I can't say how awesome Mason's performance was considering everything. We are hopeful he heals up completely and has a great career for us. Last dual meet this Saturday, then we have some decisions to make for our conference line-up.

The injury report hasn't changed except to say that Yost is definitely out, Jaworski is doubtful to out, and Dennis is doubtful. All the others previously injured are out until the next year.