FORT BRAGG — At least the story has a happy ending for the Middletown High School wrestling team and coach Troy Brierly.
Sick and beat up, the Mustangs made the long and winding trip to Fort Bragg for a Coastal Mountain Conference tri-meet with the host Timberwolves and Upper Lake on Wednesday.
“As sick as we were and as beat up as we were, we really responded,” Brierly said of his team”s 49-26 victory over the Timberwolves. “We were really keyed up to wrestle Upper Lake but they never showed up. I don”t know what happened to them.”
With most of his team battling the flu bug and two wrestlers so sick Brierly didn”t even bother bringing them along, the Mustangs won five of the eight contested matches against the Timberwolves. They also received forfeits at 119, 125, 189 and 215 pounds.
Middletown winners included Will Phelps by first-round pin at 112 pounds; Jarrod Rudy by first-round pin at 130 pounds; Taylor Hoefer by 15-5 major decision at 152 pounds; Matt Dakin by 18-10 major decision at 160 pounds; and Jason Hill by second-round pin at 171 pounds.
In the other three contested weight divisions, Jeremy Dedmon lost on a first-round pin at 135 pounds, Andrew Felton dropped a 12-9 decision at 140 pounds, and John Dedmon lost on a first-round pin at 145 pounds.
Middletown forfeited at 103 and 275 pounds.
Brierly said the Mustangs could use a run of good health because they have a busy week ahead. First, they travel to Forestville on Saturday for a tournament at El Molino High School. Then on Monday they hit the road again to take on Willits and Kelseyville at Kelseyville High School in a CMC tri-meet that was wiped out by snow earlier this month. On Wednesday, the Mustangs” road trip continues as they travel to St. Helena for a CMC tri-meet against the host Saints and Lower Lake.
“I don”t know when we”re going to reschedule with Upper Lake,” Brierly said. “I guess if we can”t they”ll have to forfeit. We were surprised not to see them there today.”
In other CMC wrestling action Wednesday afternoon, Clear Lake knocked off Lower Lake and Kelseyville in a tri-meet at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport. Meet results were not available as the Record-Bee went to press.
