Wrestling: Tigers tripped up in triangular

• Photo: Wrestling

Farmington’s Brian Caravantes wrestles at 126 pounds during the Tigers’ 36-33 dual loss to Monticello last Thursday night. The Tigers have lost several close duals so far this season.

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Two more closely-contested duals slipped out of Farmington’s grasp in last Thursday’s home triangular at the FHS auxiliary gym.

The Tigers lost to ninth-ranked (Class 2A) Monticello 36-33 on a pin in the heavyweight match, and then suffered two falls and an overtime decision in the three final three matches of a 42-31 setback against Eastview.

“We wrestled well again, but left too many bonus points on the mat, which cost us both duals,” Farmington coach Chad Olson said.

The Tigers got out to an early lead against Monticello thanks to a forfeit at 106 pounds and a quick pin by fifth-ranked (Class 3A) Taylor Venz at 113 pounds. Kyle Benjamin followed with a 12-4 decision at 132 pounds and Jake Rudeen (15-0 technical fall), 10th-ranked Joe Hoeve (9-2 decision) and Chris McCue (pin) picked up three straight wins to give the Tigers the lead through 10 weights.

Monticello rallied by winning three of the final four matches, all via fall. Godfrey Mpetey broke up the run and gave the Tigers the lead with a 9-6 decision at 220 pounds, but Monticello went back ahead with a pin at heavyweight.

Jamin LeDuc opened up the dual against Eastview with an 8-0 decision at 106 pounds and Venz followed with another pin. Matt Rustad picked up a 4-0 decision at 132 pounds and Brayden Chapman recorded a pin at 138.

Rudeen wrapped up a 2-0 evening with a pin at 152 pounds and Chris McCue won via forfeit at 182 pounds.

The Tigers are back in action this week with a quadrangular at Richfield Tuesday and a triangular tonight at Bloomington Kennedy. The team heads to Fargo for the Rumble on the Red next week.

“This coming week we dual five section teams,” Olson said. “It will be a great measuring stick for us.”

Tags: high school, sports, farmington, tigers, prep, wrestling