By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
The growing pains continued for the young Washington wrestling squad as it fell 42-37 to Coastal Conference rival D.H. Conley Wednesday at home.
The loss dropped the team’s record to 5-14 on the year, and after the match coach Daniel Riggs said that he is seeing progress with his wrestlers.
“I know the guys think it’s a long season because we are losing but me and the other coaches can see that they are improving with each match that we go to,” Riggs said. “We just need everybody to keep with it and work hard. The most important part is at the end of the season (in the regional meet).
The Pam Pack got behind early as Raphael Gibbs got pinned by Kameron Crandal in the 189-pound division. Malik Moore helped Washington tie the Vikings as he picked up six points for pinning Spencer Crowder at the 2:00 mark in the second period to tie the score at 6-6.
The Pack would pull ahead one match later as Marquin Hill won his heavyweight battle with D.H. Conley’s Nathaniel Spencer, the No. 4 ranked wrestler in the state, 13-0, to give the team a 10-6 lead.
Hill, who is a junior and the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the state in the 285-pound division, improved his record to 25-1 on the season.
Riggs said that Hill brings a lot to the team in terms of leadership, along with senior’s Weasel Moore and Daniel Garcia.
“They are the ones that are always in the practice room working hard and getting the guys ready,” Riggs said. “I know some of the days it’s just me running practice, and the upperclassmen go around and help me teach the younger guys.”
Weasel, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the state and Washington’s all-time leader in wins, won his match via forfeit.
Hill’s victory gave Washington a 10-6 lead, but the Vikings sailed away with the next three matches to pull ahead 24-10.
The first was a loss by freshman David Giordano who was pinned by Deonqueeze Best at the 4:29 mark in the third period. The next two losses came by the way of forfeit in the 112 and 119-pound divisions.
Garcia picked up six points when the Vikings forfeited to cut D.H. Conley’s lead to 24-16. The Pack made a run when Michael Gardner topped Wesley Smith 10-5 in the next match and Mat Williamitis pinned Knight Forrest after that to put Washington up 25-24.
That would be the last time the Pack held the lead as the Vikings took three of the last five matches.
Washington’s Brandon Price got pinned by Walker Cummings in the 140-pound class, and Thomas Sutton got pinned as well in the 145-pound division to put the Pack behind 36-25.
Freshman Jack Campbell won his match as Conley forfeited in the in 152-pound class, but in the next match freshman Jack Rodman fell to Trequonoman Crandal to make the score 42-31.
Moore held the final match in the 171-pound division and won via forfeit making the final score 42-37.
Washington will look to continue its progress Friday when it travels to battle East Carteret.