Forfeits doom Tigers

Slade Stiles gets set to put Harrisonville's Ben Spencer on his back during the 120-pound bout on Thursday. Stiles won by fall. Jason Peake/Daily Mail

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

HARRISONVILLE -- Giving up 24 points right from the start is hard for any wrestling team to overcome in a dual.

Colby Smith scores a near fall.

Harrisonville took full advantage of Nevada's open spots and knocked off the Tigers 50-27 on Thursday night in a wrestling dual.

Nevada was open at four weights -- 106, 113, 170, and 285, giving the Wildcats 24 points by forfeits.

"Overall, we wrestled fairly well," Nevada Coach Devin White said. "But we spotted them 24 points. If we don't give up those opens it would have been a much-closer dual."

The dual began at 285 pounds, where Wildcats standout Travis Britz won by forfeit. A returning state medalist, Britz has signed to play football at Kansas State.

Harrisonville's Jericho Harris (106) and David Barnett (113) also both won by forfeit, giving the Wildcats an 18-0 lead.

Making his first appearance of the season, Nevada's returning state medalist Slade Stiles earned a quick win by fall against Ben Spencer.

Tanner Charles followed with a quick pin of his own, needing less than 30 seconds to pin Austin Jennings at 126.

"Slade and Tanner both looked pretty tough," White commented.

Nevada sophomore Johnathon Ireland kept the momentum going for the Tigers. Ireland won by fall against Harrisonville's Kyle Hix at 132 pounds. The bout was tied at one at the start of the third period before Ireland scored a takedown and then earned the fall with only seconds left in the match.

Next, Harrisonville's Ty Cochran defeated Kyle Bennett by major decision, 11-0, at 138.

But Nevada's Zach Shepherd pinned Tim Roemer in the first period at 145.

"Zach Shepherd wrestled really well," White noted.

Shepherd's victory put the Tigers back in front, but the Wildcats won four-straight matches to pull away.

Harrisonville's Tyler Wood defeated Bradey Denney by fall at 152, defending state champ Joe Hunter pinned Austin Huggins at 160 and the Wildcats won by forfeit at 170 (the 24th free point).

Walter Eastwood earned a 14-5 major decision over Nevada's Brent Baughn at 182. White noted that Baughn usually wrestles at 220, so going down to 182 meant that Baughn was giving up some quickness to his opponent.

Nevada's Colby Smith was another member of the team who impressed White.

Smith earned a hard-fought decision over Marcus Roberg at 195.

The bout was tied at 11 when Smith scored with a reversal with only five seconds left to go up 13-11. Smith also scored with a late near fall to earn the victory.

"Colby showed good bursts at times," White said.

At 220, Harrisonville's James Pesek pinned Levi Wilson for the final margin, as the Wildcats won the dual 50-27.

Of the 10 actual matches, Nevada won five and Harrisonville won five.

Despite the loss, White said he saw many positives.

He added his team is still coming together.

"We're right there," White said. "We just need to fix a few things, tweak a few things here and there and we'll be all right."

Wrestling notes

White said Nevada's 106-pounder Skyler Crews missed the dual due to a possible concussion. White said Crews could return to action soon.

Also, freshman Daxtyn Osburn, Nevada's 113-pound wrestler, did not make weight. Osburn beat David Barnett by fall in an exhibition match.

Ranked first in the preseason rankings in his weight class, Stiles did not wrestle at the Pleasant Hill Invite due to an injury.

Also of note, Nevada's Dalton Shunkwiler won a JV match 11-0 at 145. Tucker Wingert lost his JV match at 220.

Nevada heads to the Carl Junction tournament this weekend. The field features teams like Carthage, Webb City, Willard, the hosts, and some solid Kansas schools.

"There are a lot of bigger schools competing," White said. "It will give us a good idea of where we're at."