MIDDLETOWN — Nursing all kinds of injuries, the Middletown Mustangs dropped a 54-22 dual meet to the Willits Wolverines in Coastal Mountain Conference wrestling action Thursday night at Middletown High School.
“I’m down six or seven varsity kids right now,” Middletown head coach Brian Hunt said. “Most of the kids I’m missing should be back (before the CMC Championships Feb. 15 in Lower Lake).”
There were eight contested weight classes during Wednesday’s dual and Middletown came away with three wins. In fact, the Mustangs had a shortlived 10-6 lead after the first three matches of the night, which included Xander Romero’s 12-1 win by major decision at 113 pounds and a third-round pin by Filemon Sanchez at 126 pounds.
“Willits won the next five matches with five pins in a row followed by three forfeits,” Hunt said.
Middletown’s Donny Turknett finally snapped the Willits win streak with a second-round pin of his Wolverines opponent at 220 pounds. The Mustangs’ final six team points came courtesy a Willits forfeit in the heavyweight division.
“I was not surprised by the final score,” Hunt said. “Willits is returning a whole bunch of league champions.”
Hunt honored his 10 seniors prior to the start of the final home match of the season. They are Anthony Mikel, Joziah Pyzer, Hagan Cadwallader, Anthony Nudi, Jared Pyzer, James Hernandez, AJ Leggitt, Alle Vierra, Blake Schuster and Arianna Forest.
Middletown’s wrestlers are back at it Saturday when they travel to Ukiah for the Redwood Empire Classic. The Mustangs close out their conference schedule Wednesday with a tri-meet against Lower Lake and Kelseyville at Kelseyville.
